By Ross Jackson
Now that the New Orleans Saints look to have their head coach lined up, the next big decision revolves around quarterback and the team’s two-year starter Derek Carr.
The Saints will need to make a decision soon, as the conversation shifts significantly if Carr remains on the roster by March 14, the third day of the 2025 league year. At which point, $30 million of his 2025 base salary will become guaranteed, in addition to a $10 million roster bonus which is already solidified. NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo shared some details on the situation ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Super Bowl kick-off.
“I do know that quarterbacks that have $40 million basically in guarantees aren’t real quick to give that up,” Garafolo said. “So if the Saints come to Derek Carr to ask him to do that, I think he would resist and then potentially could be gone. But the Saints have to hire Kellen Moore officially, then have the discussion and figure out what they want to do with Derek Carr. If he’s gone, I would expect interest from multiple teams out there. There’s not a lot of great options both in free agency and the draft. He’ll have interest.”
On the idea of giving up some of his guaranteed money, Carr breached that conversation unsolicited at the end of the season.
Carr told ESPN Saints reporter Katherine Terrell that he would not be open to taking a pay cut.
“I wouldn’t take a pay cut,” he told Terrell. “Yeah, I wouldn’t do that. Especially with what I put on tape. Would I restructure? Absolutely. I’ll always help the team that way. But there’s some things that you put out there that you earned.”
That’s a pretty strong indication that should Carr’s future come down to whether or not he would be willing to take a pay cut, his tenure could come to an abrupt end in New Orleans. The Saints could designate him as a post-June 1 cut, saving $30 million on June 2 if the move is made before the March 14 deadline, or they could explore potential trade options.
A trade would necessitate Carr waiving his no-trade clause, making things a bit more difficult than just finding a suitor. In fact, finding the suitor may be the easy part.
Along with Garafolo’s report that Carr would yield interest around the league, one of the teams that pursued the veteran passer before he landed in New Orleans is expected to part ways with its starter this offseason.
On Sunday morning, NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer reported that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was informed that he will be designated as a post-June 1 cut. The Jets were considered finalists to land Carr in 2023, before he decided to join the Saints and reunite with former head coach Dennis Allen.
Should the Saints approach Carr, requesting a pay cut and the passer declines, the two sides could amicably pursue a move that allows the Saints to start fresh at the position, without costing Carr the money he wouldn’t want to surrender.
At which point, New Orleans could look to build their 2025 approach around second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler or pursue other options. In any case, if the position is not settled going into the 2026 offseason, the quarterback class in the NFL Draft is expected to be excellent compared to the thinned out 2025 class.
It will be an impactful couple of weeks after the head coach hire of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is made official. Once that move is done in the days following the Super Bowl, New Orleans could also look to start its next era with a new quarterback at the helm.
