Since the news of Derek Carr’s retirement dropped, many members of the Who Dat Nation have been asking about and discussing the possibility of the Black & Gold adding a veteran quarterback.While the questions are valid, fans should not hold their breath waiting for fan-favorites Teddy Bridgewater or Jameis Winston to return to New Orleans. As for polarizing Aaron Rodgers, scratch him, too.Looking at the reasons why, let’s start with Winston.In March, Jameis Winston signed a free-agent deal with the New York Giants. In the days after Winston inked his deal, New York also added veteran Russell Wilson and then in the 2025 NFL Draft, selected Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart in the first round. They also have hometown signal-caller Tommy DeVito on the roster. The Giants’ coaching staff says Wilson is the starter and Dart is the future.Right now, it looks like Winston will battle DeVito for the backup gig.The crowded QB room in the Big Apple has led some to believe that Winston could be available via a trade or will be available if he’s eventually released. While the latter is certainly true, Winston being released wouldn’t happen until at least the end of training camp. As for the Saints trading for Jameis, the chances are probably somewhere between slim and none.The Saints need every bit of draft capital they have, and surrendering even a seventh-round pick in 2026 would not make sense.So scratch Winston.Bridgewater is a free agent, is as beloved in New Orleans as Winston and is (or was) arguably a better player. After serving as a backup to Jared Goff and helping the Detroit Lions become one of the top teams in the NFC, Teddy retired from football following the 2023 season and returned to take over as head coach at his alma mater, Southwest High School in Miami. In his first season, he led them to a state championship. In a surprise move, after the prep season, Bridgewater returned to the NFL during the playoffs last season and actually appeared in a postseason game with Detroit. He’s now back in South Florida getting his high school team ready to defend its state title.If the Saints truly wanted Teddy B, they could easily make him a great offer to be a one-year bridge QB so they’d have a guy with experience leading the offense. But does Bridgewater want to return to a situation like New Orleans?Going back to be a backup in a great Super Bowl contender like Detroit for a few games was probably an easy decision for both the player and franchise.Coming to start for a team that odds makers predict will win only 4-5 games and that’s had issues protecting its quarterbacks isn’t a path to success for the classy veteran.Plus, new head coach Kellen Moore and his staff have no ties to Bridgewater, so the familiarity factor is out. If things start poorly in New Orleans in 2025, Bridgewater could easily be benched for Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler. So, while Bridgewater returning is more of a possibility than Winston, it’s still extremely unlikely to happen.Finally, what about a real wild card.Aaron Rodgers in Black & Gold?The future Hall of Fame quarterback remains a free agent, and while his team in New York struggled last season, Rodgers’ stats with the Jets were pretty strong.In New Orleans he’d play in a dome stadium with a young offensive minded head coach leading the offense and playmakers like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Juwan Johnson.Rodger’s only legit opportunity right now appears to be the Pittsburgh Steelers.For months, many have expected a deal between Rodgers and the Steelers to be announced. But still, nothing.So, if the Saints wanted to swoop in and offer Rodgers a one-year deal in hopes of winning a weak NFC South division, making a deep run in the playoffs, and maybe sending him into retirement in a better place, New Orleans makes sense.But do the Saints want Rodgers?It’s well documented that Rodgers is a quirky free spirit who marches to the beat of his own drum.Would the youngest coach in the NFL work well with the oldest starting QB in the league, or would the veteran do his own thing and basically bully the young play-caller?As I wrote earlier, the Saints roster has holes everywhere, it’s far from a Super Bowl contender on paper, so would Rodgers come, knowing that if he’s not a savior immediately, he’s a lame duck and could easily be benched late in the year. Would a New Orleans franchise that does everything it can to avoid distractions want a guy who goes on Pat McAfee’s nationally televised show weekly to say and do whatever he wants?Rodgers is out there, and my personal belief is that New Orleans should explore him, but that they won’t.The Saints understand they’re in a massive rebuild, and he’s not the right fit right now.All that being said, I’m not sure the Saints will sign a veteran quarterback. Very few remain out there, and I think Saints leadership is committed to giving the young guys a real opportunity.So, fans should get ready for an intense battle between rookie Tyler Shough, second-year QB Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round selection Jake Haener.
