The New Orleans Saints drafted Tyler Shough to be their potential franchise quarterback of the future. With Derek Carr’s retirement, many expect Shough to start in Week 1. One Saints player pushed back on that thought.
Cesar Ruiz Offers Thoughts On Saints’ Quarterback Competition
. @_OverCees takes us inside the @Saints QB room#Saints pic.twitter.com/yLbdDrO333
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) June 27, 2025
With Carr out of football, the Saints will either turn to Shough, Spencer Rattler, or Jake Haener at quarterback.
Rattler and Haener both played in multiple games last season for the Saints. Both showed promise, but they also have major deficiencies.
The competition for the starting job will likely come down to Shough or Rattler.
New Orleans Saints offensive guard Cesar Ruiz was a guest on Friday’s Good Morning Football. From what he’s seen in minicamp, Ruiz is excited to watch the quarterback competition.
“Two different quarterbacks, right? Everybody has their superpower,” Ruiz said on GMFB. “Everybody is good at their thing. Spencer has something, and I’m like, hey, he got that. Tyler will come in there, and I’m like, hey, this is just talent. When you see two talented guys just competing, it’s truly fun to see.”
Conventional wisdom says the Saints will pick Shough because the organization used a second-round draft pick to take him. According to Ruiz, the team does not have to rush Shough onto the field.
“I know you guys touched on [that] we drafted (Shough) early. We drafted him second round, 40th overall, still super early in the draft,” Ruiz said. “I think just because we drafted a quarterback super early doesn’t mean you have to push him in there and play. I was drafted 24th overall as an offensive lineman, and I didn’t end up starting until Week 4. I was in and out of the lineup my rookie year. I think it’s about development. It’s about who you see fit right now.”
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Options
Saints sophomore QB Spencer Rattler hits WR Rashid Shaheed for the touchdown… if I were Kellen Moore I’d start Rattler over rookie Tyler Shough
pic.twitter.com/KsRTGAp4Cm— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) June 27, 2025
Saints head coach Kellen Moore has not picked a starter going into training camp, meaning the job is still up for grabs.
Shough is a 25-year-old rookie who spent seven seasons in college. Shough’s 2024 campaign at Louisville was his best. He ended the year with 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Rattler has the most NFL experience as a starting quarterback. Drafted in the fifth round in 2024, Rattler went 0-6 as the starter last season. Rattler threw for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Haener started one game (0-1) last season. Plus, Haener has been dealing with an oblique injury during OTAs. Therefore, he’s likely behind Shough and Rattler on the depth chart.
The Saints open the 2025 season at home against the Arizona Cardinals.
