The New Orleans Saints face a difficult decision behind Tyler Shough. New Orleans has Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson competing for the backup job, and both offer different strengths. Rattler, who is two years younger, has experience in the Saints' offensive system under head coach Kellen Moore, while Wilson offers more NFL experience; granted, it has been a somewhat rocky road.
In an appearance on Ari Meirov's "NFL Spotlight" podcast, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football said that the Saints could be willing to trade either quarterback, depending on interest. Meirov added that he has heard some teams could be interested in acquiring one of them.
“I think they’d be willing to trade one of them if the right offer is there,” Underhill said. “I think they like
all three. I know they really like Spencer quite a bit, but if the ROI was there— they spent a fifth on him — and somebody wants to give you more than you spent on him, yeah, I would see them being open to that offer.”
The Saints selected Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he started 14 games over his first two seasons. He's a valuable insurance policy behind Shough, but if another team offers more than the Saints initially invested, they could be convinced to come off their current stance.
Wilson has been volatile throughout training camp, as he's been throughout his NFL career. Underhill estimated that Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick, delivered two of the five best throws he witnessed while also showing four of the five worst.
“I would feel much better about the floor in a game with Spencer in there than I would with Wilson,” Underhill said. “But if you’re chasing ceiling, I think Wilson’s the guy over Rattler.”
Keeping three quarterbacks would ensure that the room is as complete as possible. Underhill believes that it would be the best outcome for the team, though things can change as the 53-man roster crunch nears. Roster spots are increasingly valuable, which could lead New Orleans to allow the trade market to break the tie between the two quarterbacks. The team doesn't appear determined to trade either quarterback. If the right offer arrives, though, another team could resolve one of the Saints' most interesting roster decisions.
To watch Underhill's full interview with Ari Meirov, click the link below:
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints may be hoping another team can make backup QB decision for them
