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Saints Youngster Projected To Win Training Camp QB Battle

Tyler Shough seems ready to go...
Zach Pressnell|
Jul 30, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) talks to New Orleans Saints quarterback coach Scott Tolzien during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Jul 30, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) talks to New Orleans Saints quarterback coach Scott Tolzien during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

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New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have quite an interesting quarterback battle on their hands.

Following Derek Carr's sudden retirement due to injury, the Saints have been left with Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough in their quarteback room. This trio is battling for the starting job throughout training camp and the preseason, while there's nobody that really stands out yet.

Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently suggested it was "easy to assume" the Saints will open the season with Shough rather than Rattler or Haener.

"If there's a rookie QB who can truly win the starting job in the preseason, it's Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints. The Louisville product essentially walked into an open QB competition due to the injury, and later retirement, of veteran Derek Carr," Knox wrote. "Shough is now competing with second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and third-year quarterback Jake Haener for the Week 1 gig.

"That battle is still in its early stages with 'no obvious' front-runner, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. That will change as New Orleans gets deeper into the preseason. Haener and Rattler both got opportunities last season, and the Saints used a second-round pick on Shough. Therefore, it's easy to assume that New Orleans is ready to pivot to the rookie."

Shough is the easy pick to start the season.

The Saints used Haener and Rattler last season, and it was ugly. While this duo has likely improved over the last year, there's no reason to believe either is ready to win games at the NFL level.

The team opted to use a second-round pick on Shough, which goes to show their confidence in him already. As long as he doesn't have a disastrous training camp and preseason, the job seems to be his for the taking.

More NFL: Spencer Rattler Sends Bold Message To Saints Amid QB Battle

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries, reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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