The New Orleans Saints introduced their Week 1 starter on Tuesday, revealing that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler had overwhelmed out rookie Tyler Shough for the position main the first-team offense.
Whereas it is at present settled, we would be shocked if we did not see Shough begin in some unspecified time in the future this season.
The Saints aren’t the one crew that would change quarterbacks in some unspecified time in the future this season. Under, we peer into our crystal ball and predict when New Orleans — and 4 different groups — will make a transfer.
Week 5
New Orleans Saints | After an 0-4 begin, calls to start out Shough can be too loud for Moore to disregard. The Saints open with three consecutive video games towards the NFC West (Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks) and a highway journey to five-time AFC East champion Buffalo Payments, giving them a practical likelihood of getting into October winless.
Rattler and Shough put up comparable preseason numbers, and with the season doubtlessly going sideways early, a Week 5 dwelling recreation towards the New York Giants, one other crew projected to be among the many league’s worst, could possibly be the proper time to make a change.
New York Giants | Talking of the Giants, they’ve their very own quarterback debate after transferring as much as choose quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25 general within the 2025 NFL Draft. He is at present Russell Wilson’s backup, however after a promising preseason, he could have shortened his time in that position.
New York additionally has a tough opening schedule with division video games towards the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in Weeks 1 and a pair of, adopted by dwelling video games towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. The Saints can be considered one of its best video games all season, making it the proper time for Dart to make his first begin.
Week 6
Indianapolis Colts | The Colts are actually going by means of with this, huh? Perhaps Daniel Jones will shock us and be 2025’s Sam Darnold, however we’re not relying on it.
Steichen will need to give Jones as a lot time as doable to show him proper, however at a sure level, the third-year head coach might want to make a change to salvage the locker room. One complication could be if Indianapolis trades Anthony Richardson, though that is inadvisable with one of many league’s shakiest starter conditions.
Week 14
Cleveland Browns | To Joe Flacco’s credit score, he is hung round for much longer than anybody predicted after the Baltimore Ravens changed him with Lamar Jackson in 2018. However after a profitable first stint in Cleveland, culminating in a 2023 Related Press Comeback Participant of the Yr Award, we do not anticipate issues to go as effectively for the 18-year NFL veteran this time round.
Flacco ought to convey a stage of competency lacking at quarterback final season when the Browns completed 3-14. However whereas they could be extra aggressive, there’s nonetheless a good likelihood they’re out of the playoff image by the start of December. In that case, Dillon Gabriel, a 2025 third-rounder, ought to get the decision for his first begin towards the Tennessee Titans, organising a showdown with fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
Week 15
Seattle Seahawks | This one could be the largest shock. Darnold had a career-best season final 12 months and was rewarded for it by signing a three-year, $100.5M free-agent contract with the Seahawks.
Nevertheless, the Seahawks chosen quarterback Jalen Milroe within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, elevating some uncertainty about how lengthy Darnold can be in Seattle’s plans. It additionally does not assist that the Seahawks have a suspect offensive line, and Darnold has struggled towards stress by means of his profession.
His job will not be in jeopardy so long as he is profitable video games, however a late-season slide will go away Milroe (or present QB2 Drew Lock) because the starter over the past 4 video games.
