New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Derek Carr and the Saints found clarity with the recent decision for the veteran quarterback to hang up his cleats. That move came after potential opportunities outside New Orleans were sought out.

Carr’s representatives reached out to at least two teams in the market for a signal-caller this offseason, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Katherine Terrell report. The 34-year-old had not received formal permission to seek a trade, per the report, but the possibility loomed during the spring that a parting of ways could be in store. New Orleans had Carr on the books for 2025 and beyond, and the team did not see informal contact with suitors as an issue.

Conversations with potentially interested teams did not reach a serious point, something which seemed to set the stage for a third Carr campaign as the Saints’ starter. The four-time Pro Bowler declined to accept a pay cut, making his contract a cumbersome one for suitors to take on in a trade. As new head coach Kellen Moore prepared for his first season at the helm, it remained unclear whether or not Carr would be in place. The report notes minimal communication took place between team and player this offseason, one in which Carr did not take part in voluntary workouts despite a new offense being installed.

A left hand injury was noted during the 2024 campaign as Carr missed the end of the year. Nothing was mentioned during or after the season, however, about the issue affecting his throwing shoulder which ultimately ended his playing days. Barring something unforeseen, Carr is not expected to return to the NFL after 11 years in the league. The report notes the shoulder injury was not a topic of conversation during talks with outside teams while adding retirement was still under consideration even before knowledge of the ailment became widespread.

Once the commitment was made on the former Raider’s part to end his career, talks on a financial agreement took place shortly before the draft. Carr wound up retaining his $10MM roster bonus from this year, but he will not receive the $30MM in guaranteed salary he was owed for the campaign. A source close to him noted “integrity” prevented Carr from choosing to collect that money during a season in which he will not play.

In the end, the Saints are now in position to transition at quarterback after planning on one more year with Carr under center. Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and second-round rookie Tyler Shough will take part in an open training camp competition as the team looks to find a new young core to build around. That effort may well have started next offseason, but the unexpected Carr departure has accelerated it at the QB spot in particular.

Delivering great value as a second-round pick, Derek Carr lasted 11 seasons as a starting quarterback. Among second-round picks in NFL history, only Drew Brees and Brett Favre have accumulated more passing yards. Carr’s 257 TD passes also presently edge Andy Dalton‘s 253 for third in that category among QBs chosen in Round 2. While second-rounders in lower-volume passing eras were considered better QBs as well, Carr did quite well from his No. 36 overall draft slot.

Carr did not exactly approach a lower-quality Brees season during his time with the Saints, however; that 2023 signing not panning out as the organization hoped. A compromise upon retirement will help ease the financial burden the Saints will carry as a result of the restructure-generated dead money on the QB’s contract, but the team is now without insurance in the event Tyler Shough does not prove a viable option after being chosen in the second round.

[RELATED: Saints Preparing For Open QB Competition]

The Saints revealed Carr will walk away after suffering significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff, stemming from a 2023 injury, and fans should not expect the 34-year-old passer to change his mind. Carr is considered “extremely unlikely” to unretire, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The former Raiders and Saints starter is already making other plans, which are not yet known.

Considering this injury has dogged Carr for over a year, his retirement is not quite an Andrew Luck-level shock. Luck retired just before his age-30 season, doing so after he had claimed Comeback Player of the Year honors. Luck unretirement rumors never produced much of consequence, and the once-promising passer quickly drifted out of the spotlight. Carr dealt with extensive injury trouble in New Orleans, having sustained two concussions in 2023 — in addition to his shoulder malady — before missing time with oblique and hand injuries last season.

Although Carr will pass on $30MM in 2025, he has already earned more than $285MM during his time in Oakland, Las Vegas and New Orleans. If Carr unretired and the Saints did not release him in 2026, that $30MM that was to be due this year would move back into the picture for the team. The QB having encountered the injury volume he has, finding a trade partner — in the event of an unretirement — would be quite difficult for the Saints, especially considering his contract. New Orleans gave Carr a four-year, $150MM deal in 2023. That contract became more difficult to escape thanks to a 2024 restructure. Although the sides’ 2025 restructure will be modified as part of this retirement, the Saints will still have this contract on their books through 2026.

Shough joins holdovers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener in New Orleans’ QB room, but KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson passes along a fourth option – – Hunter Dekkers — will sign on as well. Dekkers played last season at Iowa Western Community College. Dekkers had previously served as Brock Purdy‘s successor at Iowa State, starting for the Cyclones in 2022. Three years later, he profiles as an offseason/camp arm that will not bring a great chance to unseat Rattler or Haener for a roster spot. The Saints, though, have moved into their post-Carr stage by adding another QB for this purpose.