In the wake of the retirement of their starting quarterback, the New Orleans Saints are signing an undrafted rookie who last played at a community college.
Hunter Dekkers has signed with the NFL team after impressing coaches during a tryout at their rookie minicamp, per multiple reports.
Dekkers will be one of four quarterbacks competing for a roster spot – with veterans Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener being joined by second-round draft pick Tyler Shough from Louisville.
All four of those players could potentially see time in the aftermath of the shock retirement of starting quarterback Derek Carr.
Dekkers has prior Division-I college experience, having replaced Brock Purdy as the starting quarterback of Iowa State.
However, he was forced to transfer to the JUCO level after he lost his NCAA eligibility due to illegal gambling.
Dekkers was found to have placed a $15 bet on one of his own team’s games in the 2022 season.
The New Orleans Saints signed tryout quarterback Hunter Dekkers to an NFL contract
Dekkers spent last season at an Iowa community college. He was previously the starting quarterback at Iowa State (above), but lost his eligibility for placing bets on his team’s games.
Dekkers’ signing comes after Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr suddenly retired
That year, Dekkers had completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,044 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions for the Cyclones in a 4-8 season.
He was set to be the starter in 2023, but the scandal meant he didn’t play. In his place, Rocco Becht started for the Cyclones.
In Dekkers’ one season with Iowa western CC, he put up an 11-2 record, threw for 3,806 yards and tossed for 32 touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Carr’s sudden retirement casts a bleak outlook for a Saints team that was already projected to struggle in 2025.
Now, without a true starting quarterback, New Orleans could already look to tank for the 2026 NFL Draft.
New head coach Kellen Moore revealed that Shough, Rattler, and Haener will all be fighting for the starting spot – and that they might all see starting time in the regular season.
Last year, the Saints finished last in the NFC South with a 5-12 record. That earned them the ninth overall pick in the draft, which they used to pick offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr out of Texas.
