Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
One of the biggest developments to track this offseason will be whether or not retired New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr returns to the NFL. He won’t return to the Saints, of course, but the team would benefit from his potential return with the chance to receive draft capital in the process. The one hold-up to watch? Can Carr’s requirements for a return be met? Because it sure doesn’t seem like it.
“Would I (come out of retirement)? Yes,” Carr said on a recent episode of the Home Grown Podcast. “Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not. … I told you two things: I’d have to be healthy. I’d want a chance to win a Super Bowl. And obviously, that’s a tough thing to find.”
It is indeed. Typically speaking, Super Bowl-contending teams aren’t in the quarterback market in the previous offseason. However, two teams stand out in this cycle.
Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best weapons at wide receiver in the NFL with former LSU Tiger Justin Jefferson. They also have a championship caliber coach in head coach Kevin O’Connell, who helped to revitalize quarterback Sam Darnold’s career just last year. One year before Darnold won a Super Bowl in Seattle.
Minnesota can also have a Super Bowl defense again with the return of defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
The season didn’t end with much positivity in the Circle City after the detrimental injury that ended quarterback Daniel Jones’ season. But like Carr, many were down on Jones before landing in Indy. The Colts and head coach Shane Steichen could sell the exciting trajectory the team was on before Jones’ injury in an attempt to land Carr if they need to pivot at passer in 2026.
Per reports, the Colts reached out to Carr last year after losing Jones. A move that didn’t make too much sense at the time with the trade deadline having already passed. But hey, desperate times.
Now, if Jones were to need more time to heal up beyond Week 1, the contact between the Colts and Carr could become relevant.
Carr wants to return for a Super Bowl contender, but not many Super Bowl contenders will be in the market for a quarterback coming out of retirement. However, it’s often said that players want to land with contenders right before inevitably landing with teams that aren’t even close.
The Saints will have to wait to see how this one pans out.
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