It's a time of fresh beginnings for the New Orleans Saints.
Following quarterback Derek Carr's retirement, the Saints will have a different head coach and quarterback from Week 1 of the previous season for the first time since 2006 (head coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees).
This will be the first time since 2006 that the #Saints started a season with both a new head coach AND a new quarterback.
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) May 10, 2025
Change is in the air, and with it comes some important questions. Here are three we're monitoring the closest.
Derek Carr's surprising retirement announcement opened the Saints up to a training-camp competition.
The Saints selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round (No. 40 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, making him the team's highest-drafted quarterback since Archie Manning (No. 2 overall, 1971).
He should be considered the favorite despite first-year head coach Kellen Moore saying it's an open competition between Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener.
Kellen Moore said that Shough, Rattler and Haener will compete for the starting job
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 10, 2025
Shough has the benefit of being Moore's handpicked option, whereas the former Eagles offensive coordinator inherited Rattler and Haener. Both flopped when given starting opportunities last season as Carr dealt with injuries.
Rattler started six games and went 0-6 while completing 57 percent of his pass attempts for 1,317 yards (5.8 yards per attempt), four touchdowns and five interceptions, while Haener was benched at halftime of his lone start after going 4-of-10 for 49 yards and an interception at home against the Commanders.
Staley has gained most of his NFL experience with a base 3-4 defensive scheme (three defensive linemen, four linebackers), which is a departure from the 4-3 scheme the Saints ran under former head coach Dennis Allen.
New Orleans spent years drafting players for that formation, so it might not instantly switch to a 3-4 alignment in 2025.
"So much of how you're going to play is the type of personnel that you're going to be coaching," Staley said at the start of free agency in March.
The Saints lack true 3-4 outside linebackers. Edge defenders Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan have been primary 4-3 defensive ends during their careers.
However, Young suggested earlier this offseason that his role won't change regardless of the scheme.
"At the end of the day, you're playing on the edge most of the time it's the same rules."
The Saints offensive line has been a disappointment for the past few seasons. It's a good thing, then, that its 2025 first-round pick is open to helping the unit wherever he's most needed.
During the first week of the team's rookie minicamp, ESPN Saints reporter Katherine Terrell observed that Kelvin Banks Jr., the No. 9 overall pick in April's 2025 NFL Draft, took snaps at left tackle, left guard and right tackle.
Kelvin Banks Jr. played at multiple positions, including LT, LG, RT
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) May 10, 2025
After Saturday's practice, Banks expressed comfort playing wherever the Saints place him.
"Like I've always said my whole life, 'Wherever I play, that's where I'll play at.' I just want to be able to help the team," Banks said.
He doesn't care what position he plays, @Kelvinbanksjr12 just wants to help the team #Saints pic.twitter.com/iyCQOj4ETf
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025
Per Pro Football Focus, 2,774 of Banks' 2,776 career snaps at Texas came at left tackle. That would be his most logical home in New Orleans.
Banks offsets his slightly below-average 33.5-inch arm length with an above-average 84.375-inch wingspan. Slotting Banks in at left tackle would also allow 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga to shift back to right tackle, where he played at Oregon State, while allowing the team to keep 2022 draft bust Trevor Penning on the bench.
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The ongoing saga with the NFL Players Association has taken another turn, as the organization is also reportedly the subject of a federal investigation. ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler reported on Friday that there is an ongoing criminal investigation involving the NFLPA regarding potential misuse of funds and self-enrichment of union officials. A senior union attorney sent a memo to NFLPA officials this week informing them of the federal probe. The document states that the NFLPA is "now on notice of financial actions that may be criminal" and that the union faces "immediate threats requiring prompt actions," according to ESPN. While the document did not specify which individuals are part of the criminal investigation, the notice was sent days after executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and director of strategy J.C. Tretter resigned from their positions with the NFLPA. Howell was accused of misusing union funds and faced other troubling allegations. Tretter resigned because he felt like he was left to take the heat for the scandal that has been unfolding, though he has denied any wrongdoing. The NFLPA is searching for an interim executive director. ESPN reports that the memo sent to union officials this week warns that potentially hiring an outside executive director might not be a wise move without knowing exactly how deep "the problems may be." Howell was the executive director of the NFLPA for two years.
