Saints QB Battle Remains Wide Open After First Week

The New Orleans Saints quarterback competition remains wide open after one week of training camp, with no clear frontrunner emerging between Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener. According to a recent ESPN report, coach Kellen Moore is taking a patient approach to the competition, rotating all three quarterbacks with the first-team offense as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Competition Timeline and Approach

Moore has made it clear that he won't rush into any decisions regarding the starting quarterback position. Through six practices, both Shough and Rattler have received equal opportunities with the first-team offense, each getting two days at that spot during the first week of camp.

"Anytime the decision becomes clear, we'll make the decision, we'll just roll and that can happen whenever. [If] it goes all the way to the end, it goes all the way to the end. If it doesn't, it doesn't," Moore said.

The Saints plan to continue this rotation until their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on August 10, with potential adjustments following that contest. The team has approximately seven more practices in full pads, a possible scrimmage, and four quarters of preseason action before narrowing their options.

What Coaches Are Evaluating

The Saints coaching staff is focusing on several key areas beyond just arm talent and accuracy. They're particularly interested in how each quarterback responds to adversity and manages the offense's rhythm and communication.

"How smooth is it? Can we get in and out of the huddle? I'd say that's the biggest part," Rattler explained.

An example of this evaluation came when Rattler threw his first interception of camp during Day 2 in 7-on-7 drills. He immediately bounced back with a touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson and rushed for another score in 11-on-11 work later that same practice.

Early Camp Performances

Tyler Shough, the rookie second-round pick, has shown both promise and areas for improvement. During the team's first practice in full pads, he had mixed results, struggling to find open receivers on some plays but delivering what was described as his best throw of the day to veteran receiver Brandin Cooks.

"Tyler's done a nice job. He's communicating at a really high level. He's making good decisions," Moore noted. "Every day this is a new install, new material, that maybe is a first time for him. And so, he's going through that process. He's done an excellent job."

Rattler has also shown flashes of his potential, including what was called "perhaps the best play of the day" - a long ball down the sideline to Rashid Shaheed for a significant gain.

Fantasy Football Draft Implications

From a fantasy football perspective, this ongoing quarterback competition creates significant uncertainty for Saints skill position players in drafts. The lack of a clear starter makes it difficult to project the offensive ceiling and style of play that will emerge from New Orleans this season.

Spencer Rattler's 2024 performance provides some baseline data, showing a 57.0% completion rate with just 4 passing touchdowns across 7 games. His rushing ability (8.1 yards per carry) adds a dimension that could benefit fantasy production, but the overall offensive output was limited during his starts.

For fantasy drafters, this uncertainty should lower the draft value of Saints receivers like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, as quarterback play directly impacts their target quality and red zone opportunities. The running game, led by Alvin Kamara, might see increased usage regardless of which quarterback wins the job, potentially making Kamara a more stable fantasy option than the Saints passing game contributors.

The competition's timeline, extending potentially through preseason, means fantasy drafters won't have clarity until late August or early September. This makes Saints offensive players risky selections in early drafts, as their value could fluctuate significantly once a starter is named and preseason performance provides additional context about the offense's potential.

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