Head coach Kellen Moore chose Spencer Rattler over Tyler Shough as quarterback, but the New Orleans Saints are still winless at 0-4. If their losing streak continues, they could be in line to draft a new QB at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, that’s where things get interesting.

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner doesn’t see Shough or Rattler in that picture. Instead, he has the Saints grabbing Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza at pick No. 2. He explained, “As is often the case, the quarterback discussion has gotten more interesting since the start of the season. It’s still early, and plenty could change. For now, though, I’m down to Mendoza and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers as the top two quarterbacks in this class.” And it’s not wild talk.

Mendoza has forced himself into the conversation. He wasn’t lighting up any preseason draft boards. In fact, most scouts had him far behind the heavyweights. But after a handful of games this fall, the Indiana quarterback looks different. He has carved up defenses, made big plays, and put himself in the spotlight.

Baumgardner even said, “I’ve loved how much Mendoza has already improved under Indiana coach Curt Cignetti — and he was already a smart player before he got to Indiana. Mendoza has handled pressure well and hit on nearly 60 percent of his third-and-long attempts. If his accuracy holds throughout the Big Ten slate, he’ll remain in the discussion for QB1.” That’s the type of growth teams want when they’re desperate for a franchise guy.

Mendoza still has Oregon and Penn State ahead on the schedule. If he dominates there, he could be the clear QB1. Add to that his $1.6 million NIL valuation, 28th in college football, and his stock looks even stronger. Meanwhile, Rattler hasn’t played poorly, but the Saints can’t win.

If New Orleans finishes with only two or three wins, Kellen Moore may be welcoming a new quarterback sooner than later.

Kellen Moore’s QB situation keeps getting messier

For Kellen Moore, the QB situation is still there. The reason is simple: Rattler misses at the worst times. On top of that, the Saints’ offense hasn’t exactly looked clean. There have been flashes, but nothing steady.

That was expected with a new system. Still, the throw that stands out came when Rattler missed Chris Olave in the end zone. The lane was there. The drive ended with Blake Grupe shanking a field goal. Then it got worse.

On Week 4 against the Bills, Rattler had almost the same miss, this time to Brandin Cooks. Wide open. End zone. Six points wiped off the board in a one-score game. Mistakes like these can affect the outcome. Of course, he has done a lot of good things, but in tight games, fans will remember these misses, not the completions.

Those throws have happened twice in these 4 weeks. That matters. While his improvements remain, this does influence the evaluation of him. And when the misses keep coming at the worst moments, it’s harder for Moore to ignore. And yes, as a result, Shough might return to the QB1 spot after getting neglected.