kellen Moore Saints Decides their next starting QB between Derek Carr and Tyler Shough

Head Coach Kellen Moore is closely watching as the New Orleans Saints face uncertainty over the starting quarterback position for the 2025 NFL season. Derek Carr is dealing with injuries that impact his availability, while the franchise drafted promising Tyler Shough.

Carr has a though right shoulder injury that may require surgery. His performance, along with Kamara’s, was crucial in showcasing what New Orleans could have achieved last season, which was particularly underwhelming.

General manager Mickey Loomis confirmed Carr’s injury a few days ago but refrained from providing additional details. The uncertainty surrounding the status of the team’s star creates a risky situation, especially knowing there aren’t many options at the position. However, the Saints remain confident.

Who will be the Saints quarterback in the 2025 NFL season?

“Derek Carr will be the team’s starting quarterback if he recovers. I have nothing more to say about that at this moment,” general manager Loomis reiterated, according to NBC Sports, in response to a question about which player will take the starting QB role.

Before the draft, the Saints’ stance was to wait for clarification on Carr’s situation. Given the uncertainty, the franchise chose to select Shough, although part of the organization admitted that the situation hadn’t changed after the end of the seventh round. At the same time, Spencer Rattler remains another potential contender closely monitoring the situation.

Competition to be the Saints’ starting quarterback

As of now, the race for the starting job is between three players. Carr’s chances depend on a quick recovery, whether through surgery or not, to secure the starting role. Second-year professional Rattler has the opportunity to prove he can compete for the spot. Shough also enters the competition after joining the team, being selected in the second round of the NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick.

Why Saints Selected Tyler Shough Ahead Of Shedeur Sanders As NFL Draft Slide Continues

Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders has taken another gut punch as the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft rolls on. Widely considered below Sanders in prospect rankings, former Louisville Cardinals starter Tyler Shough became the third quarterback selected ahead of Sanders early in the draft.

With veteran quarterback Derek Carr’s status for next season up in the air due to a shoulder injury, the New Orleans Saints pulled the trigger on Shough early in the second round with the No. 39 overall pick. It’s now unclear whether Sanders, the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, will be selected at all in the second or third round on Friday. Rounds four through seven are set for Saturday.

After falling out of the first round on Thursday, Sanders expressed optimism about Friday.

“We all didn’t expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything is possible,” Shedeur said, per Well Off Media. “I feel like this didn’t happen for no reason. All this is, of course, is fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance, we all know this shouldn’t have happened, but we understand we’re on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow’s the day, and we’re going to be happy regardless. Legendary.”

Shough’s selection does break one streak, however. The Saints last used a first or second-round pick on a quarterback in 1971 when they plucked soon-to-be NFL great Archie Manning.

Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Will Howard (Ohio State) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) are other quarterbacks still on the board along with Sanders.

Fox Sports analyst and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III was one of the many big names to sound the alarm on Sanders’ slide.

“When I’m seeing him drop, I’m like, ‘Why are we punishing this young man because he’s got confidence?” Fox Sports analyst Robert Griffin III said in a video posted to X. “Why are we punishing him because he went to Jackson State, an HBCU, and turned it around? Why are we punishing him because he went to Colorado and turned it around? Is it because of his daddy? Y’all that mad that he got his number retired?”

Griffin also shared his thoughts on Shough being picked over Sanders.

“Tyler Shough is a good QB. His arm is one of the more likely arms in the NFL Draft Class,” Griffin wrote on X. “His tape was not better than Shedeur Sanders’ tape. Period.”

“Coach Prime” posted the following message to X on Friday morning ahed of the second round:

“My bible says God uses the foolish things to confound the wise & he chose the weak things of the world that he may put to shame the strong! Please know God ain’t done & God is just really getting started. Enjoy this lesson & stop stressing,”

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis Announces Major Decision on Pending Fifth-Year Options

The Saints announced their decisions on Chris Olave and Trevor Penning’s fifth-year options.

The New Orleans Saints have announced their decisions regarding the fifth-year options for wide receiver Chris Olave and tackle Trevor Penning.

