The Saints do not have a quarterback battle on their hands ... yet.
New Orleans committed to veteran starter Derek Carr when it signed him to a four-year, $150 million contract during the 2023 offseason.
His first season with the Saints wasn't bad — but it wasn't great, either.
Carr threw for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns with a 68.4-percent completion percentage and eight interceptions. New Orleans went 9-8 and missed out on both the NFC South division crown and an NFC wild card spot on a tiebreaker.
The Saints will have NFC South title expectations again in 2024, and there is no question, as of now, that Carr is the guy to achieve that goal. But could a QB controversy bubble up if Carr struggles and emerging rookie Spencer Rattler continues to show out in the preseason?
Take a look at New Orleans' quarterback depth chart going into the new season.
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Saints QB depth chart
Starter: Derek Carr
Carr is the Saints' sure-fire QB1 going into the 2024 NFL season.
Although New Orleans fans were displeased with his mediocrity in Year 1, Carr still had his team over .500 and knocking on the door of a division title and playoff spot.
He threw for more yards at a higher completion rate with more touchdowns and fewer interceptions than his previous season with the Raiders. Even if there were a few hiccups throughout the year — particularly with star wide receiver Chris Olave — Carr was still more than serviceable for a team that will have similar expectations to win the NFC South this year.
He gives the Saints their best chance to win football games, at least initially, without a doubt.
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Backup: Jake Haener
Although Rattler has stolen the spotlight through one week of the preseason, it's Haener who's listed as the backup quarterback on the Saints' depth chart.
New Orleans drafted Haener out of Fresno State with its fourth-round pick (No. 127) in the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not play a single regular season snap last year.
Haener started his NFL career with a six-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance on the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy . Once he was reinstated, he was listed as the fourth quarterback on the Saints' depth chart behind Carr, Jameis Winston, and QB/TE hybrid Taysom Hill.
With Winston leaving in free agency and Hill playing most of his snaps as a tight end, Haener has been bumped up to second-string. He completed 9-of-13 pass attempts for 107 yards with zero touchdowns or interceptions in his 2024 preseason debut.
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Third string: Spencer Rattler
Rattler has been a trendy name ever since his days as a five-star recruit out of high school. The Saints selected the South Carolina transfer with their fifth-round pick (No. 150) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rattler was quick to generate some buzz in his first NFL action. He only threw for 70 yards and completed 9-of-17 pass attempts, but the dual-threat quarterback rushed for a touchdown and helped orchestrate a game-winning drive over the Cardinals.
Rattler needed 12 plays to help the Saints collect 56 yards and set up a game-winning field goal for kicker Charlie Smyth. While he won't challenge Carr for the QB1 job just yet, it's not impossible to think Rattler could work his way into the backup role with a strong preseason.
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