BREAKING: Spencer Rattler Expected to Leave New Orleans Saints Amid Quarterback Room Shakeup
METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints’ quarterback pecking order has undergone a seismic shift just two years after the franchise selected Spencer Rattler in the 2024 NFL Draft, and now, according to league sources and mounting speculation, the former fifth-round pick is on the verge of exiting the Big Easy.
As the 2026 season approaches, the Saints are firmly committed to Tyler Shough as their franchise signal-caller. This commitment has left the 25-year-old Rattler, who started the first eight games of the 2025 campaign, as the odd man out in a suddenly crowded quarterback room—a reality that is expected to culminate in a trade or release before the start of the regular season .
The writing has been on the wall since the midpoint of last year. After a fierce training camp battle, Rattler initially won the starting job over the rookie Shough. He took the reins for the first half of the 2025 season, completing 68% of his passes for 1,586 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions . Despite the respectable stat line, the Saints struggled mightily, losing 13 of the 14 games Rattler has started over his two-year tenure in New Orleans .
Head Coach Kellen Moore made the difficult decision to bench Rattler in Week 8 following a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shough seized the opportunity and “never looked back,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano . With Shough now firmly entrenched as the QB1, and the Saints having signed former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson in the 2026 offseason to compete for the backup role, Rattler’s path to playing time has evaporated .
The Shough Era Has Begun
General Manager Mickey Loomis and Coach Moore have been transparent about their confidence in Shough. Following the 2025 season, Moore heaped praise on the young quarterback, stating the team is “excited to have a full offseason to build around him” .
While Moore also commended Rattler for putting “really good film” out there, calling him a “starting-caliber quarterback,” the actions of the front office tell a different story . By adding Wilson—a player with similar draft pedigree and starting experience—the Saints have effectively created a direct competition for the QB2 slot, a competition they may not need Rattler to win if they can recoup draft capital for him.
“The team signed former No. 2 pick Zach Wilson this offseason to add to its QB room,” Graziano wrote recently. “If Rattler’s the odd man out, he should generate interest” .
Destination: Denver?
If Rattler is indeed donning a new uniform in 2026, the most logical landing spot appears to be the Denver Broncos, where head coach Sean Payton holds a significant amount of sway.
Payton, who led the Saints for 15 years, maintains “strong ties” to the New Orleans organization . With the Broncos currently rostering Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger as backups to starter Bo Nix—who is recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in the playoffs—Denver represents a prime market for a young, cheap arm with starting experience .
Rattler is currently playing on a cost-controlled rookie contract. According to contract data from Spotrac and Over the Cap, Rattler is signed through 2027 with a base salary of just over $1 million for the 2026 season and a manageable cap hit of approximately $1.15 million . For a Broncos team looking to add depth without breaking the bank while Nix heals, the financials work seamlessly.
ESPN has specifically named the Broncos as a “team to watch” regarding Rattler, noting that Payton’s familiarity with the Saints’ front office could facilitate a deal .
A Locker Room Favorite
Despite the on-field struggles—the Saints lost all seven games Rattler played as a rookie in 2024—the quarterback has maintained a powerful ally in the locker room: wide receiver Chris Olave.
In a passionate defense of his teammate following the 2025 season finale, Olave made it clear where he stands on Rattler’s future. The receiver argued that Rattler is not a career backup and deserves a shot to lead a team.
“I don’t believe he’s a backup quarterback in this league,” Olave told reporters. “I feel like Spencer done a great job when he was back there starting at quarterback. He deserves another opportunity to be a starting quarterback in this league. I don’t feel like there’s few quarterbacks that’s better than him” .
Olave pointed to the difficulty of New Orleans’ schedule during Rattler’s starts, noting that five of the first seven opponents made the playoffs. “He never talked down on nobody. I never felt like it was his fault,” Olave added .
The Bottom Line
For the Saints, moving on from Rattler makes financial sense. If cut or traded before the 2026 season, the Saints would absorb a dead cap hit of roughly $168,000—a negligible amount relative to their overall cap situation . Keeping him as a third-stringer is a luxury they may not be able to afford, especially if Wilson impresses during OTAs and training camp.
Rattler has been a full participant in OTAs this spring after dealing with a finger injury that sidelined him for the 2025 regular-season finale . He is healthy and, by all accounts, showing the same arm talent that once made him a Heisman Trophy favorite at Oklahoma.
However, talent alone isn’t enough in the NFL’s quarterback market. Opportunity is the ultimate currency, and in New Orleans, that window has slammed shut.
As the Saints look toward a future sculpted by Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler is preparing for a fresh start—likely with Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos waiting on the other end of the line.
This is a developing story.
