Pro Football Focus's John Kosko previewed PFF's starting quarterback rankings heading into the 2025 season. Dead last was Saints QB Tyler Shough.
Shough is currently one of two rookie quarterbacks expected to start next season, alongside Cam Ward, who is ranked 25th. Shough and Ward are the rookie quarterbacks most likely to start Week 1, so their inclusion on the list makes sense.
The list divides into six tiers based on recent performance and career trajectory: Elite, high-end starters, solid starters that have flashed or need more help, young players with a wide range of potential, veterans capable of solid play but could be quickly replaced, and low-end starters that aren't long-term options.
The Saints would be dead last no matter the starter
Although PFF projects Tyler Shough to be the starter in New Orleans, there is still a quarterback competition to be had. Derek Carr's sudden retirement in May has left the top spot open. However, Kosko says that the Saints quarterback room, featuring Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener, is the worst in the league, positioning the Saints at the bottom regardless of the starting quarterback.
Derek Carr's injuries led to multiple starting opportunities for Spencer Rattler during his rookie season, despite his selection in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. He went 0-6 but still managed to impress the team and fans while also breaking a Saints record. In his rookie year, Rattler completed 130 passes for 1,317 passing yards (the most by a rookie since Archie Manning in 1971), four touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Jake Haener, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, was another benefactor of Carr's injuries. Starting in one game, he would come in as the backup when Carr would be hurt during games. Haener struggled during his one start, which was also his first of his career, appearing to have the yips, and was pulled after only one quarter. In 2024, he would complete 18 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.