The New Orleans Saints have spent years wandering through a post-Brees desert, trying to find a signal-caller who doesn’t make the Superdome groan by the second quarter. Honestly, it's been exhausting. But as we hit mid-January 2026, the vibe in Metairie is completely different.
Tyler Shough is the guy.
He isn't just "the guy" because there’s no one else left. He’s the guy because he took a messy, 2-10 start to the 2025 season and turned it into a reason for fans to actually buy season tickets for next year. After Derek Carr abruptly retired and Spencer Rattler struggled to find his rhythm behind a shaky line, Shough stepped in and basically saved Kellen Moore’s job.
The Saints QB This Week and Beyond
The Saints aren't playing this weekend—their 6-11 record saw to that—but the quarterback conversation is louder than ever. Head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis spent this past week essentially handing Shough the keys to the franchise.
Loomis was surprisingly candid in his year-end presser. He mentioned that while the team holds the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they aren't looking at the big-name college arms. They’re looking at Tyler.
"We feel great with Tyler," Moore told reporters. It’s a rare bit of stability for a team that has cycled through Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Andy Dalton, and Carr in what feels like a fever dream of mediocrity.
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Why Shough Won the Job
The numbers don’t lie, but the tape is even better. Shough finished the year with 2,384 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in just nine starts. More importantly, he went 5-4.
He didn't just dink and dunk. He pushed the ball.
That rain-soaked win against Tampa Bay in December was the turning point. Shough didn't have a passing touchdown that day, but he ran for 55 yards and two scores, showing a physical edge that Carr never really had. He’s 6'5" and 220 pounds, and he plays like it.
The locker room has clearly shifted. You can hear it when veteran leaders like Cam Jordan talk about the "juice" the rookie brought to the huddle. It’s a confidence that was missing during the early-season slide.
What Happened to Everyone Else?
The depth chart is thinning out fast. If you were looking for Jake Haener, he’s gone. The Saints released him this week, and rumors are already swirling that he might transition into coaching or look for a backup gig in Minnesota.
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Then there’s Spencer Rattler.
Rattler is still under contract for two more seasons, and the team still likes him as a high-end backup. He started the 2025 season as the guy, but a finger injury and a 1-7 record as a starter cooled the hype. He’s basically the insurance policy now.
And we can't forget the Taysom Hill factor.
Taysom is 35 and coming off an AC joint sprain from the Week 18 loss to Atlanta. He’s a free agent. There is a very real chance we’ve seen the last of the "Human Swiss Army Knife" in a Saints uniform. If he retires, it’s the end of an era.
The Derek Carr Ghost
Even though Carr didn't play a snap in 2025, he’s still technically on the books. Since the Saints still own his rights, there’s some wild talk about a potential trade if he decides to pull a Tom Brady and un-retire for a season in Las Vegas or New York.
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It’s unlikely.
Loomis basically shut that down, saying the team is moving forward. The "golden parachute" of Carr’s retirement actually helped the Saints' disastrous salary cap situation more than anyone expected.
The Shough Factor: What’s Next?
So, what does this mean for the Saints QB this week and the months ahead? It means stability. For the first time in half a decade, the Saints aren't entering the draft with a "QB or Bust" mentality.
They need offensive line help. They need to protect Shough.
He’s 26 years old—older for a second-year pro because of his long college career at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville—but that maturity is exactly why he didn't blink when the season was spiraling.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason:
- Draft Focus: Expect the Saints to use that No. 8 pick on an offensive tackle (like Kelvin Banks Jr.) or a defensive cornerstone rather than a quarterback.
- Rattler's Role: Watch for trade calls. If a team gets desperate for a young starter, Rattler is the Saints' best bargaining chip, though they'd prefer to keep him as a backup.
- The Kellen Moore Offense: Now that Moore has "his" guy, expect the playbook to expand. More vertical shots, more designed QB runs, and less conservative play-calling.
The Saints found a diamond in the rough in the second round. Now they just have to make sure they don't break him by failing to upgrade the rest of the roster.