Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz joined the Good Morning Football crew this week. During his appearance, he discussed a long list of topics, including the team’s upcoming training camp, his experiences entering the league and the Saints’ quarterback battle between second-year passer Spencer Rattler and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Ruiz expressed his excitement for the battle because of the talent he’s seen from both competing passers thus far.
. @_OverCees takes us inside the @Saints QB room#Saints pic.twitter.com/yLbdDrO333
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) June 27, 2025
“Everybody’s got their superpower,” Ruiz said, invoking the theory of head coach Kellen Moore. “Everybody’s good at their thing … When you see two talented guys just competing. It’s truly, it’s fun to see.”
While Ruiz finds the battle fun, he also notes that there’s no need to apply too much pressure to the quarterbacks. Especially Shough, who was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft at pick No. 40 overall.
The offensive lineman ostensibly made the case that there is no need to rush Shough out on the field, no matter how early he was drafted, citing his own experience as proof.
“We drafted him second round, 40th overall,” he said. “Still super early in the draft. I say that [because] I think just because we drafted a quarterback super early, doesn’t mean you have to push him in there and play. Because I was drafted 24th overall as an offensive lineman and I didn’t end up starting until Week Four. I was in and out of the lineup my rookie year. So, I think it’s about development, it’s about who you see fit right now.”
The former Michigan center is right. He was inactive for his first week as a pro before being a backup the next two weeks. He then got his first start in the fourth week before starting eight of his next 12 regular season games as a rookie. Putting too much pressure on the rookie quarterback isn’t necessary for a long, successful career to be possible. That is, unless he proved that he indeed ready out the gate.
