Saints could be barreling toward Arch Manning derby after Derek Carr retirement shocker
Carr's surprise retirement Saturday leaves the Saints with three young quarterbacks — rookie Tyler Shough, second-year pro Spencer Rattler and third-year pro Jake Haener – battling to start.
Advertisement
Rattler and Haener are a combined 0-7 as starters.
It's possible that Shough – a 25-year-old second-round pick who reportedly was the top quarterback on some NFL teams' boards during the 2025 draft — finds immediate success like rookies Jayden Daniels (Commanders) and C.J. Stroud (Texans) have in recent years.
It's also possible that Shough struggles and the Saints become strong contenders for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.
4 New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement on Saturday.
AP
Advertisement
And that would be very interesting because it could lead to a choice between quarterbacks Arch Manning of Texas and Garrett Nussmeier of LSU.
Manning is the grandson of Saints legend Archie Manning, a New Orleans native and a graduate of the city's famed Isidore Newman School that also produced his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning.
Archie remains the last first-round quarterback drafted by the Saints (1971).
Advertisement
The thought in football circles is that — like Peyton and Eli — Arch will spend at least four years in college, which would put him in the 2027 draft class instead of 2026.
After all, NIL opportunities balance financial-earning opportunities and Arch still only has two career starts under his belt.
4 Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns reacts after defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 17-7 at Kyle Field on November 30, 2024 in College Station, Texas.
Getty Images
Advertisement
But the allure of playing for the hometown Saints might be hard for the family to resist if everything lined up perfectly on both ends.
Then again, Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier figures to have a say in the quarterback of the future.
4 Archie Manning during his Saints tenure.
Getty Images
And Nussmeier would figure to be partial to his son Garrett, who also is a common top-10 pick in way-too-early mock drafts.
Nussmeier could have entered the 2025 draft after leading the SEC in completions and attempts while passing for 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first year starting in place of Daniels.
But he chose to return to LSU and solidify his draft standing.
4 Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers in action against the Baylor Bears in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Houston, Texas
University Images via Getty Imag
Asked by The Post during Super Bowl week about the possibility of coaching with or against his son in the NFL, Doug Nussmeier said that his mind had not gone there yet but that he would 'always be a resource' for his son.
Advertisement
Doug highlighted responding to adversity as one of Garrett's biggest strengths.
'That's a big part of being successful at the position,' he said. 'The higher you go, the harder it is. Every day is not going to be great. You have to stay neutral. You have to realize that when you think you are on top, you are going to get brought down really quick. When you think you are on the bottom, put your nose down and fight your way and you'll be just fine.'
Carr, 34, retired rather than undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a labrum tear and damage to his rotator cuff that likely would have sidelined him for the full season and left his career in doubt anyway.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Added competition makes wide receiver the position to watch at Packers training camp
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jayden Reed acknowledges that the Green Bay Packers receivers didn't perform quite the way they wanted last season. That left them plenty motivated to take a step forward this season, even before the front office selected two more receivers in the first three rounds of the draft. The additions of Texas' Matthew Golden — the first Packers wideout drafted in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002 — and TCU's Savion Williams have made the competition at receiver one of the biggest stories to watch around Green Bay's training camp. 'We've got so many different guys who can do so many different things, which makes us so dynamic,' said Reed, whose 55 catches for 857 yards last season led the Packers in both categories. 'I think that's always how our room has been. We've just added more talent to the room.' Christian Watson's eventual return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament will only add to that talent. Even with Watson expected to miss the start of the season, the Packers face plenty of hard choices in determining which receivers to keep on the 53-man roster. The Packers have enough depth at receiver that Bo Melton has spent much of the offseason working out at cornerback instead. Melton caught 24 passes for Green Bay from 2023-24. Green Bay's receivers also were garnering plenty of attention last training camp after the Packers made a late-season surge in 2023 that resulted in a surprise divisional playoff appearance. The presence of Reed, Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gave Green Bay plenty of young talent, even if there wasn't a clear-cut No. 1 option. But they didn't show much improvement a year ago. While the various statistical services offer different totals regarding dropped passes, Pro Football Reference says Packers quarterback Jordan Love had 7.3% of his attempts dropped last season. Only Daniel Jones had a higher rate of passes dropped. 'Not to the standard, for sure,' Reed said. 'I do think we made a lot of plays, but we left a lot of plays out there as well.' They've been making plenty of plays so far in camp. Golden has been particularly impressive, showcasing his speed and demonstrating he has the traits of a future No. 1 receiver. Williams, drafted in the third round, is practicing as well after recovering from shoulder surgery that limited his offseason activity. 'It's starting to slow down for me,' said Golden, the No. 23 overall pick in the draft. 'It's starting to feel like I can go out there and just play and have fun, not have to think about what I need to do. It's just going out there getting open, knowing my assignment and alignment.' Some of the Packers' returning receivers also have made an impression. Doubs, entering his fourth season, has produced plenty of highlights. He caught a deep touchdown pass from Love on Tuesday and followed that up with another long reception in one-on-one drills Wednesday. 'I just love where he's at mentally right now,' Love said. 'He's playing pretty lights-out right now and making a lot of good plays when the ball's in the air, which is one of those things that's expected from Rome. He's done that so many times.' Mecole Hardman, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed with the Packers before they drafted Golden and Williams. Hardman has made plenty of plays as well, including a touchdown catch from Malik Willis on a fourth down play Tuesday. 'It's a very competitive room, a room that's hungry, a room that's going to work, that wants to play, that wants to make plays,' Hardman said of the competition among the receivers. 'When you get a room like that, I think the sky's the limit.' That upside will become even more apparent whenever the Packers welcome back Watson, who has been the team's top deep threat since his arrival in 2022. Watson, who tore his ACL in the 2024 regular-season finale, says he isn't setting a target date for his return. 'I've been doing cutting stuff already, some route stuff already,' Watson said. 'I'm letting the training staff and the strength staff tell me what I got that day. I'm trying not to look too far ahead because then I'm going to want to push for more and more, just how my mind works.' NOTES: The Packers signed wide receiver Isaiah Neyor and placed offensive tackle Travis Glover on injured reserve. Neyor signed with the San Francisco 49ers in May as an undrafted free agent from Nebraska but got released Monday. He also played college football at Wyoming and Texas. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
2025 AFC North BOLD Predictions: Bengals, Browns, Ravens & Steelers DEEP Dive!
Subscribe to Football 301 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Which team will sit on top of the AFC North after the 2025 NFL season? Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald preview the division, starting with the Cincinnati Bengals. Will the star-studded offense be able to overcome the team's defensive woes? Next, the trio moves on to the Cleveland Browns. Which signal caller will reign supreme in their packed QB room? Later, the boys break down the Baltimore Ravens and whether Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry can lead the team to a Super Bowl. They finish the show up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. What should we expect from 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers at QB? It's an information-packed episode that you don't want to miss! (5:00) - Cincinnati Bengals deep dive (31:45) - Cleveland Browns deep dive (57:45) - Baltimore Ravens deep dive (1:21:40) - Pittsburgh Steelers deep dive 🖥️
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Seahawks sign DL Seth Coleman
Defensive lineman Seth Coleman was waived by the Seahawks earlier this week, but he didn't have to wait long to get a call back to the team. The Seahawks announced that they have re-signed Coleman to their 90-man roster. Wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. was waived with an injury designation in a corresponding move. Coleman initially signed with the Seahawks in May after going undrafted out of Illinois. He had 183 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries while in college. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that Foster, who was also undrafted this year, suffered a hamstring injury. He had 108 catches for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns at Michigan State.
