Before Derek Carr abruptly retired this offseason, the New Orleans Saints were already angling toward a reset at quarterback. There were rumors, after all, of a potential Carr trade, and even after new coach Kellen Moore bore witness to the veteran restructuring his contract to stay put, the overhauled staff’s endorsements of Carr were tepid at best. Change was due.
The new hope arrived on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, when Moore and Co. handpicked Tyler Shough, of all prospects, to be the next potential face of the franchise. No matter that Shough was already 25 years old — soon to be 26 now — and fresh off a college career that ran seven — that’s right, seven — seasons due primarily to a litany of injuries. At least he was something different.
Except, at the dawn of the 2025 season, it’s not clear the Saints are past square one.
Maybe it was always going to be this way: a total mess, with no real way of determining whether Shough or incumbent youngster Spencer Rattler was even remotely equipped to own a starting NFL quarterback job by the start of the real season. But if that was the plan, then it’s unfolding perfectly. Because after three preseason games of Shough and Rattler trading opportunities as the first-team signal-caller, well, even Saints fans aren’t convinced either quarterback belongs anywhere near the term “first-team.”
This is not to say Shough or even Rattler can’t surprise and make the Saints scrappy under Moore’s direction. We’re talking about a coach who got stamps of approval working very directly with accomplished veterans like Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert. Both Moore and his lottery-ticket quarterbacks also have more offensive weapons at their disposal than you might realize, from Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave to deep-ball specialist Rashid Shaheed. And, remember, they play in the NFC South.
But none of those things account for the most important and arguably most unmistakable reality: The Saints do not have a clear or even mildly promising answer at quarterback, at least as of this moment. Shough has some big-play sizzle; he scooted for a touchdown run in his preseason finale, and he launched a deep score in his exhibition debut. He seems just as liable to produce a big play for the opposing team, tossing a pick six in his first August action and losing a fumble on Saturday. Rattler, meanwhile, appears slightly more capable of avoiding disaster, albeit without the upside of truly elevating the rest of the Saints’ attack.
Rattler vs. Shough in 2025 preseason
| Spencer Rattler | 2 | 295 | 69.7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
|
Tyler Shough |
1 |
333 |
67.9 |
1 |
1 | 1 |
Are we overly harsh on 24- or 25-year-old quarterbacks here? It’s not like Shough or Rattler were premium first-round investments. (Although Shough wasn’t that far off, going 40th overall in April.) But that just leads us to the real point, which Who Dat Nation has basically known and worked to accept for months: The Saints were never fully committed to solving this position in 2025 alone. It’s kind of ironic, after all these years of New Orleans refusing relentlessly to embrace a total rebuild, that we’re now harping on the Saints taking it slow rather than reaching for instant results under center.
Maybe that’s because the Saints have muddied up the process, saying with one wave of words and actions they intend to pursue the future (e.g. hiring Moore to replace Dennis Allen) but then saying with another they’re still trying to win right now (i.e. signing Brandin Cooks, retaining an aging Cameron Jordan). Or maybe the truth is all rebuilds are messy; it’s just a matter of how messy.
