Saints QB options with Derek Carr’s future in question

By Ross Jackson

After the stunning development in the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback situation with Derek Carr facing a major shoulder injury that could leave him unavailable for the 2025 season, the Saints’ future at quarterback hasn’t been murkier since Drew Brees retired.

The Saints have been linked to just about every quarterback in this year’s draft class, but the smoke has never been thicker. Let’s break down which passers have the hottest fire burning when it comes to options for the Saints future should Carr be unavailable.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders – Five-Alarm

Easily the hottest name in the quarterback conversation for New Orleans, Sanders has seen a lot of connections to the team, even though the organization itself has played it a little more cool. Head coach Kellen Moore didn’t attend the Colorado pro day, nor has New Orleans (so far) had Sanders visit their facility for a top-30 visit.

This all could just be the Saints playing it coy, but there are legitimate questions about the Saints’ interest, despite Deion Sanders’ heavy insinuations. 

If the Saints feel that Sanders could be the next franchise quarterback in New Orleans and he makes it to them at No. 9 overall, they should sprint to the podium to take him. The likelihood of Sanders making it to No. 9 becomes a little more unlikely. Everyone in the world knows that the Saints could take him, making trades up to the No. 6 spot with the Las Vegas Raiders or the No. 8 pick of the Carolina Panthers obvious targets for other quarterback-needy teams. 

If the Saints want Sanders, they now may have to move up thanks to the timing of Carr’s injury news becoming public.

Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Four-Alarm

While the conversation is always louder about the potential of a draft pick, there will be serious considerations about simply turning the offense over to Rattler and either driving competition with another mid-round selection or playing for the 2026 draft. The latter would be a risky choice, with no guarantees of what that class will look like more than a year from now.

But for Rattler, there are three key reasons why the Saints could feel better about him going into 2025 despite going winless as a starter in 2024. 

1. The Saints were wrecked with injury during his starts at multiple positions.
2. A new coaching staff that may be better at utilizing both him and the offense around him.
3. A full offseason without draft prep, combines and the other elements that make a transition from college to the pros so challenging.

If the Saints don’t believe that a quarterback to No. 9 overall will be their future, they could instead turn to someone they’re already familiar with (something they’ve shown a propensity to do this offseason) by putting Rattler in a better situation than he was last year.

Kellen Moore on Spencer Rattler pic.twitter.com/U9p1OSETpE

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 1, 2025

Louisville QB Tyler Shough – Three-Alarm

Hosting Shough for a top-30 visit on the same day the Carr news breaks probably sounds louder than it actually is, but the timing sure is serendipitous to say the least. Shough’s name is picking up a lot of steam in New Orleans and for understandable reasons.

The NFL size he brings at 6-foot-5 and 219 pounds is undeniable. He’s considered to have one of the most NFL-ready arms in the draft class. He’s a prototypical pocket passer with outstanding processing ability. He checks a lot of boxes. The concerns around him are just as impactful however. Under pressure, he has some bad reps on his tape and he suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022 (broken collarbone) and again 2023 (broken fibula). 

But if the Saints feel as good about him as it sounds like they do, he could be worth an investment on day two of the draft. If he’s considered a home run in the building, then perhaps a late-first trade up to get his fifth-year option would be worth the assets it will take to move up from No. 40 overall.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart – Two-Alarm

The noise around Dart has quieted a bit, but perhaps that’s by design. The Saints have shown clear interest in the passer with Moore personally attending his pro day in Oxford, Miss. But other quarterbacks look to have a considerable amount more momentum right now as the draft nears.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Dart has more mobility and talent operating outside of structure than the majority of this year’s class. That could make him a unique option for Moore, who just won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts has a similar playing style. It isn’t hard to imagine Moore and Dart finding success together. The big question here will be whether or not they simply like someone else more.

Miami QB Cam Ward – One Alarm

The chatter around Ward has almost entirely subsided. It might not be because the Saints don’t think he’s a good prospect though. It likely has more to do with the fact that Tennessee Titans are going to be very tough to talk out of their No. 1 overall selection. Simply put, the Saints have very little chance of obtaining Ward, even if he is their top prospect at the position.