The Saints entered the NFL Draft knowing they likely needed to add a quarterback, as a shoulder injury has left Derek Carr’s status for the season uncertain. However, they did not go with the player many mock drafts projected them to take.
New Orleans passed on Shedeur Sanders twice, and their second selection of the draft was a different quarterback: Louisville’s Tyler Shough, who rocketed up draft boards despite his age and injury history.
As Carr’s status hangs in the balance, could Shough have a chance to start as a rookie?
Here’s a look at the Saints’ updated quarterback depth chart with Shough in the fold.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Saints QB depth chart
1. Derek Carr
New Saints coach Kellen Moore decided to commit to Carr as his starter early in the offseason, but reports earlier in April revealed Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that leaves his status for the 2025 season uncertain.
The Saints said before the draft that they still didn’t have any clarity on Carr’s health, but he would be the projected starter if healthy by Week 1. His long-term future in New Orleans, considering Moore didn’t bring him in and the Saints have yet to reach the playoffs with him under center.
2. Spencer Rattler
A fifth-round pick in 2024, Rattler went 0-6 in six starts as a rookie, tossing four touchdowns and five interceptions after spending his college career at South Carolina and Oklahoma.
While Rattler wasn’t in an ideal situation as a rookie, playing under an interim coach with a lack of receiving weapons, he didn’t do much to prove he’s the quarterback of the future in New Orleans or even a capable stopgap option if Carr misses time. By adding Shough, the Saints have added more insurance both short-term and long-term.
SN’s NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Day 2 mock draft
3. Tyler Shough
Shough might not start right away even if Carr isn’t ready to go by Week 1, but at nearly 26, he shouldn’t need too much time to develop if the Saints believe he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback.
Expect Shough to give Rattler a serious challenge for either a starting role in place of Carr or the direct backup role behind Carr, given he was hand-picked by Moore while Rattler was brought in under coach Dennis Allen.
4. Jake Haener
Haener was a fourth-round pick in 2023 and made his first NFL start in 2024 after spending his rookie season on the sidelines. The former Fresno State QB was benched one half into his first start, but he saw other action in relief during the season.
With Shough added to the mix, Haener’s chances of being anything more than an emergency No. 3 QB for a coach who didn’t draft him seem to be thinning.
MORE: Shedeur Sanders breaks silence on draft slide
5. Ben DiNucci
DiNucci, who started a game for the Cowboys in 2020 but has struggled to stay on NFL rosters ever since, saw his already distant odds to stick as an emergency third quarterback become even more unlikely with the selection of Shough.
Read the full article here