One thing just has to be for certain: Moore and the Saints are prepared for the 2025 season to be as messy as can be, because for months they insisted they had no interest in adding more proven arms to maybe the thinnest quarterback room in the NFL. And if the preseason sample size is any indication of what’s to come from Shough or Rattler or (gasp) Jake Haener, well, the safest bet is that New Orleans will be squarely back in the quarterback market come six months from now.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Kansas State QB Avery Johnson’s Family Apologizes for Fight After Iowa State Loss
No. 17 Kansas State was upset by No. 22 Iowa State in its season opener on Saturday, 24-21, but the damage continued from the field at Aviva Stadium to the streets of Dublin.A video of Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson's father and older brother fighting with each other emerged on social media late Saturday evening. After 247Sports reported that Johnson's relatives were involved in the video, they apologized for their actions on Sunday."We sincerely apologize for our actions following yesterday's football game in Ireland," Mark and Anthony Johnson wrote in a statement, via On3. "Senseless bickering escalated into an unnecessary fight. We have resolved our differences and take full responsibility for our actions. We have apologized to our immediate and extended family, and now extend our apologies to Kansas State University, its alumni, and fans."It isn't clear what caused the fight. […]
MLB will play Field of Dreams Game in 2026, featuring Phillies and Twins in August showcase event
Major League Baseball will return to Dyersville, Iowa next year for the third Field of Dreams Game on the site made famous by the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.The Philadelphia Phillies will play the Minnesota Twins in the showcase event to be played in August, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports. Minnesota will be the home team. The exact date for the game will be revealed when the 2026 MLB schedule is released on Tuesday. However, the previous two events were played on the second Thursday in August.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]MLB will play a regular-season game at the Field of Dreams site for the first time in four years. The inaugural event in 2021 featured the New York Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox. Tim Anderson hit a walk-off home run to […]
MLB will play Field of Dreams Game in 2026, featuring Phillies and Twins in August showcase event
Major League Baseball will return to Dyersville, Iowa next year for the third Field of Dreams Game on the site made famous by the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.The Philadelphia Phillies will play the Minnesota Twins in the showcase event to be played in August, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports. Minnesota will be the home team. The exact date for the game will be revealed when the 2026 MLB schedule is released on Tuesday. However, the previous two events were played on the second Thursday in August.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]MLB will play a regular-season game at the Field of Dreams site for the first time in four years. The inaugural event in 2021 featured the New York Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox. Tim Anderson hit a walk-off home run to […]
2025 Fantasy football draft prep: Experts reveal rankings, strategy guide, rookie advice, best 150 players
Fantasy football players finally saw the usage they've been clamoring for from Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson toward the end of last season, giving him the potential at that top spot in 2025 Fantasy football rankings. After only playing at least 80% of snaps once in his rookie season, and never more than 81%, he played more than 80% of snaps in five games last year, including each of the final two contests of the season. When the Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick on a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft, some thought he could be the RB1 overall in his rookie season. After finishing as RB3 last year, that seems like a more realistic opportunity this year, so if you are lucky enough to have the No. 1 overall pick in your 2025 Fantasy football draft, […]
Milwaukee Mile 250 Live Updates, Leaderboard: Highlights from INDYCAR Race
The 2025 INDYCAR season continues with the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we've got you covered with all the must-see moments from start to finish. The legendary Milwaukee Mile — a one-mile oval opened in 1903 that drives more like a road course due to the 9-degree banking in the turns — is the backdrop for some of the most exciting racing the sport has to offer. Álex Palou earned the pole position — his sixth this season — for the penultimate race of the INDYCAR season. <!-->Here are the highlights! --> 1:36p ET Live leaderboard <!--> Live Coverage for this began on 1:35p ET-->
As últimas notícias do mercado: as contratações e os rumores de transferências que estão na ordem do dia
Atualizado a 24 de agosto ©IMAGO Já nos encontramos em pleno verão e, por isso, o mercado está ao rubro, com os clubes a acelerarem as negociações de forma a tentarem fechar as contratações de novos jogadores para 2025/26. Fórum Transfermarkt Queres discutir estas transferências e rumores com outros adeptos? Junta-te à conversa no fórum e partilha a tua opinião Acede ao fórum Dos gigantes europeus às movimentações das equipas da Liga Portuguesa, fica a par das notícias que têm agitado o mercado nas últimas horas.As últimas notícias do mercadoParece que Conrad Harder está muito próximo de se tornar jogador do AC Milan. Segundo o 'Record', o emblema italiano já chegou a acordo com o Sporting para a transferência do ponta de lança, que deverá custar 24 milhões de euros no imediato aos rossoneri, ficando ainda outros 3 milhões dependentes […]
