The Derek Carr-less Saints might be barreling toward an awkward quarterback decision between a loyal son of their city and a loyal son of one of their coaches.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.