Every training camp brings a few surprises, and the Saints look like a team with enough competition on the roster to create at least a couple of them. New Orleans upgraded the depth across the board this offseason, which means the battles in camp and the preseason should be worth watching closely. A few outcomes would catch people off guard, but they’re not out of the question.
One of the biggest would be Zach Wilson taking the QB2 job.
When the Saints brought in Wilson this offseason, it was a move plenty of people didn’t see coming. Spencer Rattler entered the picture as the likely backup for 2026, and that still looks like the safest bet right now.
But Wilson has a real lane to push for the job. He was the No. 2 overall pick, and while he’s widely viewed as a draft bust because of how his career started, the source of that label has followed other quarterbacks too, including Super Bowl-winning QB Sam Darnold, Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Baker Mayfield, Indianapolis Colts starter Daniel Jones, and San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones, who is probably a year away from becoming a starter somewhere.
The idea here is simple: quarterback development takes time, especially for a player like Wilson, who wasn’t ready to start in the NFL. If he settles in, gets comfortable in the offense, and develops under a staff built for that kind of growth, he could turn in a strong camp and preseason and make this a real fight.
Another surprise would be Brock Rechsteiner grabbing the final wide receiver spot.
New Orleans poured a lot into the receiver room this offseason, and the top of the depth chart looks far different than it did before. Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, and Barion Brown make up a group that brings versatility, talent, potential, and athleticism the Saints haven’t had in a long time. But with five spots spoken for, there’s only one more opening before the 53-man roster deadline.
That last spot could turn into a tight battle. Former New England Patriots WR Ja’lynn Polk is the favorite because of the chemistry he’s built with the team and the upside he brings.
Still, Rechsteiner is a name to keep an eye on. He was a rookie mini-camp invitee who impressed enough to get signed right away.
He’s described as the more explosive player, while Polk offers contested-catch ability that could be valuable in this room. Polk’s career has also included drop issues, and if that continues while Rechsteiner keeps flashing as a consistent playmaker, the Saints could end up going with the undrafted rookie.
The longest shot of the group is Jeremiah Wright becoming the Saints’ starting RG.
This one would take a lot going right, but it’s not impossible. During the draft process, Wright stood out as one of the most likely Saints targets the writer had seen in his time covering the team.
He was projected to go on day 3, but New Orleans kept getting tied to him and met with him often. That made it clear the Saints liked him, even if he was viewed as more of a developmental prospect.
The team sees long-term starter potential at right guard.
For Wright to win the job now, the path is much narrower. Cesar Ruiz would need to be injured or take a major step backward this offseason, which would be a surprise in itself.
Then Wright would have to show steady development and consistency throughout camp and the preseason. It’s a long shot, but not a fantasy.
In Other News...
Saints Camp Battle Could Force A Defensive Line Shakeup
The Saints have spent back-to-back drafts reinforcing the middle of their defensive line, taking Christen Miller in the second round this year after adding Vernon Broughton in the third round last spring. That kind of investment usually means training camp is going to be crowded, and this one figures to be no different with Miller and Broughton joining a group that already includes Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd.
What makes the battle even more interesting is that the numbers may not tell the whole story once Brandon Staley starts sorting through personnel and game plans. New Orleans wants to keep tightening up its run defense and has already shown progress there, but the way the Saints deploy their interior linemen could change enough that the real competition is not for every available job, only for the spots that truly matter. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Rattler Enters A Preseason That Could Change Everything
Spencer Rattler heads into the preseason with more than a backup job at stake. The Saints are sorting out the quarterback depth chart behind Tyler Shough, and Rattler is in direct competition with Zach Wilson for the No. 2 role. For a player still trying to carve out his place in the league, those snaps matter not just for New Orleans, but for anyone around the NFL looking for a young quarterback with something to prove.
The preseason also gives Rattler a chance to show what he can do in limited work, which is exactly the sort of window teams use to reassess a players standing. New Orleans views him as a valuable piece, so there is no urgency to move him, but the way he performs over the next few weeks could shape how the Saints think about their quarterback room and whether another club starts asking the right questions. [Read more 🡒]