Spencer Rattler’s path this offseason is about more than just winning a backup job in New Orleans. It’s also about making himself valuable enough that the Saints might have a real trade decision to make.
The quarterback competition has shifted, with Rattler now lined up against Zach Wilson instead of Tyler Shough. That makes this a different kind of battle, but not a less important one. New Orleans knows how critical the backup quarterback spot can be, and this one has real weight attached to it.
Rattler’s NFL résumé is still a work in progress. He has only won one game, but the talent has shown up in flashes.
Wilson has more wins on his ledger, yet the last time he was on the field, things went badly. Both quarterbacks bring unfinished potential to the table, which is exactly why this fight is worth watching.
For the Saints, Rattler is useful. He already knows Kellen Moore’s system, and he has shown he can step in as a starter if needed. That makes him a strong insurance policy in New Orleans.
But that same value can also box him in. As long as he’s with the Saints, the path to a bigger role is blocked by Tyler Shough. That’s why the real objective for Rattler may be to land somewhere else - somewhere that gives him a chance to start again.
The preseason is where that case has to be made. If New Orleans handles it the way it did last season, Shough and the first unit may barely see the field, leaving Rattler and Wilson to split the work. That would give Rattler a chance to put his talent on display.
And that matters, because this isn’t just about beating Wilson. It’s an audition for every team that still has questions at quarterback. Rattler has already put enough on tape to get attention, and a strong preseason could push another team to ask what more he can become.
Nobody is penciling him in as the next Sam Darnold. But if he plays well, he could force a team to think harder about him. And if that happens, he’ll have done what he needed to do in the competition with Wilson, too.
The Saints aren’t going to move him for nothing. He has real value to the roster. Still, the right offer could change everything, and how far another team is willing to go will depend on what Rattler shows before the season starts.
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Saints Camp Battle Could Force A Defensive Line Shakeup
The Saints have spent consecutive drafts trying to fortify the middle of their defensive front, taking Christen Miller in the second round this year and Vernon Broughton in the third round last year. That investment has turned interior line work into one of the most interesting camp battles on the roster, with Miller and Broughton joining Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd in a crowded competition for playing time and, at least in theory, starting jobs.
Brandon Staleys arrival as defensive coordinator adds another layer to the fight, because the way New Orleans uses its interior linemen could change along with the scheme. The Saints want a sturdier run defense and more flexibility from snap to snap, which makes this more than a simple numbers game. By the end of camp, the real question may not be who is on the field, but how many of those spots are actually open. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Camp Could Flip Three Key Position Battles Fast
Training camp is where depth charts get rewritten, and the Saints have a few spots that could turn more quickly than expected once the pads come on. The backup quarterback job, the last receiver slot and the right side of the offensive line all have some intrigue attached to them, which is enough to make the coming practices and preseason games worth watching closely in New Orleans.
Brock Rechsteiner has a path if the receiver room opens up, especially if the ball security issues around him keep showing up, while the interior line picture could shift if Jeremiah Wright keeps developing at the right pace. Add in the quarterback competition behind the starter, and this is the kind of camp where a few strong weeks can change the conversation fast, even if the final answers are still a little ways off. [Read more 🡒]