NEW ORLEANS —
Since the news of Derek Carr’s retirement dropped, many members of the Who Dat Nation have been asking about and discussing the possibility of the Black & Gold adding a veteran quarterback.
While the questions are valid, fans should not hold their breath waiting for fan-favorites Teddy Bridgewater or Jameis Winston to return to New Orleans. As for polarizing Aaron Rodgers, scratch him, too.
Looking at the reasons why, let’s start with Winston.
In March, Jameis Winston signed a free-agent deal with the New York Giants. In the days after Winston inked his deal, New York also added veteran Russell Wilson and then in the 2025 NFL Draft, selected Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart in the first round. They also have hometown signal-caller Tommy DeVito on the roster.
The Giants’ coaching staff says Wilson is the starter and Dart is the future.
Right now, it looks like Winston will battle DeVito for the backup gig.
The crowded QB room in the Big Apple has led some to believe that Winston could be available via a trade or will be available if he’s eventually released. While the latter is certainly true, Winston being released wouldn’t happen until at least the end of training camp. As for the Saints trading for Jameis, the chances are probably somewhere between slim and none.
The Saints need every bit of draft capital they have, and surrendering even a seventh-round pick in 2026 would not make sense.
So scratch Winston.
Bridgewater is a free agent, is as beloved in New Orleans as Winston and is (or was) arguably a better player. After serving as a backup to Jared Goff and helping the Detroit Lions become one of the top teams in the NFC, Teddy retired from football following the 2023 season and returned to take over as head coach at his alma mater, Southwest High School in Miami. In his first season, he led them to a state championship. In a surprise move, after the prep season, Bridgewater returned to the NFL during the playoffs last season and actually appeared in a postseason game with Detroit. He’s now back in South Florida getting his high school team ready to defend its state title.
If the Saints truly wanted Teddy B, they could easily make him a great offer to be a one-year bridge QB so they’d have a guy with experience leading the offense.
But does Bridgewater want to return to a situation like New Orleans?
Going back to be a backup in a great Super Bowl contender like Detroit for a few games was probably an easy decision for both the player and franchise.
Coming to start for a team that odds makers predict will win only 4-5 games and that’s had issues protecting its quarterbacks isn’t a path to success for the classy veteran.
Plus, new head coach Kellen Moore and his staff have no ties to Bridgewater, so the familiarity factor is out.
If things start poorly in New Orleans in 2025, Bridgewater could easily be benched for Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler.
So, while Bridgewater returning is more of a possibility than Winston, it’s still extremely unlikely to happen.
Finally, what about a real wild card.
Aaron Rodgers in Black & Gold?
The future Hall of Fame quarterback remains a free agent, and while his team in New York struggled last season, Rodgers’ stats with the Jets were pretty strong.
In New Orleans he’d play in a dome stadium with a young offensive minded head coach leading the offense and playmakers like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Juwan Johnson.
Rodger’s only legit opportunity right now appears to be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
For months, many have expected a deal between Rodgers and the Steelers to be announced. But still, nothing.
So, if the Saints wanted to swoop in and offer Rodgers a one-year deal in hopes of winning a weak NFC South division, making a deep run in the playoffs, and maybe sending him into retirement in a better place, New Orleans makes sense.
But do the Saints want Rodgers?
It’s well documented that Rodgers is a quirky free spirit who marches to the beat of his own drum.
Would the youngest coach in the NFL work well with the oldest starting QB in the league, or would the veteran do his own thing and basically bully the young play-caller?
As I wrote earlier, the Saints roster has holes everywhere, it’s far from a Super Bowl contender on paper, so would Rodgers come, knowing that if he’s not a savior immediately, he’s a lame duck and could easily be benched late in the year.
Would a New Orleans franchise that does everything it can to avoid distractions want a guy who goes on Pat McAfee’s nationally televised show weekly to say and do whatever he wants?
Rodgers is out there, and my personal belief is that New Orleans should explore him, but that they won’t.
The Saints understand they’re in a massive rebuild, and he’s not the right fit right now.
All that being said, I’m not sure the Saints will sign a veteran quarterback.
Very few remain out there, and I think Saints leadership is committed to giving the young guys a real opportunity.
So, fans should get ready for an intense battle between rookie Tyler Shough, second-year QB Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round selection Jake Haener.