Replacing Brees was never going to be easy.
Since the retirement of Hall of Fame-bound Drew Brees in 2020, the New Orleans Saints have been in quarterback purgatory.
No fewer than eight players have lined up under-centre in the past four seasons, from first year rookies to 11-year veterans.
In that time, the team has gone 9-8, 7-10, 9-8 and currently stand at 5-9 with three games left in the 2024 season.
None of those results were good enough to reach the post-season. They were also not bad enough to garner a high enough draft pick to potentially bring in their next franchise quarterback.
The 2025 draft class looks light on quarterbacks who could be transformative for a team, so this issue is unlikely to be resolved for some time.
The Saints will likely look to invest in the trenches and at skill positions in April, and wait for an opportunity in future draft classes to target their new signal-caller.
Is the next guy in the room?
After being selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Spencer Rattler started to generate some buzz in preseason.
Since then, the Saints fanbase has gone to war with itself. Most fans seemed to accept that Rattler has a chance at a starting role at some point.
However, you were in one of two camps. You were all-in on the hype surrounding the rookie and wanted him to replace Derek Carr this year. Or you pleaded restraint and wanted to see him sit for 2024, learn under an establish veteran and take his opportunity next year.
The latter approach worked for Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes. It has also worked repeatedly for Green Bay.
Quarterback development in college has sadly taken a negative turn in recent years, with college athletes often transferring around and not truly learning how to be a field general.
When Derek Carr was injured earlier this season, Rattler got his chance, albeit behind a heavily-depleted offensive line and without many targets to throw the ball.
Unsurprisingly, it was a tough three games, and the Saints dropped every one.
Another chance for Rattler
After Carr’s perhaps ill-advised acrobatics and resulting fractured hand against the New York Giants, the Saints will again turn to Rattler against the Green Bay Packers for Monday Night Football.
He says he has learned lessons from earlier this year. Indeed, he looked much improved after coming in to replace Jake Haener against the Washington Commanders and was one play away from pulling off an unlikely upset.
But while he will be walking into a rejuvenated offensive line, the receiving corp is even thinner. With Alvin Kamara also out, he will also lack his safety valve for when the Packers bring pressure.
This is a great chance for Kendre Miller to show he can follow in Kamara’s footsteps as the next star running back for the Saints.
This season may well have drifted away from the team after the seven-game losing streak. Now it is time to see what the next-guys up can do. And maybe, just maybe, we can have some more fun in the process.
