The New Orleans Saints are at a crossroads following the sudden retirement of veteran quarterback Derek Carr. With no established starter on the roster, a quarterback competition has emerged, and former Saints quarterback Chase Daniel believes he knows who should lead the team forward.
Daniel Sees Rookie Tyler Shough as Immediate Answer at Quarterback
Chase Daniel, who spent five seasons with the Saints in two separate stints, offered a frank assessment on Monday’s episode of The Facility podcast. The retired signal-caller pointed to rookie Tyler Shough as the best option to take over as the Saints’ starting quarterback.
“The Saints have zero quarterback wins on their roster… That’s why I think they go with the rookie,” Daniel said. “And the thing about Tyler Shough, he is Kellen Moore’s guy. The other two guys on the roster, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler, they were not drafted by Kellen Moore. Kellen Moore hand-picked this guy.”
Tyler Shough will be QB1 for the #Saints Day 1.
What sold them? Elite arm talent + high-level football IQ.
Here’s a 2-play breakdown on why New Orleans believes he’s the guy to turn this franchise around. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FbCQRKywV9
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel)
Shough, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Haener, and Rattler are in the Saints’ quarterback room right now. Despite head coach Kellen Moore’s public claim that “all three quarterbacks would have equal opportunity to compete for the starting job,” Daniel expects the rookie to quickly separate himself.
“There’s going to be some bumps. He’s a rookie, but I do believe he’s a day one starter,” Daniel added.
The Saints made their biggest quarterback investment since they took Archie Manning in 1971 when they selected Shough with the 40th overall pick. The 25-year-old spent six seasons in college, finishing at Louisville, where he threw for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final year.
After Carr’s retirement due to a labral tear and degenerative rotator cuff issues in his throwing shoulder, the Saints found themselves without a reliable starter. The team struggled to a winless record in seven games without Carr last season, highlighting their need for stability under center.
In the aftermath of Carr’s departure, Shough addressed the situation with a team-first approach. “That’s all you can ask for is an opportunity, at any position,” he said. “And I’m going to treat it the same way, as if whoever is on the roster, I’ve got to continue to grow and get better and do my best to elevate the QB room and the team.”
Neither Haener nor Rattler has managed to stand out as a potential NFL starter. With Shough’s maturity and extended college experience, Daniel’s support for the rookie carries weight. Whether Moore follows that path remains to be seen, but all eyes will be on New Orleans’ quarterback battle heading into summer workouts.