Going into training camp ahead of the 2026 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints will be closely watching the player that could very well quickly become the face of their franchise. Quarterback Tyler Shough sits atop the team’s quarterback room and, looking ahead to training camp, is the team’s biggest storyline at the position.
We’re going position-by-position looking ahead to Saints training camp. We’ll break down the battles, the narratives and the intrigue of each room, starting at quarterback.
The Names
As of now, the Saints appear to be headed into training camp with four signal callers:
- Tyler Shough
- Spencer Rattler
- Zach Wilson
- Hunter Dekkers
The Top Storyline
The top story around this position will be the continued growth and development of Shough. While the Saints have done well to not put unnecessary pressure on him by avoiding public statements on their expectations, the team’s actions tell everything they’re not saying out loud.
New Orleans added a number of weapons to build around the quarterback this offseason, from the signings of free agents like running back Travis Etienne Jr., guard David Edwards and tight end Noah Fant to the draft selections of wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and tight end Oscar Delp, the Saints’ offseason additions show just how much they believe in their young passer.
Unlike last year, Shough will receive the bulk of the passing opportunities throughout camp. With no competition and no doubt who holds the starting role, evidence of the second-year passer’s development will be easy to track.
Most Intriguing Battle: QB2
With Shough firmly set at the position, New Orleans will be looking to see which of the remaining passers will take on the role of the primary backup.
This role isn’t just about taking the field should the starter be unavailable for any reason. The primary backup also serves as another set of eyes from the sideline while the starter leads the offense on the field. With each defensive possession comes an opportunity for the starter and backup to conference with their coaches on the sideline to compare thoughts on what they’re seeing from the opposition and make adjustments.
An experienced passer, particularly one with exposure to the offensive system being run, is vital in this role.
Therein lies the intrigue around the battle between Rattler and Wilson. While Wilson has more NFL experience and has worked with some of the league’s top playcallers before arriving in New Orleans, Rattler brings the institution knowledge and was a starting quarterback from eight weeks in Saints head coach Kellen Moore’s offense last year.
Throughout offseason practices, Rattler looked like the more impressive passer of the two, but the media were only present for a limited number of practices and WIlson could eventually close the gap between the two as he gets more comfortable with Moore’s offense. Or at least, he’ll need to, if he wants to compete with Rattler.
