The New Orleans Saints will still look for a franchise quarterback after the season, despite the high praise for Tyler Shough. A year ago, the same team management fanbase touted Spencer Rattler as the second coming of Patrick Mahomes. Granted, hyperbole is the currency that organizations trade in when they don’t seem to know what the future holds.
Shough enjoyed a late surge in attention towards the end of the draft cycle. Now that the hype of the draft has subsided, the franchise will truly see what type of quarterback the former Louisville standout can evolve into. One writer believes that the franchise will go in a different direction next season.
New Orleans Saints Projected to Select Local Talent as Future Franchise Quarterback in 2026
If you look at the entirety of the Saints’ history with quarterbacks, you will see quite the eclectic mix of castoffs and reclamation projects. In all honesty, if Drew Brees doesn’t fail his physical in Miami, New Orleans probably does not own a Lombardi Trophy. In the NFL, some teams just struggle when it comes to developing young players into future franchise leaders.
The San Francisco 49ers excel where New Orleans struggles. Now, management can reverse that negative trend and select a player that will become the leader of the team from day one, hopefully ushering in a new day in The Big Easy.
According to Brentley Weissman from PFSN, he believes the team will look about an hour north of the Caesar’s Palace Superdome for their future passer, writing:
“I don’t believe that Tyler Shough will be the answer at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and because of that, I think the team will look to add one high in the 2026 NFL Draft. One quarterback that I think is highly intriguing is Garrett Nussmeier, the LSU Tigers starter.”
If you drill down on the scenario, everything checks out. Once upon a time, the team signed an older rookie quarterback that they thought could do everything. Tayson Hill didn’t just disappoint; his exorbitant contract annually places a strain on the salary cap.
Now, Shough’s second-round pay does not come close. Under those circumstances, the Saints can ride the 2025 season out with him before casting their gaze upon the LSU signal caller.
Rarely will you see a quarterback, coach, and team location align perfectly as Garrett Nussmeier does. First, in leading the Tigers, the city and fanbase already know him, as the two teams share a state. Next, Kellen Moore, known for innovative playcalling, needs a quarterback with daring and above-average arm talent.
Moreover, Moore, as a former quarterback himself, can understand the pressure that Nussmeier will face if New Orleans calls his name. Additionally, Moore will help cure the young quarterback of taking foolish risks like forcing the ball into windows that close immediately after opening. For example, his 12 interceptions led the SEC last season.
The Saints need not just a spark but a catalyst. Sean Payton and Drew Brees left the team around the same time. Since then, a never-ending flood of mediocre coaches and quarterbacks limped down Bourbon Street. Now, with a rookie head coach, fresh off a Super Bowl, bringing in Nussmeier could be the solution to a half-decade’s worth of problems.