On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints bolstered their quarterback roster by finalizing a one-year contract with Zach Wilson, as confirmed by sources to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Wilson is slated to serve as the backup to Tyler Shough, the Saints’ 2025 second-round selection who enjoyed a commendable debut season in New Orleans, stepping in for Spencer Rattler, the 2024 fourth-round pick who is still with the squad.
Last season, the Saints’ third quarterback was Jake Haener, their 2023 fourth-round choice, but they permitted him to enter free agency this spring. He subsequently joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
During last month’s NFL scouting combine, Saints head coach Kellen Moore indicated the team’s intention to bring in one or two additional quarterbacks for their offseason activities.
The 26-year-old Wilson previously inked a one-year contract with the Dolphins last offseason, taking on the role of their secondary quarterback.
His playing time in Miami was minimal, where he completed 6 of 11 passes for 32 yards across four games. During Week 16, when starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined, rookie Quinn Ewers was promoted to the starting role, with Wilson continuing as the backup.
This chance in Miami followed a year where Wilson served as Bo Nix’s understudy for the Denver Broncos, without attempting a single pass throughout the 2024 season. Wilson commented that he gained “a significant amount” from his tenure in Denver.
The New York Jets selected Wilson as the second overall pick in the 2021 draft. Over five professional seasons, he has accumulated 6,325 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions, achieving a 57% completion rate on his throws.
Nick Underhill from NewOrleans.Football initially broke the story regarding Wilson’s finalized deal with the Saints.
Contributions to this report were provided by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell and Marcel Louis-Jacques.