Saints make QB decision after Derek Carr's retirement, and its bad news for Tyler Shough

The New Orleans Saints have made a plan to identify their quarterback starter after Derek Carr's shocking retirement

Updated on: May 11, 2025, 06:10:26 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The New Orleans Saints have made a plan to identify their quarterback starter after Derek Carr's shocking retirement. With rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener in the run for the job, head coach Kellen Moore said he wants to keep the field open. So, Shough, who was being touted as No. 1 for the job, might still have to prove himself before the season starts. Saints also have an option of QB shopping, getting a free agent as big as Aaron Rodgers to their roster. But that seems unlikely at the moment.

Tyler Shough is the likely replacement for Derek Carr as New Orleans Saints QB (AP)

Derek Carr, who had been New Orleans' mainstay since 2023, was nursing a shoulder injury. The 34-year-old reportedly underwent treatment and rehabilitation sessions, but his participation in the 2025 season was still in jeopardy.

On Saturday, Carr announced that he is retiring, leaving a massive vacuum in the Saints' offense. As questions about his successor came up, the franchise's head coach shared his immediate plan. Moore said that he will rotate all quarterbacks on the roster, give them opportunities, as one tries to seize the starting job.

“We’re going to let all three of these guys roll,” Moore said.

Kellen Moore further clarified that Carr's injury changed their draft strategy, and picking Shough was a well-thought-out move. “We certainly felt like adding a quarterback to that room would've been valuable under all circumstances.”

Tyler Shough is coming off a 3,195-yard college season, with 23 touchdowns to six interceptions. The 25-year-old started his collegiate career at Oregon and then spent three seasons at Texas Tech. He then joined the Louisville Cardinals.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Deion Branch said he is backing Shough this season.

“Tyler’s all that. I promise you. I want to be the person to quieten down all the grumblings that I have, probably, slightly heard. About ‘Oh, we didn’t take the right quarterback.’ No, you took the right quarterback, trust me, I promise you," Branch said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.