The idea of drafting a quarterback to sit for a year looks drastically different without Derek Carr involved. Spencer Rattler starting ahead of a quarterback like Jalen Milroe or possibly Jaxson Dart comes with a altered future outlook.
The door does remain open for Carr to play in 2025, technically, so that can’t be fully ruled out. He could find a doctor that sees rehab as the proper path to heal his shoulder. In that hypothetical, Carr could return to the field in the upcoming season.
Carr’s shenanigans like sharing a car review on the day the New Orleans Saints begin workouts tells you exactly where his mind is at, though. He clearly doesn’t want to be in New Orleans, so it feels unlikely he’d be in any rush to return.
Carr’s presence would have provided the Saints with a clear starter, limited pressure for the rookie to play immediately and also created a clear succession plan. That begins to feel less and less likely, so an alternate plan is Rattler and a young rookie battle it out in training camp.
If Rattler starts this year and plays well, it muddies the water a bit. The question becomes do you continue to roll with Rattler or turn to the player drafted in 2025? It creates a conundrum any team would take. Having two young quarterbacks you think could be your franchise quarterback is best hard decision you’d have to make.
Milroe and Dart are the best examples of this. Many expect Milroe to need a year to sit and develop. His athleticism takes priority, but he isn’t viewed as a Year 1 starter. That clears the way for Rattler to start for a season. Some feel the same way about Dart due to the limited nature of his collegiate offense. If he is drafted in the first round, however, it is likely he’ll be pushed into an immediate starting role in New Orleans.
Starting Rattler over Dart or Milroe could result in the rookie being given a second chance in Year 2 because that is when they were expected to be ready anyway. The situation is much less complicated with a mid-round selection. Rattler and a fourth round pick competing in training camp would be settled with some finality. The Saints would be unlikely run that battle back in 2026. The next step would be to turn towards the 2026 NFL draft if quarterback play is weak this season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints may struggle to redshirt a rookie QB without Derek Carr
The idea of drafting a quarterback to sit for a year looks drastically different without Derek Carr involved. Spencer Rattler starting ahead of a quarterback like Jalen Milroe or possibly Jaxson Dart comes with a altered future outlook.
The door does remain open for Carr to play in 2025, technically, so that can’t be fully ruled out. He could find a doctor that sees rehab as the proper path to heal his shoulder. In that hypothetical, Carr could return to the field in the upcoming season.
Carr’s shenanigans like sharing a car review on the day the New Orleans Saints begin workouts tells you exactly where his mind is at, though. He clearly doesn’t want to be in New Orleans, so it feels unlikely he’d be in any rush to return.
Carr’s presence would have provided the Saints with a clear starter, limited pressure for the rookie to play immediately and also created a clear succession plan. That begins to feel less and less likely, so an alternate plan is Rattler and a young rookie battle it out in training camp.
If Rattler starts this year and plays well, it muddies the water a bit. The question becomes do you continue to roll with Rattler or turn to the player drafted in 2025? It creates a conundrum any team would take. Having two young quarterbacks you think could be your franchise quarterback is best hard decision you’d have to make.
Milroe and Dart are the best examples of this. Many expect Milroe to need a year to sit and develop. His athleticism takes priority, but he isn’t viewed as a Year 1 starter. That clears the way for Rattler to start for a season. Some feel the same way about Dart due to the limited nature of his collegiate offense. If he is drafted in the first round, however, it is likely he’ll be pushed into an immediate starting role in New Orleans.
Starting Rattler over Dart or Milroe could result in the rookie being given a second chance in Year 2 because that is when they were expected to be ready anyway. The situation is much less complicated with a mid-round selection. Rattler and a fourth round pick competing in training camp would be settled with some finality. The Saints would be unlikely run that battle back in 2026. The next step would be to turn towards the 2026 NFL draft if quarterback play is weak this season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints may struggle to redshirt a rookie QB without Derek Carr
