Canal Street Chronicles
Since Drew Brees retired during the 2021 offseason, there have been nine different quarterbacks that have started for the New Orleans Saints. So, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at those who have been under center the past 5 years and rank them from worst to best.
Ian Book started just one game under center for the black and gold in Week 16 of the 2021 season. The game was on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins and quickly became a 20-3 defeat in the Superdome. Book finished his Saints career with an 0-1 record as a starter, accumulating 135 passing yards and 2 interceptions. This includes a pick six on the opening offensive drive of the game. I was physically present to witness this game, which is why I ranked Book dead last.
Another Saints quarterback with a lone start under his belt. Jake Haener was at the helm for the Saints’ Week 15 matchup against the Washington Commanders in 2024 and ended up getting benched at halftime in favor of Spencer Rattler. Rattler led an “almost comeback,” and even rallied the Saints into a position of being a 2 point conversion away from tying the game. In the end, Jayden Daniels just made one too many plays to overcome. The Saints lost and Haener finished the day with 49 yards and a pick. The only reason he ranks above Book is because, as a fan, I just personally remember this game more fondly and for whatever reason, I remember that Dolphins game stinging way worse.
I love Taysom Hill. He is a Saints legend but not a great starting quarterback though. However, he did actually end up finishing with a 3-1 record as a starter for the Saints. His total statline for those games included 815 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 4 picks on 55% completion. Easily the highlight of this era was that awesome 9-0 win over Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 of 2021. That game was a certified “Who Dat Nation Classic,” as the defense put on a masterclass, which has nothing to do with Taysom Hill’s performance. Nonetheless, Hill will forever be able to say that he is 1-0 against Tom Brady as a starting quarterback.
Trevor Siemian came in as the back up tasked with filling the Jameis Winston sized hole in the 2021 squad after the ACL injury. Siemian came in to relieve Winston during the Week 8 game against the Buccaneers. The Saints still managed to take care of business with Siemian and improved to 5-2 (another classic Saints game). However during the following weeks, Siemian would go 0-4 as a starter. The once promising season totally collapsed under his watch as Siemian threw for 995 yards with a 10 to 3 TD/INT ratio over that stretch.
Going into this list, Spencer Rattler...
