When Derek Carr announced his surprise retirement, the Saints suddenly found themselves QB‑less, blindsided by a void where veteran leadership once stood. What was supposed to be a seamless transition quickly unraveled: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, even undrafted rookie Hunter Dekkers, were thrown into the deep end—no proven vet to gear the room. A full-scale scramble. And the atmosphere at rookie minicamp said it all.

Fast‑forward to OTAs and rookie minicamp: there’s buzz around Shough’s arm, flashes from Rattler, Haener’s growth—but nothing concrete. Coaches are keeping it organic, but analysts aren’t shy about calling it “arguably the weakest QB room in the NFL,” literally. With veteran options still MIA and the frontrunner untested, every rep feels high-stakes. It’s clear that the Saints are without a veteran QB this year, and a lot more is riding on these young shoulders.

So, amidst this chaos, everyone is speculating whether trading for a veteran quarterback is the answer to this turmoil. Kirk Cousins is looking for a trade. Are the Saints interested in him? We’ve no clue. But New Orleans’ veteran defensive end, Cam Jordan, is expected to recruit a veteran QB. But there’s a catch. “I’m going to recruit a veteran quarterback properly when the time is right, and that’s going to probably take all the cap space we have,” Jordan said on the Up & Adams Show.

Adams suggested a few names to Jordan, including Kirk Cousins. The interesting part? Well, she even proposed an idea of getting Ryan Griffin out of retirement. But Jordan wasn’t interested in any of them. In fact, the 35-year-old DE wants Jameis Winston back to the Saints. Russell Wilson’s backup in New York. “No, absolutely not,” he said when Adams asked if the Saints could get Griffin out of retirement. “Absolutely not…”

“But not saying that he’s not a great man or quarterback, but yeah, that’s, yeah, would never. Kirk O’Cousins in that same realm, guess who he plays for now? Like, had he been in any other team, we could possibly say, yes, but coming from that, you know, that team that can’t land him, yeah, it can’t do it… Um, Jameis?” He finally said. “If I’m being non-biased. Jameis?” He smirked and further put a stamp of approval on it, “Jameis makes a lot of sense. Come on down!” 

Winston signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants in March this year. The veteran quarterback is expected to serve as backup QB for Wilson in the 2025 season, but it seems like Jordan wants his old QB back on his team. But let’s be real—it’s not going to be as straightforward as it sounds. Sure, the Giants have got Wilson and the rookie, Jaxson Dart, but it’s unlikely they’d trade Winston to New Orleans.

To spice things up, the head coach, Kellen Moore, has already made up his mind for QB1 ahead of the next season. With Derek Carr gone, the Saints’ QB room is stacked with Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener. And Coach Moore admitted that all three QBs will compete for the QB1 role. “We’re going to let all three of these guys roll,” Moore said. “Each will be given the chance to win the Saints’ starting job.”

Well, for the time being, it’s still unclear who’s going to lead the Saints’ offense in 2025. But given that Rattler and Haener struggled in limited action last year, it’s likely the Saints might start with Shough. After all, even Cam Jordan is confident about the rookie quarterback.

Cam Jordan is excited to have an Arizona kid on his team

For over a decade, Arizona natives have quietly carved out a role in the Saints, and there’s no denying that. Take Cam Jordan, for instance. The veteran’s been with the Saints since 2011 and is ready to enter the 15th season with New Orleans. Andrus Peat held down the O-line for nearly a decade, and they’ve got Spencer Rattler already in the mix. The kicker? Well, Tyler Shough has shown up in New Orleans as another Arizona kid.

And get this, Cameron Jordan is already hyped up for the rookie QB. “Arizona boy. Love it,” Jordan said when asked about what word he would use to describe Tyler. “Tyler Shough, Arizona kid. Spencer Rattler, Arizona kid. Cameron Jordan, Arizona kid… That means you’re going to get a player who’s willing to do the work. Somebody who’s not afraid of the nitty gritty. Somebody who is probably savvy.

“If you’re going to look at any other Arizona players that have been a part of this team for the last 14 years, you know, somebody who is explosive off the line and just is going to be eye catching and may not get the talent and the credit, you know, the credit they get with the talent that they have, but they’re going to do the work and somewhere five-ten years down the road, you’re going to look and be like, dang, he has put together a great body of work.” 

The Saints picked Rattler in the 2024 NFL draft (fifth round, 150th overall). Sure, the second-year QB didn’t get the start he was hoping for in his rookie season. But with the team relying on youngsters this year, it’s safe to assume that the 24-year-old QB is trying to make his way through as the team’s QB1. Speaking of which, New Orleans shocked everyone when they ditched Shedeur Sanders in April and picked Shough in the second round.

Before announcing his retirement, Carr was uncertain to return for the 2025 season. Having said that, the Saints were expected to draft a QB in the 2025 NFL draft, which they eventually did when they picked Shough with the 40th overall. The QB is entering the pros with a seven-year college football experience under his belt. That said, with the way things are lining up, it looks like the Saints might be adding another Arizona kid to the mix—maybe one who sticks around for the long haul. Again.