By Ross Jackson
While quarterback is already a hot topic for the New Orleans Saints as they plan to have an open competition for this year’s starter, who they match up against at the position will be just as impactful.
New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will have his hands full revamping the team’s run defense alone, but the passers he’ll be tasked with limiting will create their own challenge.
From dynamic athletes to pocket passers with big arms, the Saints will face an eclectic group of quarterbacks in 2025. And a little mystery is sure to be added atop the conversation as well.
Presumed Starting Quarterbacks in 2025
Week 1: Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy
Week 3: Seattle Seahawks’ Sam Darnold
Week 4: Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen
Week 5: New York Giants’ Russell Wilson
Week 6: New England Patriots’ Drake Maye
Week 7: Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams
Week 8/14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield
Week 9: Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford
Week 10/15: Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young
Week 12/18: Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr.
Week 13: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa
Week 16: New York Jets’ Justin Fields
Week 17: Tennessee Titans’ Cam Ward
New York Giants the Biggest Wildcard
While Wilson may be the presumed starter for now, passers like Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart wait in the wings. It’s likely that the Giants will eventually turn things over to Dart, but whether or not they make that decision as early as week five remains to be seen. New Orleans faced their former quarterback, Winston, last year as a Cleveland Brown. Now, they could face him again as a member of the Giants.
Brandon Staley Record Vs. 2025 Quarterbacks
Staley has faced a few of these passers before as a defensive play caller from 2020 through Week 15 of the 2023 season. During that span, he matched up in the regular season with six of this year’s expected passers (Murray, Darnold, Allen, Wilson, Mayfield and Tagovailoa) a total of 14 times. Staley’s defenses came out 8-6 in those games allowing just 218.1 passing yards per matchup and sacking those quarterbacks 32 times.
He was undefeated (3-0) against Murray, the quarterback which he and the Saints will kick off the 2025 regular season.
Lots of Established Veterans
The Saints won’t play many quarterbacks on rookie deals this year. Only five projected starters are still on their first contracts. That number could turn to six if the Giants turn to Dart earlier than expected.
Of those passers, two are in the division, Penix and Young, meaning that the Saints are meant to see them twice. However, the Panthers have proven to have a short leash on Young, who showed promising improvement toward the end of last year. Meanwhile, the Falcons look poised to be in limbo at quarterback with veteran Kirk Cousins still hanging around for the moment.
Players like Murray, Purdy, Allen, Mayfield, Stafford and Tagovailoa are fixtures with their franchises having been the starter for at least multiple seasons, each of which receiving additional contracts from their current clubs.
Only Two Potential Rookie Starters
Unless something unexpected happens, the Saints are set to face only two possible rookie starters this year, Dart and Ward. It’s not too dissimilar from last year’s schedule in which New Orleans was set to face three at the beginning of the season.
Dual-Threat Passers
While just about every quarterback in the NFL is “mobile” these days, the real dual-threat quarterbacks still present quite the challenge. New Orleans faced threats like Washington Commanders’ passer Jayden Daniels and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts last season, and this year, New Orleans will have their new defensive scheme tested by Allen, Williams, Fields and others.
