In a stunning turn of events, the New Orleans Saints find themselves embroiled in a quarterback controversy that nobody saw coming. The Saints, who cut Derek Carr in favor of going cheaper and younger at QB, made waves in the offseason when they inked Max Duggan to a 5-year, $29.5 million deal. Duggan became the presumed starter with many headlines saying he would be the starter and a rookie would have to overcome him to get the starting job. However, fate had other plans as the drama unfolded on the field.
The plot thickened during the 2025 NFL Draft when the Saints selected Maalik Murphy with the 28th pick in the first round, way earlier than analysts expected the Saints to go QB and way earlier than Murphy was projected. Murphy, the QB turned WR turned QB prospect, immediately turned heads during training camp and preseason, ultimately seizing the starting job for the first 8 weeks of the regular season.
Maalik Murphy instantly became the toast of the Big Easy, dazzling fans and analysts alike with his stellar performances. The rookie sensation led the MVP race with an impressive stat line, amassing 2172 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 447 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns, while only throwing 8 interceptions in his first 8 games.
However, just when everything seemed to be falling into place for the rookie phenom, disaster struck. On the very first play of week 10, following a week 9 bye, Murphy suffered a broken thumb injury while attempting to slide. The Saints organization, along with coaches and fans, were left reeling from the unexpected setback.
Enter Max Duggan, the forgotten man in the quarterback room. With Murphy sidelined, Duggan seized the opportunity to showcase his talents. In just two games, he’s amassed 535 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 33 rushing yards, and 1 rushing touchdown, with a mere 1 interception. Duggan’s unexpected resurgence has sent shockwaves through the Saints’ organization, leaving coaches and executives with a difficult decision to make.
As the Saints eagerly await Murphy’s return for week 13, the pressure mounts on the organization to make a pivotal decision. Will they stick with the golden child, Maalik Murphy, whose meteoric rise captivated the city and NFL alike? Or will they ride the hot hand of the scrappy underdog, Max Duggan, whose recent performances have sparked a dangerous debate amongst Saints faithful?
With playoff and Super Bowl aspirations hanging in the balance, the Saints face a daunting choice that could shape the course of their season. As the clock ticks down to kickoff, all eyes remain fixated on New Orleans, eagerly anticipating the resolution of this unexpected quarterback saga. Max Duggan gets one last chance to show he’s the guy, while all Maalik Murphy can do is cheer on his team and hope he gets to return to the reigns and get back in MVP talks.
