The New Orleans Saints quarterbacks are perhaps the most inexperienced group in the league, but veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn’t concerned. Following Derek Carr’s surprise retirement, the Saints have rookie Tyler Shough battling inexperienced veterans Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting job. While Haener suffered an injury and couldn’t throw much, Cooks liked what he’s seen from all three thus far.
“I think [competition] should bring the best out of you, and so it’s fun seeing those guys compete,” Cooks said. “They’re all three of them having a great spring. And so it’s going to be fun to watch that competition…They’re playing with a lot of confidence, both of those guys. And you can see the competition going on. They can definitely sling it. So I look forward to see that grow.”
Brandin Cooks Endorses Saints Young Quarterbacks
Cooks first entered the league with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in 2014, so it’s safe to say that his second run with the team is quite a bit different than the first. While Shough, Rattler, and Haener will never match Brees’ greatness, hopefully one can develop into an adequate starter.
Tyler Shough has the best draft capital of the bunch and has the arm talent to succeed at the professional level. However, he will also be 26 by the time Week 1 rolls around, making him remarkably old for a rookie. He’s the favorite to start in 2025, but he’ll need to make a strong first impression to keep the job in 2026 and fend off what should be a strong group of quarterback prospects.
Spencer Rattler, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise as a rookie but needs to add more consistency. Filling in for an injured Derek Carr, the South Carolina product finished his inaugural campaign by completing 57.0% of his passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. Jake Haener, meanwhile, looked horrible in his lone start last year and faces an uphill battle to be anything more than the third-string quarterback.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images
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