ClutchPoints
The New Orleans Saints are no strangers to navigating uncertain waters. From the post-Drew Brees transition to the revolving door of head coaches, the franchise has spent the last several years trying to reclaim its former glory. In 2025, that search for stability takes yet another sharp turn. This time, they have to deal with the sudden retirement of quarterback Derek Carr and the hiring of first-time head coach Kellen Moore. There’s cautious optimism in the air. However, it’s hard to shake the feeling that New Orleans may have taken a swing too early—and missed—on one of the most critical positions in football.
In a year when the Saints needed to nail every personnel decision to stay competitive, they may have instead doubled down on volatility. The result? A quarterback room full of question marks, a roster with gaps in key positions, and a fanbase unsure of what to expect.
The Saints’ biggest offseason splash came early when they hired former Eagles and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to be their new head coach. Moore’s reputation as a creative play-caller and quarterback developer brings intrigue. This is especially true for a team that finished a dismal 22nd in Offense last season. Expectations must be tempered, though. This will be his first shot at running an entire team.
Offensively, Moore inherits a group in flux. The retirement of Derek Carr dealt a major blow to the team’s immediate hopes. Carr wasn’t elite, of course. Still, he was a steady, veteran presence. His exit leaves a trio of unproven arms—rookie Tyler Shough, journeyman Jake Haener, and enigmatic prospect Spencer Rattler. They will all vie for the starting role. The Saints did what they could to help whoever wins that battle by signing Brandin Cooks to bolster the receiving corps. They also selected left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr early in the first round.
Defensively, things are equally mixed. Losing cornerback Paulson Adebo in free agency leaves a talent vacuum in the secondary. They attempted to patch things with Justin Reid in the back end and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux up front. The return of Chase Young and the drafting of linebacker Danny Stutsman add intrigue. However, the unit feels more like a work-in-progress than a playoff-caliber defense.
Here we’ll try to look at the riskiest move that the the New Orleans Saints executed in the 2025 NFL offseason.
The Saints’ riskiest move this offseason wasn’t just drafting Tyler Shough in the second round. It was how they arrived at that decision. With Carr battling a lingering shoulder injury throughout 2024, the organization should’ve been more prepared for his possible retirement. Instead, they were left scrambling. They reportedly conducted a last-minute crash course on incoming quarterbacks just weeks before the draft.
It’s clear they saw upside in Shough. That said, upside alone doesn’t win football games. He’s already 26 years old, carries a troubling injury history, and...
