The New Orleans Saints’ 2025 season came to an end Sunday afternoon with a tight 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. This Week 18 result snapped a four-game winning streak for head coach Kellen Moore’s team, which found new life in the second half of the season.
Promoting rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to QB1 over then-starter Spencer Rattler was one of the moves that sparked this run. Rattler, however, still has believers throughout the Saints’ organization that he can be a good NFL starter, including one of the franchise’s best players.
Chris Olave Heaped Praise on Backup Quarterback Spencer Rattler
A fifth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2024, Rattler took over under center after Derek Carr announced his retirement last offseason. The Phoenix native started eight games for the Saints this season, completing 67.7% of his passes for 1,586 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Compiling a QBR of 49.5, Rattler was 1-7 as a starter. Shough finished the year 5-4 under center, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, ten touchdowns, and six interceptions. The 2025 second-round pick also rushed for three scores, posting a QBR of 49.2.
Shough finished the season ranked 23rd overall in PSFN’s Quarterback Impact with a C grade, while Rattler came in at 35 overall with a D+ grade. The Saints’ offense subsequently averaged four more points with Shough leading the unit, who is surely the franchise’s future at quarterback.
Star wideout Chris Olave, however, is still a believer in Rattler and expressed his support for the backup quarterback, according to ESPN Saints Reporter Katherine Terrell.
“Spencer is a great quarterback. I don’t believe he’s a backup in this league. In this world nowadays, people always want to point the finger at somebody when something goes wrong. I feel like Spencer did a great job. He deserves another opportunity to be a starting quarterback in this league.
“I don’t feel like there’s 32 quartebacks better than him. The way he handled himself when he got benched, I feel like I’ll always be a Spencer fan. … I wish the best for him in the future.”
The second-year QB still has two years left on his four-year, $4,356,480 contract with the Saints. Considering his current deal and upside, Rattler could have some trade value, especially with multiple franchises in need of an upgrade at the NFL’s most important position.
The 2025 quarterback draft class comes with a lot of questions outside of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, which means a player like Rattler could get another opportunity to lead an NFL franchise. Time will tell if that happens as the Saints look forward to a critical offseason.
