What to know about the quarterback room now that OTAs are in session.
Following Thursday’s practice session, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore has provided some insight into what the quarterback room will look like during OTAs and into the offseason.
“For the most part, the quarterbacks have just been rotating, just kind of by the day,” Moore said in a meeting with media. “I don’t want them looking into a ‘who’s in, who’s out?’, create a little bit of rhythm each day. …it’ll rotate throughout the whole offseason.”
The coach went on to say that third-year QB Jake Haener also took some reps with the ones earlier in the week before he suffered an oblique injury. He is expected to be back for training camp.
So, it appears that the battle for QB1 is between two for now. When practice was open to the media on Thursday, we got to see how the two potential starting quarterbacks—Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough—were doing under Moore’s system. On that day, Rattler was rolling with the ones.
Rattler, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, completed all eight of his passes, according to Ross Jackson of Lousianasports.net. Highlighting the set was an intermediate, tight-window completion for tight end Michael Jacobson.
Shough, who was selected in round two this past April, went six for seven, per Jackson. The highlight of the day, according to reports, was a deep sideline completion from him to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
The injury to Haener, while unfortunate, also benefits UDFA QB Hunter Dekkers. Dekkers, who left Iowa State following the 2022 season after being indicted on gambling charges, finished his college career at Iowa Western Community College in 2024.
His lone season as a starter for the cyclones saw him complete 66.1% of his passes for 3044 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, according to sportsreference.com. Last year for the Reivers, he completed 64.1% of his passes for 3806 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, according to the school’s website.
I’d say he’s a dark horse for a position on the 53-man roster.
Get better every day
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