Spencer Rattler Trade Buzz Heats Up as Saints Reportedly Open to Moving Him: Three Teams Are Watching Closely
Spencer Rattler is on the trade block. The Saints just confirmed what teams across the league have been hearing for weeks.
New Orleans is “at least open to talking” about a potential trade involving the 24-year-old quarterback, league sources have told multiple reporters. The Saints drafted Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and have a starter battle in camp between Derek Carr and second-year passer Tyler Shough. Rattler is the odd man out.
That makes him an asset other teams want to talk about, even if the Saints have not actively shopped him.
Why Rattler Is Available
The Saints quarterback room is crowded. Carr is the veteran starter and is signed through 2026. Shough is the 2025 second-round pick that the new front office wants to develop. Rattler had starts in 2024 when both veterans were hurt, and he showed flashes of the arm talent that made him a Heisman favorite before his college career fell apart.
The problem for Rattler is the depth chart math. He is not going to start ahead of Carr. He is not the long-term project Shough is. He has trade value to a team that needs a developmental third quarterback or a competition for QB2.
The Saints know this. They can flip him for a Day 3 pick and clear a roster spot.
The Cardinals Are the Most Logical Fit
Arizona is one of the teams reportedly monitoring the situation. The Cardinals have Kyler Murray locked in as the starter, but the depth behind him is unsettled. Rattler grew up in Phoenix-area football culture and would be a comfortable fit in the Cardinals offense under Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive system.
If Murray gets hurt, Arizona needs a backup who can hold the team together. Rattler is more interesting than what the Cardinals currently have on the depth chart.
The Jets and Browns Are Also Watching
Both the Jets and Browns have quarterback questions. The Jets are betting on Justin Fields and need a developmental quarterback behind him. Cleveland is in full rebuild mode at quarterback and could use a young arm with starter upside on a cheap contract.
Rattler has two years left on his rookie deal at minimum money. That makes him an extremely cost-effective dart throw for any team that wants to take a swing on a former five-star recruit who never quite put it all together in college.
What the Trade Could Look Like
A late-round pick swap or a 2027 sixth-round pick is the most likely framework. Rattler has not started enough NFL games to command more than that. He has shown enough on tape to justify a small investment from a team in need.
The Saints are not in a rush. They can carry Rattler through camp and see if his preseason performance increases his market value. The leverage is on New Orleans’s side.
The Bigger Story
Rattler is one of the most fascinating prospect-to-pro stories in the NFL. The hype around him out of high school was massive. The fall during his time at Oklahoma and South Carolina was equally well documented. The NFL has given him a second chance, and a trade to a fresh organization could give him a third.
If the Saints move him, watch where he lands. Rattler is one good preseason away from forcing his way into a real backup conversation. He is also one bad camp away from being out of the league. The next 60 days are going to define the rest of his career.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
