Canal Street Chronicles
The New Orleans Saints have finally named Spencer Rattler as the starting quarterback. Head coach Kellen Moore and the staff took their time to make this decision, but in the end, they went with the second-year player. Most of the focus will be on the decision to start Rattler over rookie Tyler Shough, but this could also hint at a potential two-year plan.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the future at QB, regardless of who the Saints name as their starter, covering all outcomes and still coming out with positives would be excellent for New Orleans. This is what could happen in a potential 2-year plan, so let me explain what it might look like.
Starting with the first outcome, Spencer Rattler could very well take this job and become the franchise QB. If that happens, the Saints will be ecstatic; if it doesn’t, New Orleans can go with option 2.
Tyler Shough will be on the bench, waiting for his opportunity to come in and start. We will know quickly if Spencer Rattler is not the right fit and a new starter needs to be named, so Shough will likely come in during the 2025 season if Rattler needs to be benched. This allows Shough to get some gametime this season, while also not having all the pressure on him right away. Then, regardless of what happened in the 2025 season, the Saints would enter 2026/27 with Shough as the starter, having had a full offseason of development. Just like with starting Rattler in 2025, if Shough proves he is the franchise QB in the 2026/27 season, great; if he isn’t, then the Saints can go with the third and final option.
The 2027 NFL Draft is one that scouts are already watching extremely closely, with quarterback being one of the top positions. Currently, Texas QB Arch Manning and South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers are names to watch in the 2026 draft, but they could end up declaring for the 2027 draft instead. Both QBs would make the 2027 QB class strong, but without them, it was already a strength of the draft. Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, Florida’s DJ Lagway, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin could all be top picks, but adding Manning and/or Sellers to that group could make it an all-time great class. Scouts are aware of this, including those on the Saints.
With this 2-year plan, the New Orleans Saints will be able to determine if either Rattler or Shough can be the franchise quarterback, while also having the ability to pivot in 2027 and draft a top quarterback prospect. Regardless of the outcome, the Saints are now set up to find their future at quarterback.