General Manager Mickey Loomis held a pre-draft press conference on Wednesday. While Loomis emphasized he would only answer questions on the upcoming draft, he eventually caved and answered about the team’s pending fifth-year option decisions.

Loomis confirmed the Saints will pick up star wide receiver Chris Olave’s fifth-year option, but decline tackle Trevor Penning’s.

Olave has been a bright spot on the Saints’ offense, posting two 1,000-yard seasons in his first three years. Despite the star wide receiver’s production since entering the league, there was uncertainty if New Orleans would pick up his option due to injuries. Olave has suffered four confirmed concussions in his NFL career, including two during the 2024 season.

Tackle Trevor Penning had a rough start to his career. From seeing minimal action as a rookie to being benched in his second year, it was always likely Penning’s option could be declined.

However, Penning showed growth after making a switch from left tackle to right tackle. While not flawless, Penning was able to start the entire 2024 season. He showed the potential to be a starting tackle for the Saints’ future with dominating reps over pass rushers.

Declining Penning’s option doesn’t mean he can’t be a part of the team’s future and Loomis made it clear by stating “that doesn’t mean we don’t love Trevor and expect him to be part of our team going forward.” The Saints want to see another season of growth from the young tackle in 2025 and a possible extension could be worked out before he hits free agency in 2026.

By picking up Olave’s option, the Saints are showing a commitment to keeping one of their core young pieces rostered and working towards a potential extension. With New Orleans likely to start a young quarterback in 2025, retaining a reliable target like Olave could be a key piece of development for the young passer.

“He is the best” Saints Ready to Make Massive Trade Deal for Star Running Back Alvin Kamara Replacement

Throughout his eight years with the New Orleans Saints, running back Alvin Kamara has solidified himself as one of the best at his position, being named to five Pro Bowls and Second-Team All-Pro twice.

Last season, he rushed 228 times for 950 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 68 receptions for 543 yards and two touchdowns.

However, Kamara will be 30 years old by the start of the 2025 season, and that’s why, in a Fox Sports mock draft, Henry McKenna predicts the Saints will trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, moving from No. 9 to No. 5 to select Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

“New Saints coach Kellen Moore just came from an Eagles offense that changed after Saquon Barkley arrived,” McKenna wrote.  “Jeanty is the best running back prospect since Barkley. So it’s a perfect match.”

There’s no doubt that Jeanty is an extremely talented player, finishing runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting in 2024 after racking up 2,601 rushing yards (second-most in FBS history) and 29 touchdowns on 374 attempts.

Of course, there’s a belief he could immediately come in and be many teams’ top running back option, but that wouldn’t be necessary with the Saints as Kamara is under contract through the 2026 season as part of his two-year, $24.5 million extension.

That means if this scenario did become a reality and the Saints moved on from Kamara when that deal is up, Jeanty would still have three seasons, including the fifth-year option, left in his rookie contract with the team.

BREAKING: Shedeur Sanders makes final decision Over New Orleans Saints move

Will Shedeur Sanders end up with the Saints?

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr could potentially miss the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury. This injury has turned up the urgency on the Saints to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL Draft.

Among all the quarterback prospects the Saints could pursue, Colorado signal caller Shedeur Sanders is the best option available. A lot of experts expect the Saints to select Sanders at pick No. 9 in the first round of the draft.

NFL Spinzone’s Lou Scataglia recently put together a mock draft for the NFL Draft. Scataglia predicted the Colorado signal caller would land with the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 21 rather than with the Saints.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers being able to grab Shedeur Sanders at pick 21 would be the ideal scenario,” Scataglia wrote. “The biggest threat to the Steelers quest to take Sanders, if that is what they want, is a team leap-frogging them with a trade up to the 20th pick, for example. Well, that did not happen in this mock draft, as Steelers GM Omar Khan is able to stay put and take who they hope to be their franchise QB.”

In this mock draft, Scataglia has the Saints passing up on Sanders at pick No. 9. With him falling all the way to pick No. 21, the Saints could explore a trade up scenario in this situation.

Either way, missing out on Sanders would be quite a disaster for the Saints, but there’s almost no chance the Steelers would pass up on the superstar prospect.