Drew Brees is concerned about the Saints lacking a vital ingredient in the QB room, ‘When I was…’
New Orleans Saints icon Drew Brees was not surprised that Spencer Rattler was named the starting quarterback this season, but he did have some serious concerns about the QB room.
Since Drew Brees retired at the end of the 2020 season, the New Orleans Saints have not had any stability at quarterback.
Jameis Winston took over from Brees, but he was unable to lock it down long-term as interceptions became too much of a problem.
The Saints signed Derek Carr to be their franchise quarterback, but after a torrid spell with injuries and fairly underwhelming QB play, he retired ahead of the new season.
New head coach Kellen Moore opted for Spencer Rattler to start over rookie Tyler Shough, with the two young guns the only quarterbacks on their roster. This has played into one of Brees’ significant concerns.
Drew Brees expresses concerns at the lack of veteran quarterback at the Saints
The winner of the starting quarterback battle between Rattler and Shough was the last decision to be made at the position in the NFL this year.
All 31 other teams had settled on their QB1 before the final game of preseason, but in Kellen Moore’s first year as a head coach after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles, he wanted to get it right.
Moore is the youngest head coach in the NFL, and this is Doug Nussmeier’s first year as an OC in the NFL, too, so there is a lot to be learned this year in a developmental season for the Saints.
Drew Brees was slightly concerned by the lack of a veteran quarterback, like Jameis Winston, who is currently at the New York Giants, in the QB1 room.
Speaking on the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams, Brees said: “I think that that’s what I always assumed [that there would be a veteran QB in the room].
“I assume that we would see training camp play out here and that if there was a veteran quarterback that could be traded for to bring into the room, whether that player starts or whether they’re just there as a support system for the young guys…
"Really, who scares you? I think the division is wide open."
Drew Brees on the NFC South@heykayadams | @drewbrees | #Saints #WeAreTheKrewe #KeepPounding #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/W38AhK6M8b— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 27, 2025
“Look, I think that’s vital. Beyond just the fact that, hey, you’ve got a great coach in Kellen Moore and the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach who are there that have a ton of experience to help coach him…
“You need someone in the QB room that can not only support the player, help them with film study, help them be a buffer between the play caller or coordinator, even the quarterback coach and the starter.
“Like you really need that. I look at my career, and man, I had a Doug Flutie early in my career. I had a Mark Brunell when we went and won a Super Bowl.
“Those two guys were so influential in my career, even though I was the starter; those guys were great mentors for me during that time. So I think for any young QB, it’s really vital to have a veteran guy there alongside you.”
Brees believes New Orleans Saints have as good a chance to win NFC South as any other team
New head coach Kellen Moore has received some incredible praise so far from the likes of 14-year veteran Demario Douglas and others.
Despite their lack of experience between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough at quarterback, Drew Brees believes the NFC South is as wide open as ever.
Brees added: “Look who scares you in the NFC South right now? Tampa may have the edge. Baker Mayfield is now an experienced veteran quarterback.
“But look, Atlanta’s trying to establish itself with a new quarterback, Michael Penix. Carolina Panthers kind of made a jump last year.
“Bryce Young, the adversity that he faced. I love the way he responded and the way he played. I’m a big fan of his. But really, who scares you?
“I think the division is wide open, and I think the Saints have as good an opportunity as anybody.”
On evaluation of the NFC South from an outside perspective, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the clear favorites to win the division again, for the fifth year in a row.
