Saints’ phones reportedly quiet on Derek Carr, but the calls are expected

By Ross Jackson

One of the most intriguing storylines to come out of the NFL Combine is around the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback situation. For the first time in a handful of years, there are no questions around who the team’s starter will be or how their room will be massively impacted by a training camp battle. 

Instead, the biggest curiosity around the team’s passing room is whether retired quarterback Derek Carr will come back for a chance to play elsewhere. 

While there appears to be genuine interest for the veteran passer to make a return, reports suggest that quarterback-needy teams haven’t yet matched his level of enthusiasm around the idea. 

Per NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk (PFT), while the teams believe Carr wants to come out of retirement and return to the field, they’re not exactly lining up to pester the Saints about the experienced signal caller. 

At least not yet. 

For teams in need of a passer going into the 2026 season, it doesn’t make much sense to make a move right away. Doing so would possibly cost the interested club 2026 draft capital in order to facilitate the move. New Orleans still owns the playing rights to Carr, so compensation could be in line in order to court Carr’s services. 

Waiting until after free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft would give the interested team a chance to address the position first in free agency, then again in what is now seen as an underwhelming draft class. 

Meanwhile, as time goes on, a trade agreement could then shift to 2027 draft capital instead. 

The Saints may not have heard about a possible trade yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually. If a team fails to address the position through more typical means this offseason, the window of opportunity could fly open for Carr to be the solution. 

For what it’s worth, there appears to still be belief that Carr will indeed return and will be traded. Matthew Berry, also of NBC Sports, shared his “rumors, gossip and educated guesses” from Combine chatter and included a possible landing spot for Carr: the New York Jets. 

Though, the same piece references rumors about the Jets trading for the No. 1 overall pick to take Indiana passer Fernando Mendoza. But assuming a huge swing like that doesn’t happen, the Jets could have a hard time courting a passer to lead them in 2026. 

New York doesn’t fit the bill when it comes to Carr’s criteria for returning. One of his conditions was that he wanted to return to a team that could give him a chance at a championship. The Jets aren’t exactly that. However, it’s surprising how much the right contract can turn just about any roster into a contender. 

The team that offers Carr the best chance to pursue a ring is the Minnesota Vikings, another team that has been consistently tied to the 34-year-old passer and his potential return from retirement. 

This is a situation that may not have a resolution before the draft begins. However, after the early period of free agency or after the draft, things could quickly heat up around the former Saints passer.