By Ross Jackson
Typically speaking, when discussing the best offseason move for a team, an acquisition is the focus. What a team receives, either a free agency signing or draft pick, maybe a trade, often tops the list.
For the New Orleans Saints, however, a different move will have the longest-lasting positive impact that doesn’t require immediate on-field production.
Getting $30 Million Back From Derek Carr’s Retirement
Usually the retirement of a starting quarterback would be one of the worst things to happen to an NFL club. However, in this case, it was exactly what the Saints needed.
The move achieves quite a few positives for the team.
- The Saints get a fresh start at quarterback along with their fresh start at head coach.
- The returning fund will help the team dramatically in its salary cap situation.
- Compounding the influx of cash over the next two seasons with a starting quarterback on a rookie deal gets them very close to financial freedom to rebuild the roster.
Not just the split with Carr, brought upon by a shoulder injury that threw a wrench in the team’s initial plans for 2025, but the money coming back specifically is a huge help for the future of the franchise under its new leadership.
A Close Second
Head coach Kellen Moore and his coaching staff are close seconds on the best offseason moves by New Orleans. The staff is promising, eclectic and connects well with the player roster. So far, the new staff is a win, but that success can be impacted once the team hits the field in the regular season.
No on-field results are going to impact the Saints’ new lease on life as they are now fast-tracked to drastically improving their salary cap situation over the next couple of years.