Related
Kansas State QB Avery Johnson’s Family Apologizes for Fight After Iowa State Loss
No. 17 Kansas State was upset by No. 22 Iowa State in its season opener on Saturday, 24-21, but the damage continued from the field at Aviva Stadium to the streets of Dublin.A video of Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson's father and older brother fighting with each other emerged on social media late Saturday evening. After 247Sports reported that Johnson's relatives were involved in the video, they apologized for their actions on Sunday."We sincerely apologize for our actions following yesterday's football game in Ireland," Mark and Anthony Johnson wrote in a statement, via On3. "Senseless bickering escalated into an unnecessary fight. We have resolved our differences and take full responsibility for our actions. We have apologized to our immediate and extended family, and now extend our apologies to Kansas State University, its alumni, and fans."It isn't clear what caused the fight. […]
MLB will play Field of Dreams Game in 2026, featuring Phillies and Twins in August showcase event
Major League Baseball will return to Dyersville, Iowa next year for the third Field of Dreams Game on the site made famous by the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.The Philadelphia Phillies will play the Minnesota Twins in the showcase event to be played in August, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports. Minnesota will be the home team. The exact date for the game will be revealed when the 2026 MLB schedule is released on Tuesday. However, the previous two events were played on the second Thursday in August.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]MLB will play a regular-season game at the Field of Dreams site for the first time in four years. The inaugural event in 2021 featured the New York Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox. Tim Anderson hit a walk-off home run to […]
MLB will play Field of Dreams Game in 2026, featuring Phillies and Twins in August showcase event
Major League Baseball will return to Dyersville, Iowa next year for the third Field of Dreams Game on the site made famous by the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner.The Philadelphia Phillies will play the Minnesota Twins in the showcase event to be played in August, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports. Minnesota will be the home team. The exact date for the game will be revealed when the 2026 MLB schedule is released on Tuesday. However, the previous two events were played on the second Thursday in August.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]MLB will play a regular-season game at the Field of Dreams site for the first time in four years. The inaugural event in 2021 featured the New York Yankees playing the Chicago White Sox. Tim Anderson hit a walk-off home run to […]
2025 Fantasy football draft prep: Experts reveal rankings, strategy guide, rookie advice, best 150 players
Fantasy football players finally saw the usage they've been clamoring for from Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson toward the end of last season, giving him the potential at that top spot in 2025 Fantasy football rankings. After only playing at least 80% of snaps once in his rookie season, and never more than 81%, he played more than 80% of snaps in five games last year, including each of the final two contests of the season. When the Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick on a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft, some thought he could be the RB1 overall in his rookie season. After finishing as RB3 last year, that seems like a more realistic opportunity this year, so if you are lucky enough to have the No. 1 overall pick in your 2025 Fantasy football draft, […]
Milwaukee Mile 250 Live Updates, Leaderboard: Highlights from INDYCAR Race
The 2025 INDYCAR season continues with the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we've got you covered with all the must-see moments from start to finish. The legendary Milwaukee Mile — a one-mile oval opened in 1903 that drives more like a road course due to the 9-degree banking in the turns — is the backdrop for some of the most exciting racing the sport has to offer. Álex Palou earned the pole position — his sixth this season — for the penultimate race of the INDYCAR season. <!-->Here are the highlights! --> 1:36p ET Live leaderboard <!--> Live Coverage for this began on 1:35p ET-->
As últimas notícias do mercado: as contratações e os rumores de transferências que estão na ordem do dia
Atualizado a 24 de agosto ©IMAGO Já nos encontramos em pleno verão e, por isso, o mercado está ao rubro, com os clubes a acelerarem as negociações de forma a tentarem fechar as contratações de novos jogadores para 2025/26. Fórum Transfermarkt Queres discutir estas transferências e rumores com outros adeptos? Junta-te à conversa no fórum e partilha a tua opinião Acede ao fórum Dos gigantes europeus às movimentações das equipas da Liga Portuguesa, fica a par das notícias que têm agitado o mercado nas últimas horas.As últimas notícias do mercadoParece que Conrad Harder está muito próximo de se tornar jogador do AC Milan. Segundo o 'Record', o emblema italiano já chegou a acordo com o Sporting para a transferência do ponta de lança, que deverá custar 24 milhões de euros no imediato aos rossoneri, ficando ainda outros 3 milhões dependentes […]
Be the first to leave a comment