We’ve seen a rise of second chance quarterbacks recently. The most notable and recent example is Sam Darnold’s meteoric rise with the Minnesota Vikings this season. Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield fill out that list. These quarterbacks’ careers looked dead in the water before a revival in their current home.
Ironically, the New Orleans Saints attempted this approach with Jameis Winston, but injuries derailed that plan. The most popular candidates to try to pull this off this year are Daniel Jones and Justin Fields.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon believes if their hope is to be the next Sam Darnold, Mayfield or Smith, they should stay away from New Orleans.
Gagnon put the Saints in a category with the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, where quarterbacks in search of revival would “be better off signing as a clear-cut backup somewhere else and hoping for an injury to the starter.”
In New Orleans, the door may open up with the release of Derek Carr, but that is an “indication a rebuild is about to get underway.” Gagnon believes that circumstance isn’t conducive to jumpstarting your career.
A counter-point to that is the rebuild accelerates with the right quarterback. While the Saints may be entering a rebuild, trajectory doesn’t have to remain stagnant. Ask the Commanders.
If Spencer Rattler, a quarterback in the draft or free agency, performs well in 2025, the Saints can be better than expected in the short and long term future. There are pieces to work with in New Orleans if you’re the quarterback. While it may not be the best location, it is far from a guaranteed failure for quarterbacks looking for a second chance.