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The entire NFL world was shocked when New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement. Carr had been dealing with a bad shoulder issue, and it was putting his upcoming season on the line.
Read more: Saints' QB Has Shockingly Retired From the NFL Due to Major Health Issue
However, the injury was worse than anyone thought, and there wasn't any guarantee that Carr would return to his normal self. This led the veteran to retire, and he released a statement following the news.
"Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I've decided to retire from the National Football League," said Carr. "For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It's difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us."
With Carr now gone, the Saints will need to turn elsewhere for the quarterback position. The team has a few signal callers on the roster, but one is going to need to step up.
So, what does the quarterback room look like now?
Tyler Shough
The Saints selected Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, in part due to concern over the injury to Carr. Despite his advanced age for a rookie (25), Shough showed promise at the NFL Combine and Pro Day, giving the Saints reason to draft him.
Last season at Louisville, Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Shough could take over the starting job for the Saints, but New Orleans may want him to slowly integrate into the league.
Spencer Rattler
Rattler got some experience last season, filling in for Carr while he was hurt. The former South Carolina product threw for 1,317 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
New Orleans could elect to go with Rattler, at least to open the season, due to his experience. But Rattler never showed anything eye-popping in the seven games that he played for the team.
Jake Haener
Haener started one game for the Saints last season, throwing for 226 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The former Fresno State product is an interesting option, but he doesn't offer New Orleans anything special.
New Orleans took him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
More NFL news:
Browns' Nick Chubb Receives Disappointing Update on Returning to Cleveland
Exclusive: Raiders' Ashton Jeanty Talks High Expectations for 2025 NFL Season
For more on the Saints and the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but ... Read more