Spencer Rattler named New Orleans Saints' starting QB: What it means for Shough and the offense

Spencer Rattler has been named the Saints' starting quarterback after a hard-fought quarterback battle with Tyler Shough.

In making the announcement, head coach Kellen Moore praised both players.

I explore why Rattler won the job, what the Saints' offense will look like, and when Shough might get his chance.

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How did the QB competition get started?

When veteran Derek Carr retired due to injury in May, many expected rookie Tyler Shough, the Saints’ 2025 second-round pick, to assume the starting quarterback role.

Shough was a standout at the Senior Bowl, and at 25, was older and more experienced than most first-year signal callers.

At that point, Shough's only real competition was Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft who, when standing in for Carr last year, completed only 57% of his passes and threw only two touchdowns in his final five games.

Head coach Kellen Moore announced there would be a quarterback battle between Shough, Rattler, and third-year man Jake Haener, but the outcome seemed like a foregone conclusion.

How the QB battle unfolded

All three worked with the starters during camp, with the edge shifting back and forth from one player to another.

As Week 3 of the preseason approached, and despite intense pressure to make a decision, the Saints remained the only NFL team yet to announce their starter.

Rattler got the start in the Saints' 28-19 loss to the Broncos and completed 5-of-8 passes for 43 yards. He had the occasional miscue, but played reasonably well overall.

Shough came in ahead of Haener, completed 12 of 20 passes for 102 yards, and ran in an 11-yard touchdown after leading the Saints on a 77-yard touchdown drive.

After the performance, Moore spoke positively about the performance of both players.

"Spence did some really good work today..."I thought he made some excellent decision-making."

Moore also loved what he saw from Shough on the final drive.

"I thought that was a great response, that drive by him... the run was phenomenal. It was great recognition on him. High football IQ and decision-making."

Despite heaping praise on Rattler and Shough, Moore remained tight-lipped about when he'd name the starter.

What others were saying about who should be the starter

Former New York Jets Mike Tannenbaum was clear on which player he thinks should get the nod.

Ralph Malbrough, host of the Saints Happy Hour Podcast, agreed.

Finally, the decision came!

As Moore said, Rattler "earned this opportunity."

"He's done an awesome job this offseason," he added, hinting at how the sophomore player has developed throughout the preseason.

What Moore didn't mention is the advantage Rattler has in the starting role, and how that one-year head start likely factored heavily into the outcome.

Rattler will now lead the Saints out against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 and has the opportunity to stake his claim for the role long-term.

But will he? Let's investigate what Rattler offers to the team and how he might perform.

What Rattler brings to the offense

At 6'0", Rattler lacks the prototypical height for an NFL quarterback, and he doesn't have elite arm strength.

However, he has good accuracy when throwing from a clean pocket and has the athleticism to escape pressure and pick up yards with his feet.

He'll need to play with more poise and patience than he did last year, but with the benefit of a year under his belt and with the help of his offensive teammates, there's plenty of reason for optimism.

In the ground game, Alvin Kamara remains one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, equally dynamic as a runner and a receiver.

Behind him, third-year player Kendre Miller, whom Moore said has done a "phenomenal job", is expected to make more of an impact than in years' past.

At wide receiver, Chris Olave, who had 1,000-yard seasons in each of his first two years in the league, is healthy after missing significant time in 2024 and motivated to bounce back.

Wideout Rashid Shaheed, too, is healthy again and ready to build on his reputation as a deep threat, while Devaughn Vele, recently acquired in a trade from the Denver Broncos, offers rare size and run-after-the-catch ability.

Juwan Johnson isn't an elite tight end, but he's healthy again and more than capable of providing an outlet when needed.

The offensive line should be in reasonable shape, led by veteran center Erik McCoy, who recently returned to practice, and bolstered by talented first-round rookie offensive tackle Kelvin Banks.

And finally, with Kellen Moore, a former quarterback himself, calling the plays, Rattler should be put in a position to succeed.

When will Shough get his shot?

Clearly, if Rattler meets or exceeds expectations, he'll remain the starter all season.

However, if we've learned anything from the tight quarterback competition that has unfolded over the past few months, Moore and the Saints believe there is little to choose between the two players.

Unless Rattler impresses, I suspect Shough will replace him within the first two to six weeks of the season. The pressure is on.

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