Spencer Rattler’s future not decided after Shough pick
04/28/2025
By Ross Jackson
The Saints’ second-round selection of Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough signals their readiness to move on from Derek Carr, who is battling a shoulder injury and facing growing rumors he wants out of New Orleans.
While the Saints aren’t likely to publicly acknowledge it until necessary, their $150 million investment in Carr has likely reached its conclusion.
On the other hand, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler isn’t going to see the door close before he gets a chance to battle it out on the field.
The most probable scenario going forward, at least for now, is that Shough will be a starter at some point during his rookie season. Whether it’s behind Carr if he avoids surgery and stays in New Orleans, or behind Rattler early on, the Saints’ investment in Shough suggests they plan to get him on the field early in his rookie contract.
But how that all plays out will be left up to how training camp and the preseason go. Rattler and Shough will have to lock horns and compete to earn the opportunity, should Carr not be a part of the team’s future injury or otherwise.
Shough is going to be seen as the passer with the upper hand for a number of reasons.
- He’s the highest drafted Saints quarterback since Archie Manning was selected in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
- He’s the highest draft Saints quarterback of general manager Mickey Loomis’ tenure.
- He’s the first quarterback hand-picked by a first-year head coach early in the NFL Draft under Loomis
For those reasons alone, Shough will be seen as the front-runner inside the building — a logical conclusion Vegas is already emboldening.
But Rattler will absolutely have his chance to change coaches’ minds. The tricky part is that he’ll have to do it convincingly. If the two so much as look similar throughout camp and the preseason, Shough is in line to get the benefit of the doubt as this Saints coaching staff’s choice of young passer.
Rattler is at a slight disadvantage of not being chosen by the currently assembled staff, though he has a lot of fans in the front office and among coaches.
Training camp is sure to include some fireworks with these two going head-to-head for a chance to start. If Carr is unavailable, both Rattler and Shough have an opportunity of a lifetime ahead.