The Saints' world was flipped upside down by the retirement of Derek Carr this offseason.
They're still putting the pieces back together. New Orleans spent a second-round pick on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, adding him to a room that also includes a 2024 fifth-round selection in Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener.
Neither of the latter two fared well enough last season to convince the Saints they already had their solution on the roster. But as guard Cesar Ruiz sees it, the fact the Saints have multiple options bodes well for them moving forward.
"Two different quarterbacks, right? Everybody has their superpower," Ruiz explained during an appearance on Good Morning Football, referring to Rattler and Shough. "Everybody is good at their thing. Spencer has something, and I'm like, hey, he got that. Tyler will come in there, and I'm like, hey... This is just talent. When you see two talented guys just competing, it's truly fun to see.
"I know you guys touched on [that] we drafted (Shough) early. We drafted him second round, 40th overall, still super early in the draft. ... I think just because we drafted a quarterback super early doesn't mean you have to push him in there and play. I was drafted 24th overall as an offensive lineman, and I didn't end up starting until Week 4. I was in and out of the lineup my rookie year. I think it's about development. It's about who you see fit right now."
There are obviously other teams with better situations at quarterback. New Orleans received a glimpse of what Rattler could be last season, but also watched him struggle to sustain success over a full game.
Shough, meanwhile, enters the NFL after making three stops at different universities during his collegiate career. Once a highly touted high school recruit, Shough fell short of his goal at Oregon. Injuries hampered his time at Texas Tech, and he didn't find consistency until his final season spent at Louisville.
In a quarterback class that was admittedly weaker than previous years, Shough ended up finding a home in the second round. Now, he has to go earn a job that is among the most available in the NFL.
"That quarterback competition right now is great to see," Ruiz said. "It's great because it's two young guys who are both gonna leave their footprint somehow, someway in the NFL, and they're both extremely talented. It's just great to see those two compete and learn and just grow. Both of them are competing. Both of them are progressing. I just love seeing the progress of both of them."
Some might say the Saints don't have time to watch quarterbacks develop. New Orleans can argue against this sentiment, especially considering they're entering their first year under new coach Kellen Moore, a former star collegiate quarterback himself. But as we all know, patience runs thin rather quickly in the NFL, even when new coaches are involved.
At this point, the Saints have no alternative. They've stacked their deck with unproven passers and chosen to let them duke it out in order to produce a starter.
Ruiz is optimistic the results will be enough.
"True, but that's the thing with the young guys," Ruiz said. "You've got two young guys who've got a lot of football to play, and you've got these guys coming in, they're both gonna learn. Somebody's gonna be the guy, and they've got time."
