The post-Drew Brees era in New Orleans has felt like a fever dream that just wouldn't end. We’ve watched a revolving door of signal-callers—eight different starters since 2021—and honestly, the "Who Dat" nation was getting pretty tired of the uncertainty. But as we head into the 2026 offseason, the fog has finally cleared.
If you're asking who is saints qb right now, the answer is Tyler Shough.
It’s a name that might have felt like a gamble a year ago. Shough was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Louisville, a guy with a "cannon for an arm" but a medical history that looked like a CVS receipt. Yet, after a chaotic 2025 season that saw veterans retire and rookies battle it out, Shough has emerged as the definitive starter. Head coach Kellen Moore and GM Mickey Loomis didn't mince words this January: Tyler is the guy for 2026.
How Tyler Shough Took the Reins
The 2025 season didn't actually start with Shough under center. That’s the wild part. Coming out of training camp, Spencer Rattler actually won the starting job. It was a close race, but Moore went with the second-year man from South Carolina to open the season against Arizona.
Rattler had his moments, but the offense felt stagnant. The vibes were... off.
Everything changed in Week 8 against the Buccaneers. Rattler went down with a finger injury, and Shough stepped onto the field. He didn't just fill in; he took over. Over the final nine games of the season, Shough looked like the franchise savior the Saints have been hunting for since #9 hung up his cleats. He went 5-4 as a starter, which doesn't sound like a Super Bowl record, but in the context of a rebuilding roster, it was massive.
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He finished his rookie campaign with some legit stats:
- 2,384 passing yards
- 10 passing touchdowns
- 67.6% completion rate
- 3 rushing touchdowns
Shough is 6'5" and built like a traditional pocket passer, but he’s "faster than he looks," as Cam Jordan recently noted on ESPN’s Get Up. He ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and you saw that athleticism when he was escaping NFC South pass rushers.
What Happened to Derek Carr?
You can’t talk about the current Saints QB situation without mentioning the $150 million elephant in the room. Derek Carr is no longer in the picture.
Before the 2025 draft, Carr reportedly notified the team about a significant shoulder injury that was going to hamper his ability to play. Then, in a move that shocked a lot of folks, he announced his retirement just two weeks after the Saints drafted Shough. It was an abrupt end to a tenure that most fans would describe as "frustratingly average."
The Saints took a massive dead cap hit—somewhere in the neighborhood of $28 million—but it allowed the team to finally stop living in the past and start building for the future.
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The Rest of the QB Room in 2026
While Shough is the undisputed QB1, the depth chart behind him has seen a total overhaul. If you were looking for Jake Haener, you won’t find him in Metairie anymore. The former fourth-round pick was released in January 2026 after failing to translate his "practice squad MVP" performances into actual game-day production. He’s currently a free agent, with rumors swirling that he might transition into coaching—a path similar to Kellen Moore’s.
Here is what the room looks like heading into the 2026 spring:
- Tyler Shough (Starter): The 26-year-old centerpiece. He’s on a fully guaranteed four-year rookie deal worth $10.8 million, a first for a Saints second-rounder.
- Spencer Rattler (Backup): Still in the building and a very capable #2. He’s shown he can win games, but he’s clearly the secondary option now.
- Taysom Hill (The Wildcard): He’s still doing Taysom things, though he’s currently recovering from an AC joint injury sustained in the 2025 season finale against Atlanta.
Why Shough is Different
What makes people believe in Shough when so many others (Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Trevor Siemian) failed?
It’s the "it" factor. Shough had a winding college road—Oregon to Texas Tech to Louisville. He’s dealt with adversity and injuries, which seems to have given him a level of maturity that younger rookies lack. He’s already 26, which is old for a second-year player, but the Saints see that as a positive. He doesn't get rattled.
The most impressive part of his 2025 run was a four-game winning streak in the second half of the season. He was making "pro-level reads" and manipulating arm angles in a way that had scouts comparing him to some of the league's upper-tier starters.
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Moving Forward into 2026
The Saints hold the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In years past, this would be where we’d all be speculating about them trading up for a quarterback.
Not this year.
Loomis has basically signaled that they are sticking with Shough and will likely use that top-10 pick to get him some help—either a blue-chip wide receiver or more protection on the offensive line. They already snagged OT Kelvin Banks Jr. in 2025, so the foundation is actually starting to look solid.
Honestly, it’s a relief to have a clear answer to who is saints qb. No more "quarterback by committee" or hoping a veteran on his last legs can rediscover his prime. It’s Shough’s team now.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the 2026 Draft: Keep an eye on how the Saints use the 8th pick; if they pass on a QB again, it’s the ultimate vote of confidence for Shough.
- Monitor the Waiver Wire: With Haener gone, the Saints will likely bring in a veteran "camp arm" or a cheap UDFA to fill the QB3 spot before OTAs.
- Check Shough's Health: His college career was defined by "freak injuries." His ability to stay on the field for a full 17-game slate in 2026 is the only thing that could derail this momentum.