Insider updates how Saints are evaluating QBs during three-way competition

First-year New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore is overseeing a competition for the club's starting quarterback job between rookie Tyler Shough, 2024 fifth-round draft pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round choice Jake Haener.

ESPN Saints reporter Katherine Terrell shared Wednesday that "there's no obvious answer for the starting quarterback role so far." It looks likely that all three QBs will see playing time during New Orleans' preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 10. 

"During this early portion of camp, there has been an emphasis on how the quarterbacks respond to mistakes," Terrell explained. "One example was when Rattler was picked off for the first time on Day 2 of camp in 7-on-7 drills. He responded with a touchdown throw to (tight end) Juwan Johnson and ran in for a touchdown himself in 11-on-11 work later that practice. ...The coaches have also told the quarterbacks they want to see how they operate the offense and how effectively they communicate." 

Rattler went 0-6 as a starter and completed just 57 percent of 228 passes during his rookie season. Haener has thus far made just one NFL regular-season start. Meanwhile, ESPN's Dan Graziano is among those who believe that Shough will emerge as New Orleans' Week 1 starter, only because the current Saints coaching staff "has no prior connection to Rattler and Haener." 

FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook seem to agree. As of Wednesday morning, FanDuel had Shough as a -162 betting favorite to win the starting gig. DraftKings had the 2025 second-round pick at -200 odds at that time. 

"The Saints have practiced once in full pads so far, with Shough getting an extended look that day," Terrell continued. "It was an uneven day for the first outing in pads..." 

Terrell added that Rattler worked with the second team, while Haener "had only about half as many reps as the other two on Monday," working with the third-team offense. 

It appears that Moore is serious about having all three quarterbacks serve as active participants in the competition until their exhibition game versus the Chargers. Time will tell if one of the three signal-callers will emerge with a significant lead in the battle that could run through the end of the preseason.