The New Orleans Saints are suddenly entering the 2025 season as one of the most uncertain teams in the entire NFL landscape. After a relatively quiet offseason, a shoulder injury to their quarterback, Derek Carr, turned out to be much worse than initially anticipated, forcing him into retirement.
That has left the starting quarterback job wide open, with three names — Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and rookie Tyler Shough — vying for the spot. The Saints also signed an undrafted free agent, Hunter Dekkers, but one analyst wants them to add a veteran presence to the room in the form of former second overall pick Carson Wentz.
Saints Predicted To Add Carson Wentz to QB Room
Carr’s retirement left the Saints without their anticipated starting quarterback. Rumors have linked the Saints to signal-callers like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, but no one has been added to the roster. With the Saints having invested the 40th overall pick in Shough, they are unlikely to sign a big name.
Head coach Kellen Moore has left the competition open for the starting job, and to provide a mentor and bring the best out of the young group, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicts the Saints could offer a deal to 32-year-old Wentz.
“In seven contests (six starts) as a rookie last season, Spencer Rattler threw for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 57 percent of his passes,” Moton wrote. “He’s the most experienced starter in the Saints’ quarterback room.
“Perhaps rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, and Rattler bring out the best in one another in a training camp battle. Still, the Saints should add veteran competition to challenge the young candidates. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Haener is dealing with an oblique injury. Wentz can push the young talent at the position. He could also provide a spark in the passing game with his big arm and ability to extend plays.”
Saints QB Jake Haener, part of a three-way competition to become the team’s starting quarterback, suffered an oblique strain at the end of Wednesday’s practice and now is expected to miss “a couple of weeks”, per league sources. Haener likely will miss the remainder of OTAs, but… pic.twitter.com/nSVcMkImze
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Wentz has worked under Andy Reid and Sean McVay in recent years with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams as a backup quarterback. That kind of mentorship should have left an impact, even if the results haven’t always shown it.
He struggled mightily in a 38-0 loss to Denver in Week 18 last season, but he was working with backup weapons and facing a tough defense. Wentz has a Pro Bowl on his résumé and ranks 16th in career touchdown passes among active players. At 32 years old, he still offers experience — and maybe a second wind.