As offseason programs inch to a close many position battles will come into focus heading into training camp in July. For the New Orleans Saints, many of those battles have been well-documented already. But one that won’t fully hit the stage until camp officially opens is that of backup quarterback.
There is finally certainty at the starting quarterback position with second-year passer Tyler Shough firmly holding on to the role.
However, the backup quarterback spot is drawing some intrigue that will likely reach a fever pitch during training camp.
The contenders, third-year Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler and veteran free agency acquisition Zach Wilson. Rattler will hold the early lead being that he was the starting quarterback for the team last year and has 13 games of starting experience in New Orleans. Wilson will provide some formidable competition with his veteran experience and time spent with elite offensive playcallers like Sean Payton and Mike McDaniel.
Some may even consider Wilson a favorite with a belief that Rattler could attract some attention in the trade market because of his starter and development potential.
In most cases, while a veteran player can bring important value, having a player around that has started games in your system is hard to match.
Should the Saints need to turn to a backup, Rattler’s ability to fit seamlessly into head coach Kellen Moore’s system is a hard-to-bear prospect. But Wilson came into the lead as an early first-round selection and full of potential. If his recent exposure to high-level offensive playcallers and developers has helped him advance his game from where he began with the New York Jets years ago, it’s reasonable to expect consideration.
Keeping three signal callers on a roster would be nothing new for the Saints, who have often gone that route. But which player becomes the go-to backup and provides eyes on the sideline for Shough is the big question. It’s an important role and one that the team is likely to take a serious look at over the course of camp.
Rattler started eight games in 2025, going 1-7 in those starts. He completed 67.7% of his passing attempts for 1,586 passing yards while throwing eight touchdown passes to five interceptions. He finished his season with an 86.5 passer rating.
Wilson last logged a start in 2023, when he led the way for 11 games with the Jets. In those games, he completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,271 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 77.2 passer rating.
Both players have the requisite experience to be the sideline support for Shough and have each seen enough of the game to trust as a reliever when needed, but both will also be looking to impress with their on-field progress throughout camp.
