Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
By Ross Jackson
After 10 training camp practices, the New Orleans Saints still face their biggest question: Who will start at quarterback?
Head coach Kellen Moore recently stated that the team is “close” to making a decision and that when they do, the young passer will receive patience from Moore and his staff to grow into the role.
1. It’s okay to talk about @LakeviewJudy‘s age since she looks 60 and acts 30 😜
2. Sounds like Saints could have QB1 after Chargers game since Kellen says they’re “close”
3. Sounds like whomever it is (I think Shough) that player (rightfully so) is getting a lot of runaway https://t.co/93SywVFmks pic.twitter.com/mre7UeYi5P
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) August 3, 2025
Right now, there looks to be a clear leader in the club house and that’s second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler.
The Competitors
The contestants include front-runners Rattler and second-round rookie Tyler Shough. Rattler is the team’s second-year passer who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He started six games in 2024, appearing in seven.
Shough is the highest-drafted quarterback by the Saints since Archie Manning in the 1971 first round and Dave Wilson in the 1981 supplemental draft.
Additionally, third-year quarterback Jake Haener has made waves while competing. The fourth-round 2023 draft selection is seen as the underdog in the fight, but has clearly earned the belief of the coaching staff to compete in the process.
Over the team’s ten practices, these three young passers have seen their chance to earn the starting role to begin the season in a rotation of first-team reps. But there are decisions the Saints have made in the process that indicate a favorite.
After looking over individual performance stats, practice rep distribution and the team’s treatment of each quarterback throughout the important and highly-productive scrimmages on camp day 10, it’s become clear that Rattler is comfortably in the lead, for now.
Individual Performance
The quarterback stats that LouisianaSports.Net have tracked throughout training camp give Rattler an edge. His completion percentage and scoring production have outpaced both competitors. Plus, despite having more interceptions, the 2.5 touchdown-to-interception ratio balances out the analysis.
- Rattler: 83/114 (72.8%) – eight passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions
- Shough: 67/108 (62%) – five passing touchdowns and three interceptions
- Haener: 78/112 (69.6%) – five passing touchdowns and one interceptions
Contextualizing Passing Stats
Passing Touchdowns
Haener has been the most effective at protecting the football, though many of his touchdowns have come during 7-on-7 drills and red zone periods, both of which tend to inflate scoring stats across the board.
It is reasonable to give Haener six passing touchdowns thanks to a well-thrown deep ball down the right sideline to wide receiver Chris Olave. The pass was signaled a touchdown at practice, but it seemed clear that Olave would have been pushed out of bounds after the catch in a game situation.
Haener to Olave for 6 🏈 pic.twitter.com/CL4VlAxd08
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 30, 2025
It’s unlikely anyone would argue with Haener being second in touchdown passes with six, but Rattler still holds the lead with 10 total scores.
Rushing Capablities
Rattler’s consistent usage of his legs and the coaching staff’s habit of calling designed runs for him and Shough seem to indicate an expanded playbook for both of them. Escaping pressure and turning broken plays into positive gains is a key advantage in today’s NFL, one the Saints have lagged behind on in recent years. Rattler could help change that, as can Shough.
Giveaways
As for interceptions, Shough’s first happened off a tip drill. While targeting a tight end in the short-right area, cornerback Rico Payton and linebacker Danny Stutsman quickly converged on the pass. The ball was knocked up into the air and linebacker Nephi Sewell ran underneath it and picked it off.
Haener’s only interception came from a great play on the ball by Julian Blackmon in 7-on-7s during developmental drills.
Rattler’s most recent interception was on a slant attempt to receiver Kevin Austin Jr. Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was able to intercept it in a diving attempt as the ball cleared Austin, despite being catchable. This one is more likely to be discussed in the wide receiver room than in the quarterback room.
Spencer Rattler intercepted by Kool-Aid McKinstry. @WWLTV pic.twitter.com/zzOBmvzMH1
— Doug Mouton (@DMoutonWWL) August 3, 2025
Quarterback Rotation
Beyond the individual production, some of the decisions made by the coaching staff give a glimpse into how they see the quarterback hierarchy shaking out. Looking at the spots in the rotation each passer has held over the first ten days (nine practices and one walkthrough) speaks loudly.
Often this order is designated by which passer takes snaps with which team. But with the scrimmage including so many different combinations of team matchups, this will focus on which signal caller was first, second and third in the rotation of each day.
First: Rattler – four, Shough – three, Haener – 2
Rattler also led off the rotation in day six’s walkthrough.
Second: Rattler- four, Shough – four, Haener – one
Haener was second in walkthrough rotation.
Third: Haener – six, Shough – two, Rattler – one
Shough did not take snaps during the walkthrough.
It took until day nine for Rattler to finally see the third spot in the rotation. He has the most days leading off the work and is tied for the most second spots days with Shough.
Perhaps the most notable signifier was the scrimmage order. In the eight practices leading up to the team’s longest and more intense day of work, the rotation had been consistent at the top.
Rattler, Shough and then Haener. That changed during Sunday’s scrimmage practice. Haener was up next to lead the order, but the Saints deviated from that pattern and gave Rattler the nod.
Scrimmage Drive Teams
The Sunday scrimmage practice indicated a clear difference between each quarterback in their deployment. While Shough saw the most drives, leading eight of 18 to Rattler’s six and Haener’s four, Rattler saw a substantial amount of snaps with the first team offense and against the first team defense in comparison to the others.
Scrimmage Drives with First Team Offense
- Rattler: Five
- Shough: Two
- Haener: None
Scrimmage Drives Against First Team Defense
- Rattler: Six
- Shough: None
- Haener: One
In the most important practice of camp, Rattler was the clear emphasis of the work.
For these reasons, it appears that Rattler holds a comfortable lead in the quarterback competition. Shough has become a bit more aggressive as of late and had a strong scrimmage performance. However, he’ll have to show the consistency his opponents have shown in order to close the gap.
The Final Hurdle
For now, Rattler holds a convincing lead to be “QB1” to start the season. Now, he’ll have to work to fend off Shough and Haener throughout the remainder of camp and at least one crucial preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. That game could be the final deciding factor heading into the season.
A strong performance under the Hollywood lights could be the final box Rattler needs to check to return to his starting role in 2025. Shough’s gamer mentality and recent progress could make a late push. Rattler’s best course of action is leaving no doubt with a strong performance in live action.
