The New Orleans Saints general manager, Mickey Loomis, recently shared his positive outlook on the team's veteran quarterback, Derek Carr, during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Loomis emphasized that Carr, an 11-year NFL veteran, is viewed as a player capable of leading the team to success, stating, 'He's a guy we can win with, and we're excited about it.'
Carr, who joined the Saints as a free agent in 2023 under a four-year, $150 million contract, has shown promise during his tenure with the team. Despite facing challenges such as injuries, Carr has maintained a competitive record as a starter, with a 14-13 overall record in two seasons with the Saints.
During the 2024 season, Carr encountered setbacks due to injuries, including an oblique injury, concussion, and a broken left hand, which caused him to miss several games. Despite these challenges, Carr demonstrated his skill on the field, completing 67.7% of his passes for 2,145 yards, with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Saints, under the leadership of head coach Kellen Moore, are looking to optimize their salary cap space for the upcoming season. Carr's contract, if left unchanged, could pose a significant cap hit of approximately $51 million. However, the team is exploring options to restructure Carr's contract by converting some of his salary into bonus money, allowing for greater flexibility in managing the salary cap.
Moore, who took over as head coach following Sean Payton's retirement, expressed the team's appreciation for Carr's contributions, describing him as a 'big-time quarterback in this league.' Despite the challenges faced by the Saints in the previous season, Moore and Loomis remain optimistic about Carr's potential to lead the team to success in the future.
As the Saints continue to navigate roster decisions and salary cap constraints, the focus remains on leveraging Carr's experience and talent to propel the team towards their goals for the upcoming season.
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