In the quiet calm of the golf course, amidst swings and smiles, Spencer Rattler spoke with the confidence of a player who has seen a little bit of everything in his short time in the NFL. He wasn’t rattled — not by the retirement of Derek Carr, not by the arrival of Tyler Shough, and certainly not by the high-stakes quarterback competition looming over New Orleans this summer.
“I mean, you can’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Rattler said during a media scrum at the Saints Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Tournament. “It’s year two. Great opportunity ahead of me. Just gotta keep working, keep my head down, and just show what I got.”
And what he has is a leg up — for now. Rattler, a fifth-round pick in 2024, surprisingly logged the most regular-season starts among quarterbacks currently on the Saints roster. In a post-Carr era ushered in unexpectedly by the veteran’s offseason retirement due to a lingering shoulder issue, Rattler now finds himself as the de facto veteran in a room filled with youth and untapped upside.
“You probably wouldn’t envision going into year two with the most starts,” he admitted. “But it is what it is. I was grateful to get those starts last year, and hopefully I get to build on that.”
A New System, A New Shot
Much like the Saints themselves, Rattler is in reset mode. The team’s decision to hire Kellen Moore as head coach ushered in a new offensive philosophy, one that Rattler has embraced early in offseason workouts.
“I’m loving the new staff,” Rattler said. “We’ve had a great three or four weeks of Phase One and Two, and I’m looking forward to OTAs on Tuesday — just spinning the rock around with the guys and keep implementing this offense.”
Moore’s offense, known for its versatility and balance, is a far cry from last year’s clunky, rigid scheme.
“It’s definitely less wordy than last year,” Rattler noted. “We’re not doing two-word play calls, but we’ve got some tempo, some RPOs. You’ve seen what [Kellen] has done with quarterbacks before. I’m excited to be in it now.”
That excitement is grounded in opportunity — but it’s a shared one. The Saints used their second-round pick this spring on Tyler Shough, the 25-year-old quarterback from Louisville whose winding college career spanned three programs. Though many expected the team to stand pat after Carr’s decision, the front office made a bold move — adding competition instead of declaring a successor.
“It wasn’t surprising to me,” Rattler said of the Shough pick. “I knew with Derek possibly retiring, we needed another guy… but you can’t control that. Control what you can.”
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Arizona Roots, New Orleans Stakes
There’s some symmetry between Rattler and Shough — both hail from Arizona, both were high-profile college recruits, and both are looking to prove they belong. But despite the regional connection, there’s no sentimentality clouding Rattler’s focus.
“We weren’t close like that,” Rattler said. “But we had mutual respect. Coming up in the same area — me, him, Brock Purdy. I’ve always followed him from afar.”
Now, they’ll be battling up close.
Rattler, though, doesn’t see it as a clash. The quarterback room, he says, is tight-knit and collaborative, even without a true veteran presence like Carr. Rattler praised the culture that’s developing — one rooted in competition but shaped by mutual respect.
“It’s a tight QB room already. I’ve known Shough for a while, and obviously Haener’s here. Love the coaches, love the guys in there — we’re just working right now.”
What Comes Next
The schedule is set, and Rattler has already circled Week 1 on the calendar — not just because it marks a fresh season, but because it comes against his hometown team: the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’d be pretty cool to play against them,” he said with a smile. “Hometown team. But again — control what you can. You’ve got to go out there and make them notice you.”
That statement may as well be Rattler’s mindset entering the most important offseason of his career. He’s not trying to campaign for the job. He’s not rattling sabers in the media. He’s simply putting in the work, speaking with clarity, and waiting for his shot to shine.
And if that shot comes Week 1 — in front of a packed Superdome and against the team he grew up watching — it’ll be a full-circle moment built on preparation, resilience, and poise.
The Saints’ quarterback competition is far from settled. But if you ask Spencer Rattler, he’s already right where he needs to be.
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