The New Orleans Saints introduced their Week 1 starter on Tuesday, revealing that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler had crushed out rookie Tyler Shough for the position main the first-team offense.
Whereas it is at the moment settled, we would be shocked if we did not see Shough begin sooner or later this season.
The Saints aren’t the one crew that would change quarterbacks sooner or later this season. Under, we peer into our crystal ball and predict when New Orleans — and 4 different groups — will make a transfer.
Week 5
New Orleans Saints | After an 0-4 begin, calls to start out Shough will probably be too loud for Moore to disregard. The Saints open with three consecutive video games in opposition to the NFC West (Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks) and a street journey to five-time AFC East champion Buffalo Payments, giving them a sensible likelihood of getting into October winless.
Rattler and Shough put up comparable preseason numbers, and with the season doubtlessly going sideways early, a Week 5 residence sport in opposition to the New York Giants, one other crew projected to be among the many league’s worst, may very well be the right time to make a swap.
New York Giants | Talking of the Giants, they’ve their very own quarterback debate after shifting as much as choose quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25 general within the 2025 NFL Draft. He is at the moment Russell Wilson’s backup, however after a promising preseason, he could have shortened his time in that position.
New York additionally has a troublesome opening schedule with division video games in opposition to the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in Weeks 1 and a couple of, adopted by residence video games in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints will probably be considered one of its best video games all season, making it the right time for Dart to make his first begin.
Week 6
Indianapolis Colts | The Colts are actually going by with this, huh? Perhaps Daniel Jones will shock us and be 2025’s Sam Darnold, however we’re not relying on it.
Steichen will wish to give Jones as a lot time as attainable to show him proper, however at a sure level, the third-year head coach might want to make a change to salvage the locker room. One complication can be if Indianapolis trades Anthony Richardson, though that is inadvisable with one of many league’s shakiest starter conditions.
Week 14
Cleveland Browns | To Joe Flacco’s credit score, he is hung round for much longer than anybody predicted after the Baltimore Ravens changed him with Lamar Jackson in 2018. However after a profitable first stint in Cleveland, culminating in a 2023 Related Press Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award, we do not anticipate issues to go as effectively for the 18-year NFL veteran this time round.
Flacco ought to deliver a stage of competency lacking at quarterback final season when the Browns completed 3-14. However whereas they could be extra aggressive, there’s nonetheless an honest likelihood they’re out of the playoff image by the start of December. In that case, Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-rounder, ought to get the decision for his first begin in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, organising a showdown with fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
Week 15
Seattle Seahawks | This one can be the largest shock. Darnold had a career-best season final yr and was rewarded for it by signing a three-year, $100.5M free-agent contract with the Seahawks.
Nevertheless, the Seahawks chosen quarterback Jalen Milroe within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, elevating some uncertainty about how lengthy Darnold will probably be in Seattle’s plans. It additionally would not assist that the Seahawks have a suspect offensive line, and Darnold has struggled in opposition to strain by his profession.
His job will not be in jeopardy so long as he is successful video games, however a late-season slide will go away Milroe (or present QB2 Drew Lock) because the starter over the past 4 video games.
