The New Orleans Saints, once again, are at a crossroads. They can choose to press forward with the mildly competitive (and quickly aging) roster they currently have, or they can scrap it and start a full-scale rebuild. After nearly five years of football purgatory, the best option may be to start fresh.
If New Orleans does decide to rebuild, difficult questions start popping up. First and foremost, who's going to be under center moving forward? Spencer Rattler has shown some encouraging signs so far this season after winning the starting job over rookie Tyler Shough, but he might not have the physical tools to become an elite quarterback. If the Saints end up picking near the top of the 2026 NFL Draft, they would have to at least consider drafting Rattler's replacement.
The top choice is already starting to become crystal clear. Indiana prospect Fernando Mendoza has risen to the top of mock drafts over the last month, and he could become the Saints' next star quarterback.
Saints could make Fernando Mendoza their next QB
Quarterback prospects often come out of nowhere to become early draft picks. Jayden Daniels and Cam Ward were barely on NFL radars entering their final collegiate seasons, and both saw their stock rise dramatically. Mendoza might be the newest example.
The Hoosiers' quarterback has been tearing up defenses early in the season. After starting the year with a few dominant performances against lesser opponents, he's continued his elite play in back-to-back wins over Big 10 foes. His electric performance against a then top-ten Illinois team put the rest of the football world on notice.
At 6'5" and 225 pounds, Mendoza has the ideal frame for an NFL QB. His strong arm allows him to make any throw on the field, but his true superpower is his ability to read defenses. He seems to always know where to throw the ball and can do so with pinpoint accuracy. He even brings some juice as a runner, tallying over 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground this year.
The Saints can't continue settling for decent options instead of completely starting over. Rattler may be good enough to get by, but he hasn't proved himself to be the quarterback to lead this team into a new era. It's still early in the season, but it's beginning to look like Mendoza is the best answer for New Orleans.