Lack of Derek Carr suitors far from surprising

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Rivers Hughey

The NFL calendar dictates a lot throughout the offseason. When contracts void or expire, when teams can begin negotiating free agency contracts versus when those on the open market can truly be signed, the ability to add players from the college ranks and more.

While there isn’t a specific date for it, the offseason calendar also has a major impact on when teams are comfortable taking unexpected swings at positions of need.

That’s why the idea that the New Orleans Saints haven’t received communication for teams interested in trading for retired quarterback Derek Carr isn’t surprising at all.

The Saints have still gotten no inquiries about QB Derek Carr, who has said he’d unretire to join a Super Bowl contender. https://t.co/VvZYxitfvI

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 15, 2026

Teams that are currently in need of quarterbacks still have a viable pathway to adding their passer of choice on a rookie deal rather than taking on a veteran quarterback for a player hoping to come out of retirement after missing more than a season of football.

With the NFL Draft still upcoming, at least one quarterback-needy club will get their answer at the position. The Las Vegas Raiders, who have already moved on from last year’s starter Geno Smith, will be able to select Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the top selection of the draft.

In the process, the New York Jets got their veteran starter for 2026 by landing Smith in a trade with the Raiders.

Other franchises have already set up their future with a signal caller. The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis while the Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray.

With that, teams like the Jets, Arizona Cardinals and possibly the Cleveland Browns invest draft picks to land a potential future passer.

If the Cardinals in particular fail to do so or decide to add a veteran starter while a rookie develops, then pursuing Carr would make sense.

Additionally, should a team experience an injury at the position ahead of the trade deadline, desperation could lead to a 504 area code phone call being made.

Until at least after the draft, teams checking in (or re-checking in the same cases) doesn’t make much sense. If the Saints get their chance to move Carr, it doesn’t feel like a likely move will fall into place until at least after the Draft.