The New York Yankees didn't come into the season with the strongest third base situation, and it only got worse over time. They converted traditional second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the hot corner after getting him at the Trade Deadline last season and installed a timeshare with him, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera there in 2025. However, the latter player broke his ankle on May 12, and the Yankees released the now 37-year-old LeMahieu on July 10. Chisholm was primarily back at second at that point, so this left Peraza and Jorbit Vivas as their only true remaining third basemen. With Peraza hitting .147 and Vivas hitting .164, it was clear what the team's biggest need was. That's why it acquired veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday. New York manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts about the 30-year-old before Friday's bout with the Philadelphia Phillies, via SNY. "I know there's real offensive potential there. I know he's had real offensive success, as well as some struggles there over the last calendar year or two," he said. "It seems like over the last month he's really started swinging the bat like he's capable of. He can impact the ball, he can control the strike zone, he's had some swing-and-misses that have probably hurt him a little bit." "But then he can really defend over there," he continued. "The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing." McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 homers and 35 RBI over 100 games this season. He also has a .978 fielding percentage and six errors. Right-handed pitcher Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) will start for the Yankees against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) on Friday.
Having been in an on and off relationship for over two years, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas are quite familiar with each other and their families. It comes as no surprise when the Spanish WTA star appeared to be in agreement with a statement by former player Ivan Ljubicic, where the Croat urged parents of tennis stars to focus less on tennis and more on raising their kids. The high-profile couple made their relationship public in May 2023, and were seen at each other's matches. A year later, they would take to social media to announce they had split ways, only to get back together three weeks later. Known for his volatility on the court, Tsitsipas would engage in a rather heated exchange with his father Apostolos during an opening round loss against Kei Nishikori at the 2024 Canadian Open. The elder Tsitsipas was acting as Stefanos coach at that point, and the Greek star would later take shots at his father in his post-match conference. However, Tsitsipas would later reveal he had apologized to his father soon after the incident. In an interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas stated both men had a long conversation, during which they aired their grievances and the former World No.3 admitted to apologizing to his dad. Badosa co-signs statement by Ljubicic "We discussed it, from my side I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part," said Tsitsipas to SDNA. "We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don't happen again and such tensions don't arise again." Ivan Ljubicic, former player who would later coach Roger Federer during the tail end of his career, would chime in on the role of tennis parents, a day after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. "Following last night, second note to parents: your role is CRUCIAL," said Ljubicic. "Your responsibility is to build independent, responsible, strong human beings. Let the professionals do their job, make sure they have all they need. I promise that this is the best formula." Soon after Tsitsipas' interview with SDNA was published, Badosa would return to Ljubicic's post and express her support. "Soooo good ", wrote the Spanish WTA star on Twitter. Although Badosa did not mention Apostolos specifically, the elder Tsitsipas has received backlash for being overbearing towards Stefanos.
Talen Horton-Tucker spent the 2024-25 season playing for the Chicago Bulls. He finished the year with averages of 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field and 33.6% from the three-point range in 58 games. This summer, Horton-Tucker became a free agent who is available to sign with any team in the league. On July 26, he still remains unsigned. Horton-Tucker was the 46th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Iowa State. He spent the first three years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. During that span, Horton-Tucker became a fan-favorite. Via Ballislife.com (on December 14, 2020): "20-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker put on a show in the Lakers win over the Clippers! 33 PTS 11/17 FG 4/5 3PT 10 REB 4 AST 4 STL" Horton-Tucker has also spent time with the Utah Jazz (in addition to the Bulls and Lakers) over six seasons. The 24-year-old has career averages of 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 42.7% from the field and 29.9% from the three-point range in 305 games. Via Legion Hoops (on April 8, 2022): "Talen Horton-Tucker as the Lakers’ first option tonight: 40 (!!!) points 54% FG 4 steals 3 assists 3 rebounds" As for the Bulls, they finished the 2024-25 season as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 39-43 record. They missed the NBA playoffs for the third straight season.