You’re not alone if you’re still furling your eyebrow at the confusing free agent quarterback news from early Monday.
For some reason, Derek Carr, a good, not great quarterback, has chosen to sign with the New Orleans Saints. For a man who just spent nearly a decade with the hapless Las Vegas Raiders Raiders, winning zero playoff games, he will now get the blessed opportunity of quarterbacking the hapless Saints — while also potentially winning zero playoff games.
At least Carr seems to be excited about this new career chapter, I suppose.
At this stage of his career, at age 31, Carr is certainly free to make whatever decisions he pleases. That doesn’t mean his joining the Saints is inspiring. Far from it.
Let’s grade the Saints’ signing of the long-time Raiders veteran.
The details
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, here are the terms of Carr’s contract with New Orleans:
Length/term: Four years for $150 million
Total guaranteed money: $100 million ($60 million at signing)
The Saints' perspective
Ever since Drew Brees’ retirement, New Orleans has become an NFL afterthought. Over the last two seasons, the Saints have garnered a 16-18 record while continuing to trot out QBs like Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, and Andy Dalton. What an unimpressive list from top to bottom.
In the current landscape of the league, GM Mickey Loomis and Co. probably should’ve tried to bottom out and (unofficially) tank to get a future quarterback. Instead, with a barren NFC South in shambles, the Saints did even more salary cap-finessing for Carr so he could lead them to an irrelevant division title. Talk about aiming high.
It would’ve been one thing to make a short-term commitment to Carr and hope he gets you a winning season. Then, should Carr have bottomed out, you might still be in a position for someone like USC’s Caleb Williams in 2024.
Instead, New Orleans will vie for the NFC’s likely No. 4 seed for at least the next few years. But should any of their divisional rivals — the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons — get a legitimate face-of-the-franchise soon, even that unambitious dream is washed away.
Grade: F
Carr's perspective
I know Carr’s been in a tough bind since he and the Raiders unceremoniously parted ways. I know he didn’t seem to be feeling great about himself and his NFL future in the aftermath. And I know, with Aaron Rodgers’ plans still up in the air, that he potentially struggled to be patient for the first domino to fall before he had his pick of the litter.
But, Derek, buddy: You didn’t have to jump the gun and pick the Saints. Just … no. Why?
Maybe Carr understands his limitations as a signal-caller. Maybe he gets that he probably won’t have a Hall of Fame career as a legit difference maker. It can be so freeing when you come to terms with who you are: in this case, an above-average player. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t think Carr was settling here. He could’ve helped a legit contender or team on the upswing (Carolina?). He could’ve maximized someone else’s core.
Carr had options on the table. He chose to underthrow Chris Olave while throwing Dennis Allen’s promising defense under the bus will ill-advised decisions. It’d be funnier if it wasn’t so predictable.
I only give the veteran a passing grade because he got paid. Which, hey: perhaps that’s all that matters to Carr as he enters the next stage of his pro football life.
Grade: C
