The Detroit Lions have gotten by without relying on their backup quarterback over the last couple of years due to QB1 Jared Goff's history of staying healthy. Playing every single game in the last four seasons doesn't necessarily mean Goff will never miss any time, though, nor does it mean the Lions can deprioritize the QB2 situation ahead of next season.
Teddy Bridgewater is back, and that is a very good thing. His familiarity with the team and locker room presence will be assets for the Lions. Whether the team should rely on him to be the primary backup to Goff, however, is a different question.
At the very least, Detroit needs to add more QB competition before training. The free-agent market for quarterbacks may be bleak, but there is an ideal trade option potentially up for grabs.
Spencer Rattler Is Worth Considering as Lions' Next QB2
The New Orleans Saints just signed veteran QB Zach Wilson on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, making him the third signal-caller on the roster with starting experience. He will presumably enter a training camp battle with Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler.
Shough has the inside track to be the starter in Week 1, perhaps putting Rattler on the trade block.
Rattler has had more starts in his first two years in the NFL than many expected when he was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. He took over as the starter as a rookie when Derek Carr was sidelined mid-season before winning the competition between Shough and Jake Haener to be the starting QB last season.
These stints didn't go particularly well as Rattler won only once in his 14 starts, throwing for 2,903 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for a 78.9 passer rating.
It's hard to blame Rattler for the Saints' struggles. He wasn't able to succeed in a very difficult situation, but showed enough flashes to suggest that he may have some untapped potential. Rattler has shown an ability to use his legs effectively and flashed some upside as a scrambling quarterback.
There is obviously a chance that the 25-year-old never turns into a quality option in the NFL. But that is a chance the Lions should be willing to take. At this point, we know who Bridgewater is. He hasn't started in a game since 2022 and offers little upside as a backup.
Rattler, on the other hand, has more physical and athletic tools that the Lions could turn into a reliable dual-threat option.
The Saints may not be willing to give up on Rattler just yet, but it would be a mistake if the Lions don't at least give them a call to help with their glaring QB2 need. If the price is nothing more than a sixth or a seventh round pick, Detroit could do much worse than Rattler, especially when considering the rest of the available options on the market right now.