One shoulder injury to Derek Carr has changed the trajectory of the entire New Orleans Saints franchise. With Carr announcing his shocking retirement weeks before the 2025 NFL Draft, the organization had to scramble for someone else to take the mantle. Unfortunately, the free agency class wasn’t deep enough for New Orleans to splurge a considerable sum on someone.
Instead, they marched ahead to the draft, where they added Tyler Shough to the roster in the second round. With the only alternatives on the roster being Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Hunter Dekkers, it’s clear that the Saints don’t have a long-term plan with these guys at the helm. Unless Shough explodes into a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, their hopes have to be pinned to future drafts. And one analyst believes that the switch could happen in 2026 itself.
Could the New Orleans Saints Finally Get Reset Post Drew Brees?
Since the final years of Drew Brees on the roster, the front office has been borrowing for the future to remain competitive at the front. Under Brees, it made a ton of sense in an attempt to maximize the final years of an all-time great.
The idea was less noble with Carr as the signal-caller instead of Brees. However, New Orleans soldiered forward, albeit with far less grand a result. Carr’s retirement, though, now allows the Saints to reset their cap situation this year.
Simultaneously, they can also evaluate Shough as a quarterback in the league. A seven-year veteran coming out of college, he only got the actual starting job in his final collegiate year with Louisville. While his 2024 campaign was solid, he remains an unknown at the NFL level.
But the latest mock draft from PFSN, which has the Saints drafting with the third overall pick, doesn’t see them as a competitive team. That could reflect directly on Shough, as the organization will have a chance to draft a top-of-the-line quarterback.
For PFSN’s Owain Jones, that name is Drew Allar out of Penn State. A moderate dual threat, he had an exceptional 2024 campaign, tallying 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air while rushing for 302 yards and six touchdowns.
Noting his two-way capabilities, Jones proclaimed the Nittany Lions as national championship contenders depending on Allar’s performance. However, there were two areas he wanted to see the young quarterback focus on.
“However, he has fumbled the ball 10 times in the last two seasons,” Jones wrote. “The 6’5”, 236-pound senior quarterback still needs to improve his ability to throw with anticipation and ball placement and prove he can step up in big moments.”
Since 2023, Drew Allar leads the FBS with 38 3rd/4th down conversions on in-breaking routes. #1 selling point for Allar besides the arm talent imo, he could find these backside digs with a blindfold on pic.twitter.com/A8s6s4QtWk
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) July 15, 2025
But even with those question marks, Jones is sold on Allar continuing to improve in his potential final year at the collegiate level.
“All the traits are there for Allar to be a high first-round selection on his current trajectory and beat his PFSN College QB+ rating of 83.5 from a season ago,” continued Jones.
Allar could be the stability at the quarterback position that New Orleans has been chasing but hasn’t found yet. But with a top draft pick potentially on its cards, the Saints have a chance to clear out and start afresh from 2026.
