Saints Insider

The New Orleans Saints have a starting quarterback. It's Spencer Rattler, the second-year pro who beat out rookie Tyler Shough to start against the Arizona Cardinals when the regular season opens Sept. 7. Our Saints Insiders analyze the decision, what to expect from Rattler, why he won the job and how long he can be expected to keep it. Also on Tuesday, the Saints set their initial 53-man roster,...

The New Orleans Saints have had a busy final week of the NFL preseason, concocting a trade with the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Devaughn Vele while they prepare for the preseason finale against the Broncos with their quarterback battle still up in the air. Spencer Rattler will start Saturday, followed by Tyler Shough. Our Saints Insiders dissect it all, from the price for the Vele trade to th...

The Saints Insiders are back with a look at why the New Orleans Saints still haven't chosen a starting quarterback — and why the delay might not be that big of a deal. Also in this episode, our standouts and step-backs from the first two weeks of preseason for both offensive and defensive players, including:  • Mason Tipton • Rashid Shaheed • Cesar Ruiz • Jonas Sanker • Kool-Aid McKinstry • Isaiah...

The New Orleans Saints are back from California just two days from their second preseason game, this one against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Superdome. The Saints have yet to name a starting quarterback for the game, so our Saints Insiders take a stab at whether Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough will take the first snaps. Also in this episode: • Takeaways from joint practice with Rams • Reasons...

With their time in California winding down, the New Orleans Saints are dealing with a couple of significant injuries on the offensive line. What does that mean for the Saints' rotation and for Trevor Penning? Also, Times-Picayune beat writers Matthew Paras and Luke Johnson give their take on the quarterback competition, specifically whether Tyler Shough's momentum has given him the lead over Spenc...

The New Orleans Saints are in California to continue training camp, and Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras are there, too. They join host Zach Ewing to discuss Thursday's practice in California, update the quarterback competition between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough and preview Sunday's preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers.  • Who gets the longest look at run...

For the first time this training camp, the New Orleans Saints have shifted their preset rotation of which quarterbacks were working with the first team and second team, as Spencer Rattler took his second straight day with the 1's over rookie Tyler Shough. What does that mean? Our Saints Insiders are here to break it down. We also give our (non-QB) takeaways from Sunday's big intrasquad scrimmage,...

The Saints Insiders check in after a fun, competitive day Thursday at New Orleans Saints training camp, including a bad day for rookie Tyler Shough and what it might mean in the quarterback competition. We also do our superlatives through the first eight days of camp, including pleasant surprises, biggest disappointments, roster sleepers and potential surprise cuts. #saints #neworleanssaints #nfl...

The New Orleans Saints finally had a practice in full pads Monday, and our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras and columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker — were there to observe. What they saw were some good signs along the offensive and defensive lines, a promising performance from a couple of rookies and an updated take on the quarterback competition. #saints #neworleans...

The New Orleans Saints are back at training camp, and with three days under their belt, our Saints Insiders — columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and beat writers Matthew Paras and Luke Johnson — gather to give their early impressions: • Good vibes so far • An early edge in the QB competition • New signings • Early depth chart thoughts #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #nfl #nfltrainingcamp #sai...

The turnover continued Tuesday on Airline Drive as veteran New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu announced his retirement the day before the Saints begin training camp. Our Saints Insiders — Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Jeff Duncan and editor Zach Ewing — discuss the surprise retirement and discuss other comments from Saints vice president Mickey Loomis...

With training camp just days away, the Saints Insiders are back with an episode on reasonable expectations for each defensive position group on the 2025 New Orleans Saints. • Can Brandon Staley's alignment unlock more pass rush, either from the edge or other positions? • The run defense can't get much worse, but how much better can it be? • Can Demario Davis continue to defy Father Time? And what'...

