Former Fresno State and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to an anonymous source who spoke with The Associated Press. Although the deal has yet to be officially announced, the move signals a significant shift for the Saints, who are looking to stabilize their quarterback position following a disappointing 7-10 season in 2022.
Carr, who turned 32 on March 28, played for the Raiders for nine seasons and holds club records for yards passing and touchdown passes. Despite his accomplishments, Carr never managed to win a playoff game with the team. His struggles continued late last season, resulting in his benching with two games remaining.
The decision to sign Carr provides a measure of certainty for the Saints at a position that has been shrouded in uncertainty since the end of the 2022 season. The team’s current quarterback, Jameis Winston, is under contract until 2023, but the Saints could choose to release him. Winston played in just three games in 2022 before losing his job to Andy Dalton due to injury. Dalton, who completed 66.7% of his passes for 2,871 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 14 starts, is due to be a free agent this offseason.
The move to bring in Carr is also significant because of his history with Saints coach Dennis Allen. Allen was the Raiders’ coach when they selected Carr in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Fresno State. However, Allen was fired after coaching Carr for just four games that year.
Carr’s release from Las Vegas on Feb. 14 was due to his refusal to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. The Raiders needed to trade or release him by that date, or $40.4 million of his contract over the next two years would have become fully guaranteed.
Although the Saints have yet to confirm the deal, the addition of Carr to their roster could give the team a much-needed boost as they look to rebound from their disappointing 2022 season. With a strong defense and a talented group of receivers, the Saints will be looking to make a deep playoff run in the coming season. Carr’s experience and leadership could be just what they need to get there.
