The New Orleans Saints' upcoming training camp will feature a competition to see who will back up quarterback Derek Carr.
The Saints drafted Jake Haener in the fourth round last season and doubled down in 2024, adding Spencer Rattler with a fifth-round pick. The two young quarterbacks will compete through the preseason to be QB2.
"That thing is going to battle out all throughout training camp," Saints coach Dennis Allen said, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.
Haener's rookie season got off to a wobbly start. He missed the first six games following a PED suspension. He didn't play in the regular season, with Jameis Winston in town to back up Carr. Winston's departure opens the door for the Fresno State product to play a more prominent role.
"I'm going to be as prepared as I can," Haener said. "Just because there's a little competition, [it] doesn't scare me. This is the NFL and at the end of the day, if I want to accomplish my goals, I'm going to have to compete with a lot of different people."
Reports out of New Orleans suggest that, as expected, Haener was more consistent through spring workouts, avoiding turnovers. Rattler, meanwhile, went through ups and downs. The rookie threw some practice picks, but that doesn't bother Allen, who wants his quarterbacks to test things out during drills.
"Part of it, out here during this time, and even during training camp, is figuring out what you can do and what you can't do," Allen said during organized team activities, "And if I never really take a chance, then I never really know what you can or can't do in our league. And I think you find out here that the windows close a little faster than they do in college."
Rattler will be a key player to watch during camp and particularly when the preseason ramps up. He has the talent to one day be a potential NFL starter, but getting through progressions at NFL speed is a different beast. How Rattler develops at each stage of the preseason will tell the story of how his early career will unfold.
Carr didn't miss a start last season but was injured several times, getting knocked out of action in a couple of contests. That dynamic gives the backup QB job in New Orleans more prominence. Veteran journeyman Nathan Peterman was also signed this offseason, but the Saints want their two young QBs to battle it out for the right to be the next man up.