The Saints Insiders (some of them, anyway) are back from vacation, and just in time to comment on the New Orleans Saints' new white helmets.  We also use this podcast to dive into each of the Saints' offensive position groups and give our expectations for each spot: • Can either young quarterback take control? • Can anyone help Alvin Kamara? • At wide receiver, it's all about staying healthy • Juw...

The New Orleans Saints are going through a roster reset, if not a full rebuild, and so they'll need young players to break out in 2025. Who are the top candidates for the sort of season that can turn a rookie into a starter or a solid player into a star? Our Saints Insiders discuss their choices. #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #whodatnation #nfl #nflrookies #nfldraft #nfloffseason #saintsnation

Several pundits, rankings and odds boards have listed the New Orleans Saints as the worst team in the NFL or the team the least likely to win the Super Bowl. Our Saints Insiders discuss whether there's a case for that, what reasons the Saints have for optimism and the paths that lead to each outcome, including: • A look at the QB battle between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough • The pros and cons...

The New Orleans Saints are done with minicamp and their offseason program, so with five weeks still to go before training camp, we take an early look at the team's final 53-man roster for opening day in September. Lots could change in camp, between player performances and injuries, but for now, we'll discuss: • The backup running back spots • Who will fill out the receiving corps? • Will the Saint...

The New Orleans Saints have reached the end of their offseason program with mandatory minicamp. Our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — give their thoughts on performances from quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, who's winning the QB competition and much more, including:  • The apparently set-in-stone OL lineup • De...

The New Orleans Saints have some salary cap space for once — about $29M that could be spend before the 2025 season begins. Our Saints Insider crew breaks down how likely it is the team will spend most of that and on whom: Gabe Davis, Cam Akers, Asante Samuel Jr, Jaire Alexander or someone else? And is a trade to get Trey Hendrickson back to New Orleans even possible? We'll break it all down in thi...

With all the talk about the New Orleans Saints' quarterback situation and offensive rebuild, it felt like high time to talk about all of the changes on the defensive side of the ball. With a new coordinator in Brandon Staley, the Saints are bringing back the 3-4 defense. How much will really change? Could Chase Young and Alontae Taylor unlock their potential? And who else will be key to this defen...

As the New Orleans Saints go through their second OTA this week, our Saints Insiders take a step back and rank the team's nine position groups, from worst to best.  Do Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed make the wide receivers the team's best position? Is the secondary still a strength? What about the rebuilt offensive line? And how far down are the quarterbacks? We'll tell you what we think — and you...

The first organized team activity is over for the New Orleans Saints, and our Saints Insiders — beat writer Matthew Paras, columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — have a bunch of takeaways. • How Kellen Moore interacts with veteran players • Spencer Rattler's "don't forget about me" performance • The best sign of all: Healthy wide receivers • Is the OL lineup permanent? • Def...

The NFL announced Tuesday that its players would be allowed to play in flag football at the L.A. Olympics in 2028. Our Saints Insiders commemorate the occasion by drafting Saints players to form the best flag football team. Which team do you like: Rod Walker, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras or Jeff Duncan? Also, we talk about the Saints' first OTA and what we're watching as the offseason churns along....

The New Orleans Saints have their 2025 schedule, and we have our W and L cards. We're ready to go game by game with our first predictions of how the Saints' season will play out this fall, starting with the opener in the Superdome against the Arizona Cardinals all the way through the Week 18 finale in Atlanta. Our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Jeff Duncan...

After the surprise retirement of Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints are left with three young quarterbacks without an NFL win among them: rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Our Saints Insider crew breaks down more about the Carr retirement, how he'll be remembered in New Orleans, our expectations for Shough and whether the Saints might look to add a veteran quarterback. Also, we...

The New Orleans Saints host their rookie minicamp this weekend, and there's plenty to pay attention to. Our Saints Insiders offer a preview, with discussions on: • How the new coaching staff interacts with players • Tyler Shough and how he can continue to press the right buttons • Where is Kelvin Banks going to line up, and what does it mean for the O-line shuffle? • The defensive scheme and the a...