With the New Orleans Saints set to report for training camp in July, one of the NFL’s most intriguing quarterback battles remains unsettled. According to a recent minicamp breakdown by Pro Football & Sports Network (PFSN), there’s “no consensus QB1 yet” in Kellen Moore’s first offseason as head coach. And with the Saints yet to run any 11-on-11 team drills, that’s hardly a surprise.
So far, Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Hunter Dekkers, and Jake Haener have taken part only in positional and light-scripting work, giving coaches limited information to evaluate who should lead the offense into Week 1. That decision, it seems, will come down to performance under live fire when the pads come on in late July.
A QB Room Without a Proven Starter
The post-Derek Carr era in New Orleans officially began this spring following the veteran’s unexpected retirement due to a lingering shoulder injury. In his absence, the Saints head into camp with four young signal-callers — all talented, all unproven at the NFL level.
- Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina (by way of Oklahoma), enters the summer as arguably the most physically gifted of the group. His arm talent and pocket creation ability drew praise during OTAs, but his inconsistency and decision-making under pressure were red flags throughout his college career.
- Tyler Shough, the team’s second-round pick out of Louisville, has the most draft capital invested in him. He’s a prototypical pocket passer with underrated mobility and a reputation as a cerebral leader. However, injuries and inconsistency clouded much of his collegiate career, spanning time at Oregon and Texas Tech before ending at Louisville.
- Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick and former Mountain West standout at Fresno State, is familiar with the locker room but saw no real playing time last season. While he’s known for toughness and quick processing, he faces long odds to leap over Rattler and Shough on the depth chart.
- An undrafted signal-caller, Hunter Dekkers, was added to an already young quarterback room. Listed at 6′ 2″ 212 pounds, Dekkers had stints with Iowa State and Iowa Western Community College, his most recent stop. The battle for Saints QB1 is the top storyline heading into training camp, but the competition for who may become the backup behind Rattler and Shough is also something to keep an eye on. If Dekkers potential as a reliable backup shows during training camp, it may compel Moore and the coaching staff to end Haener’s time in New Orleans.
A Deliberate Approach from Kellen Moore
Moore, who takes over as the youngest head coach in Saints history, has been methodical about introducing his offensive system. According to multiple reports, the Saints’ offensive installs have been “scaled back” during OTAs, strongly emphasizing individual drills and light walkthroughs over competitive reps.
That decision has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it gives the quarterbacks time to absorb the playbook and master terminology without being overwhelmed. On the other hand, it leaves the coaching staff without concrete data on how these QBs operate in full-speed, game-like situations. Until that changes, no one can reasonably emerge as a front-runner.
The Stakes for the Saints
For Moore and GM Mickey Loomis, the lack of a defined starter isn’t necessarily a crisis, yet. However, with training camp just over a month away, time is running out to solidify a starter and the franchise’s direction.
The 2025 season marks a clear transition year for New Orleans. They finished 5-12 in 2024, their worst season since the Hurricane Katrina-displaced 2005 campaign. Now, without a veteran quarterback and absent from the national primetime slate for the first time in nearly two decades, the Saints find themselves in an unfamiliar position: rebuilding from the shadows.
Whether they admit it publicly or not, the quarterback decision could define the franchise’s next 3–5 years. Choose right, and Moore gets time and buy-in from the front office. Choose wrong, and the team may be back in the quarterback market by the 2026 draft.
What Comes Next
When training camp opens, expect a far more intense environment where the quarterbacks will be judged on accuracy under pressure, two-minute execution, situational awareness, and red zone efficiency. All three will have their moments, but the battle will likely come down to which of the young QBs shows the most consistency over time.
Right now, Saints fans will have to settle for glimpses — good footwork here, a perfect throw there. But nothing definitive.
As the PFSN report puts it bluntly: “Who will start the year as the Saints’ signal-caller remains to be seen.” That answer won’t arrive until the competition turns real, and the real evaluations begin.
