NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints wasted no time reshaping their quarterback room after the sudden retirement of Derek Carr, announcing the signing of 23-year-old undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers.
The move comes as the team looks to stabilize a position thrown into flux by Carr’s departure and to fuel a wide-open competition heading into the 2025 season.
It is expected he will be some backup depth.
Dekkers, who began his college career at Iowa State, impressed coaches during a tryout at the Saints’ rookie minicamp.
“Saints also intend to sign undrafted rookie quarterback Hunter Dekkers, pending a physical, per source,” according to NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett.
Former Iowa State QB who finished career at Iowa Western tried out during the Saints’ rookie minicamp. And there is now officially a fourth-QB spot available.” Nick Underhill later confirmed, “Dekkers is signed”.
During his time at Iowa State from 2020 to 2022, Dekkers threw for 3,044 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his final season.
After leaving the program, he transferred to Iowa Western, where he put up even more impressive numbers in 2024: 3,806 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions across 13 games.
Despite a setback due to a violation of NCAA gambling rules, Dekkers’ performance at Iowa Western reignited interest from NFL teams, culminating in his opportunity with New Orleans.
The Saints’ quarterback competition is now as open as it has been in years. Tyler Shough, the team’s second-round pick in 2025, is widely seen as the frontrunner for the starting job.
However, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, both of whom have seen time with the team, remain in the mix. Dekkers’ arrival adds another layer of intrigue, as he will compete for a backup or developmental role.
Carr’s retirement, announced just days ago, left the Saints with a significant void but also some salary cap relief.
The veteran quarterback, who threw for over 6,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in two seasons with New Orleans, stepped away due to a lingering shoulder injury.
His decision means the Saints avoid a $30 million base salary hit in 2025, though they still owe him a $10 million signing bonus.
With no veteran quarterback signed as of yet, speculation continues about whether the Saints will add experience to the room or roll with their young quartet.
For now, the focus is on competition and development.
As coach Kellen Moore and his staff evaluate their options, all eyes will be on training camp to see which quarterback emerges as the new leader under center.
The Saints’ swift move to sign Dekkers underscores the urgency and unpredictability of the NFL offseason.
With the quarterback position wide open, the coming weeks promise intense competition and the potential for a new face to take the reins in New Orleans.