Jun 10, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) on passing drills during minicamp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Competition breeds excellence or so the Saints hope, as their quarterback battle heats up between front-runners Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
Both have looked impressive throughout camp, but consistency will reign supreme. So when one makes a play, the other will want to follow.
Both quarterbacks have embraced the back-and-forth, but Rattler especially views the competition as a crucial part of growth.
“We all want to one-up each other in drills, in this and that, that’s just part of the competition,” Rattler said following the second day of training camp. “If you don’t want to do that, then you’re probably not built for this.”
Each passer involved in the battle has seen competition before. From that perspective, they should each welcome the circumstances. So far, that’s exactly what the players sound to be embracing.
While the back and forth is important. Both passers, Rattler and Shough, have also made it clear that there’s a balance to be struck. Execution and stringing together winning days are going to be the most important elements to the battle.
“I try to go at it… just win that rep,” Shough said. “I think that’s the whole goal. I’ve been in a bunch of competitions. Human nature is like, ‘Oh, this guy threw it deep, I want to throw it deep.’ The biggest thing that coach is looking for and I want to do is just execute it to the best of my ability and good things will happen.”
As the third player in the equation, third-year quarterback Jake Haener has also highlighted what it will take to eventually win the starting job.
“Coaches are going to want to put the most consistent guy out there,” he said. “[One that] doesn’t turn the ball over, has a great command of the offense, can get the guys into the right situation at the right time.”
Timing and reliability stand at the forefront of the race to start. But there’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition in the meanwhile to push everyone along. So far, each passer is finding a way to thrive within the contest.
If iron sharpens iron, the New Orleans quarterbacks are trying to get as pointed and whetted as possible.
