The New Orleans Saints are still searching for their franchise signal-caller. Just months after Derek Carr abruptly retired due to a shoulder injury, the team finds itself in the middle of a full-blown quarterback competition, and no clear favorite has emerged.
Carr’s exit left a void, but the Saints didn’t fill it with a veteran passer during free agency. Instead, they’ve thrown three young quarterbacks, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough, into a wide-open race for QB1.
Kellen Moore’s Equal-Rep Strategy Under Fire
Head coach Kellen Moore, entering his first year in New Orleans, has adopted an even-split approach to training camp reps. Each day, a different quarterback gets the first-team snaps. While Moore says he’s having a fair competition, his critics argue he’s repeating a familiar mistake from his Dallas tenure, overthinking instead of asserting leadership.
So far, the results haven’t helped Moore’s case. No one has pulled ahead, and the Saints are at risk of dragging the decision deep into the preseason, slowing the development of offensive continuity.
Cowboys writer Lior Lampert calls Moore’s indecisiveness a red flag worth watching. “He’s ostensibly scrambling for a signal-caller solution, and the optics paint a picture of someone unsure of themselves,” Lampert wrote.
Front Office Divided on the Future
Moore’s indecision is just part of a larger issue. The Saints’ front office remains split on the quarterback question. Some executives reportedly favor Rattler’s upside. Others doubt he’s ready for a full-time starting role. Haener’s limited experience hasn’t inspired confidence either, and Shough’s accuracy issues are already drawing concern.
This disconnect between coaching and personnel may slow progress. Unless someone emerges clearly during preseason play, the Saints risk entering Week 1 without knowing who’s in charge of the offense.
Passing on Shedeur Sanders Looks Riskier by the Day
One decision looms over all of this: the Saints passed on Shedeur Sanders six times in the 2025 draft. The Colorado star had first-round talent, but concerns about his attitude and off-field behavior dropped him to the fifth round, where Cleveland scooped him up.
Now, as Sanders flashes potential in Browns camp, the Saints’ gamble looks increasingly risky. Some scouts believed Sanders would thrive under Moore’s offensive system. Bleacher Report went as far as calling the Saints’ choice to pass on Sanders “a decision they’ll regret.”
“Maybe that wasn’t a situation the rookie head coach wanted to deal with, given how much attention and fanfare comes along with a player like Sanders,” wrote Sayre Bedinger. “But he certainly could have provided a different glimmer of hope for the franchise.”
Pre-draft reports raised red flags—poor interviews and maturity issues spooked multiple teams. But with the Saints struggling to identify a starter, Sanders’ upside is hard to ignore.
Moore Needs to Take Control—Fast
If the Saints want to stabilize their season before it starts, Moore must take control of the quarterback race. Rotating reps might seem fair, but it’s delaying development. The team needs rhythm, identity, and leadership, none of which can happen without a clear starter.
And if none of these three QBs step up? Then yes, the Saints may have missed their best chance at a long-term solution by letting Shedeur Sanders slip through their fingers.
