Saints' QB Competition Heats Up as Four Young Hopefuls Vie for Starting Role

The New Orleans Saints are currently in the midst of an open quarterback competition, with four young, unproven players battling for the starting job. First-year head coach Kellen Moore has made all four quarterbacks available for interviews, reflecting the open nature of the competition.

The early frontrunners appear to be Tyler Shough, a 2025 second-round pick out of Louisville, and Spencer Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round pick out of South Carolina who has the most NFL experience with six starts last season. However, Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick from Fresno State, and Hunter Dekkers, an undrafted rookie who was signed after a tryout, are also in the mix.

Despite their lack of NFL experience, the four quarterbacks, all between the ages of 24 and 26, portray a sense of camaraderie rather than intense competition. They emphasize the importance of having fun and getting better together during the process.

Haener sees himself as an underdog, motivated by the belief that he is often counted out due to his physical attributes. Meanwhile, Dekkers is seeking redemption after his involvement in a gambling scandal at Iowa State led to a ban from the NCAA. He is determined to make the most of his opportunity with the Saints.

With an experienced coaching staff that includes former NFL quarterbacks, the Saints are taking their time to let the competition play out during training camp and preseason games. The team's established offensive players, such as receiver Chris Olave, express confidence that the coaching staff will find the right quarterback to lead the team.