The New Orleans Saints need a veteran quarterback, and PFF believes that former second-overall pick Carson Wentz could be the man for the job. Following Derek Carr’s retirement, the Saints now have rookie Tyler Shough battling 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener for the starting job. These three have combined to make seven professional starts in their collective careers and have yet to record a win.
Nothing about Rattler or Haener’s profile suggests they have what it takes to develop into a franchise quarterback, but Shough’s second-round draft capital implies the team believes he has the tools to be a long-term starter in the league. Even if that is the case, New Orleans could use someone with starting experience to help mentor this inexperienced room, and PFF made their case for Carson Wentz in a recent article.
“Making a play for a veteran signal-caller is the measured approach,” PFF’s Mason Cameron writes. “A name like Carson Wentz could prove to be a valuable presence in a young quarterback room. While Wentz hasn’t seen the field much in the past two seasons, he has produced three big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays on 49 attempts.”
PFF: Saints Could Sign Carson Wentz Following Derek Carr’s Retirement
Carson Wentz has had one of the more remarkable careers in recent memory and would be an interesting fit with the Saints. Selected with the second-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the North Dakota State product quickly became one of the best young passers in the league. Generating legitimate MVP hype in 2017, the quarterback finished his second season completing 60.2% of his passes for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 13 games. While an ACL injury sidelined him for the later portion of the season, Philadelphia doesn’t win the Super Bowl without his strong play early in the year.
Unfortunately, the wheels soon fell off the wagon. Following two solid seasons in 2018 and 2019, Wentz had a disastrous 2020 and spent the next few seasons bouncing around the league. Relegated to backup work, Wentz spent the 2024 season supporting Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. He only made one start in a meaningless regular season finale, completing 12 of his 19 passes for 118 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions as the team lost 38-0.
PFF knows that the 2017 version of Carson Wentz is never coming back, and the present-day version shouldn’t be anything more than a backup. However, his experience could make him a valuable QB2 for whichever young player wins the starting job. With that being said, is there a better option on the open market?/
Other Fits
Derek Carr’s retirement came at an unfortunate time for the New Orleans Saints, as most of the big-name quarterbacks are already off the market. Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is likely the best name available, but he doesn’t make sense for this organization. The 41-year-old passer will not sign to be a backup, and New Orleans is not a veteran quarterback away from competing.
Aside from Rodgers and Wentz, the best names on the open market are underwhelming options like Desmond Ridder, C.J. Beathard, and Jeff Driskel. Old friend Teddy Bridgewater joined the Detroit Lions for their postseason run, but he wants to return to coaching high school football. Unless the team trades for someone like Jameis Winston or the Bears Tyson Bagent, they may have to settle for Wentz.
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