The Saints are adding a former second overall pick to their QB room. The team has agreed to a deal with Zach Wilson, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. It’s a one-year pact, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
New Orleans has its starting quarterback in Tyler Shough, who impressed as a second-round rookie in 2025. Two-year veteran Spencer Rattler is also in place, but Wilson will presumably compete with him to serve as the Saints’ primary backup next season.
The Jets bet big on Wilson when they selected him in 2021, but the move could not have turned out much worse. Over 34 appearances and 33 starts in New York, the former BYU Cougar threw more interceptions (25) than touchdowns (23). He completed just 57% of attempts and posted a dismal 73.2 passer rating. The Jets, who won just 12 of Wilson’s starts, benched him on three occasions. The team brought in Aaron Rodgers to take over as its starter in 2023, though after he tore his Achilles in Week 1, Wilson filled in for most of the year. It proved to be Wilson’s last season in New York.
While the Broncos acquired Wilson in a late-round pick swap in 2024, he did not see any action in Denver. Bo Nix stayed healthy and started in every game as a rookie. Neither Wilson nor fellow backup Jarrett Stidham attempted a pass.
Although Wilson was out of action as Denver’s third-stringer, the Dolphins still handed him a fully guaranteed $6MM on a one-year agreement last March. However, despite Tua Tagovailoa‘s immense struggles and late-season benching, Wilson did not make a start. When then-head coach Mike McDaniel demoted Tagovailoa to third-string duties in mid-December, seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers started the last three games of the year. Over four appearances as a Dolphin, Wilson went 6 of 11 for 32 yards.
Interesting….could turn out to be a very good pick up
Cannot see any circumstance where he’s a good pick up. Cannot play, same as Fields.
Y’know they both played for the Jets, though not at the same time.
NYC media will have a homecoming for Zach this fall when New Orleans visits MetLife Stadium to play the Giants.
Watch the Yankees in the playoffs or go see the Jets/Saints? Tough call…lol.
Okay why would he be a very good pick up. He’s horrible
No it couldnt. Cant believe theres still Zach truthers lol
likely his last kick at the can
Hmm. If Wilson sticks, it seems like this is insurance for a Rattler trade, doesn’t it? It’s hard to see how he really offers a meaningful upgrade, but then again, this is also the type of signing that hardly guarantees a roster spot. As a rookie contract QB with starting experience, Rattler can definitely be flipped somewhere for a pick, which are always valuable. The Saints would get more out of that than keeping on him on the roster and unused, especially if they end up comfortable with the more experienced (but probably less upside) Wilson.
I think you’re overvaluing Rattler. I don’t see him grabbing a pick himself, but a pick swap with an organization with coaches that can vouch for him to management might be possible. He doesn’t have starter potential, eliminating bad teams, and he doesn’t have quality #2 QB reliability for playoff teams. He basically only fits in the situation where he is now, a team not expected to be good with a better option ahead of him, and isn’t devastated losing a game Rattler is forced into due to injury.
He’s on a rookie deal and has started. Many, many worse quarterbacks (such as Wilson) have been traded for in the past. I definitely could see Rattler moved for a pick. As you yourself said, he could be included in a swap, as well. I don’t think that saying that a depth quarterback could fetch a pick is a gross over-evaluation of talent.
Rattler probably isn’t a starter, but he played much better than the record or stats indicated on a terrible, terrible offense. Coaches have definitely been intrigued by less (even if the “intrigue” is, sometimes, just picking an available option when a need exists). It’s not hard, in a world where Anthony Richardson has prompted curious feeler calls and Zach Wilson himself has been traded, to imagine Rattler garnering some coach’s interest as a backup or depth piece. Worse quarterbacks have definitely been traded in the past, and while the Saints probably don’t have Rattler in any future plans, I doubt that they still are going to go so far as to get absolutely nothing out of a player who has started fourteen games for them (and has better stats than McCarthy).
Also, to add: I don’t know if you’ve considered this, but Rattler actually has better passing stats than Anthony Richardson does, too (and of course Richardson has been mentioned as a trade target before recent moves):
62.7% completion rate versus 50.6%
2903 yards versus 2400
12 TDs versus 11
10 INTs versus 13
And this, of course, is in 14 starts versus 15, and in the league’s worst, most talent deficient offense versus a very capable one in Indy. Richardson offers better physical tools as a former first (that he hasn’t delivered on) potentially, but that’s we’d expect him to cost more-despite worse play in a better offense.
Let’s look at J.J. McCarthy:
1632 yards versus Rattler’s 2903
57.6% versus 62.7%
11 TDs versus 12
12 INTs versus 10
Of course, this is in 10 starts to Rattler’s 14, but certain stats stand out noticeably in Rattler’s favor, even on a per-game level (namely the yards, INTs, and completion percentage). This was also with a great receiving corps that includes probably the league’s best receiver.
And, like Richardson, McCarthy’s status as a former first rounder likely guarantees that he’s going to be more expensive. If you’ve considered either him or Richardson, why wouldn’t you consider Rattler?
Granted, these are not comparisons to top flight quarterbacks. But that’s not the market for backups/developmental players. Every team wouldn’t trade for such a player, obviously, but as long as one does, then there’s a possibility for a deal. And, as I said, he’s going to be cheap. This is in regards to BOTH cost to acquire and cap space taken by Rattler’s contract. It’s not hard or illogical to see why a team would make a move with a lower end pick, especially when worse, more expensive players are gathering interest.
So if Rattler so good, why he failed in your so called bad offense but Tyler Shough flourished as a rookie. Bad take on your part bc you don’t know what you talking about
Rattler seems to play at a QB2 level on a fairly consistent basis. He’s worth a late rounder to the right buyer.
No one said Rattler is so good. Bad take on your part bc you didnt read a singular thing that was typed out. Justin Fields was just traded for a pick. You dont think a QB on a rookie contract cant be? Josh Rosen was moved for a 2nd rounder for cryin out loud lol
I’d sign his Mom.
Lol
I’ve liked Rattler ever since he was on that Netflix show. He will eventually succeed.