The New Orleans Saints enter training camp facing a glaring question at quarterback after Derek Carr’s retirement. Carr’s exit has left the Saints with their biggest weakness squarely under center, and on Monday, ESPN’s NFL analyst Mike Clay pointed to quarterback as the team’s softest spot.
Amid the uncertainty, the spotlight shifts to Tyler Shough. Clay says that the 25-year-old rookie, selected in the second round, will be prepared to handle the immediate pressure. Unlike most first-year quarterbacks, Shough arrives in New Orleans with experience gained from an extended college career.
“Quarterback. Derek Carr’s sudden retirement has left the Saints in rebuild mode under center,” Clay wrote. “Second-round rookie Tyler Shough is the best bet to emerge as a viable starter, and perhaps he’ll be more pro-ready than most first-year QBs, considering he’s 25 years old. Recent Day 3 fliers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener struggled in relief of Carr last season.”
Shough’s name drew extra attention during the NFL draft as he was the last player drafted who was born in the 1990s.
Last season, both Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener received starting opportunities after Derek Carr’s injury, but neither managed to seize the role. Rattler started seven games and completed 130 of 228 passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Haener appeared in eight games, starting just one, and completed 46.2% of his passes for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Saints are in no position to gamble as they enter a rebuilding phase. They need stability at quarterback, and Tyler Shough may be the solution they’re looking for.
