Saints Happy With Young Quarterbacks After Carr’s Retirement

New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore said the team is not actively pursuing a veteran. Then again, ‘we’re always looking to upgrade.’

Kellen Moore, then Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator and New Orleans Saints head coach candidate, answers questions at the Caesars Superdome during the Super Bowl Opening Night in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2025. Michael DeMocker/Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints have no immediate plans to add a veteran quarterback.

Derek Carr, the team’s starter for the past two seasons, medically retired due to a torn labrum and degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. That left the Saints with three young quarterbacks on the roster: Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Tyler Shough. At a press conference Monday, Saints head coach Kellen Moore said there is more than enough experience on the coaching staff to make up for an older player.

“Certainly there’s times where if the opportunity presents itself, you feel like it’s a really good fit, we'd love to do it,” Moore said. “But we feel like we got some good guys here. They can certainly mentor each other at the same time, going through this process.”

Moore pointed to previous examples of young quarterback rooms that had success. His quarterback rooms in Dallas as both a player and coach were led by young players. The Los Angeles Chargers also had a young QB room with Justin Herbert and Easton Stick. In 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback room was led by five-year veteran Jalen Hurts and backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee.

Moore also pointed to the veteran presence on the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was drafted by the Saints in 1994 and played four seasons with New Orleans. He has 24 seasons of coaching experience in college and the NFL. Senior offensive assistant Scott Linehan has 36 years of coaching experience, 17 of which are in the NFL. Quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien played seven years in the NFL.

The Saints’ QB room is headlined by 2025 second-round draft pick Tyler Shough, 2024 second-round pick Spencer Rattler, and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener.