Saints Sign Former No. 2 Pick Zach Wilson as Backup QB

Wilson joins Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler in New Orleans' QB room

Mar. 26, 2026 at 12:31am

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The New Orleans Saints have reportedly signed former No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson to a one-year contract, where he will serve as the backup quarterback to Tyler Shough. Wilson, 26, spent last season with the Miami Dolphins after being traded by the New York Jets, who selected him in the 2021 NFL Draft. He will join Shough and 2024 fourth-round pick Spencer Rattler in the Saints' quarterback room as they look to win the NFC South and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Why it matters

The Saints are hoping to bounce back after missing the playoffs in 2021, and adding a former high draft pick like Wilson as a backup could provide valuable depth and competition at the quarterback position. Shough has shown promise but has also dealt with injuries, so having an experienced option like Wilson could be crucial.

The details

Wilson, 26, spent the first three years of his career with the Jets after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. After three disappointing seasons in New York, he was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2024, but the Broncos declined his fifth-year option. Wilson then signed with the Dolphins last season, where he appeared in four games, completing 6 of 11 passes for 32 yards.

  • Wilson was selected No. 2 overall by the Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft.
  • He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Jets from 2021-2023.
  • The Jets traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in April 2024.
  • The Broncos declined Wilson's fifth-year option after the 2024 season.
  • Wilson signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2025, where he appeared in four games.

The players

Zach Wilson

A 26-year-old quarterback who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He spent his first three seasons with the Jets before being traded to the Denver Broncos and then signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2025.

Tyler Shough

The Saints' starting quarterback, who impressed in nine starts last season, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 186 yards and three touchdowns, but has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his college and pro career.

Spencer Rattler

A 2024 fourth-round pick by the Saints, who will compete with Zach Wilson to be the backup quarterback behind Tyler Shough.

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What’s next

The Saints will look to see how Wilson performs in training camp and the preseason as they determine the final quarterback depth chart for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Saints are taking a low-risk flier on a former high draft pick in Zach Wilson, hoping he can provide quality depth and competition behind the injury-prone Tyler Shough. If Wilson can regain his form, it could pay dividends for the Saints as they look to return to the playoffs.