Three burning questions for 2025 Saints

Change is in the air, and with it comes some important questions. Here are three we're monitoring the closest.

1. Who starts at quarterback?

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.

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.

2. What does the defense look like under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley?

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."

3. Where will 2025 first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. play?

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.

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.

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.