JACKSON: Carr signing may go down as Saints’ worst

By Ross Jackson

Every team has had its fair share of misses on the open market.

Oftentimes the bigger the swing, the tougher the miss that can follow. The New Orleans Saints haven’t taken many big swings out in free agency in their modern era, but their biggest swing in history may end up being a sizable miss due to injuries and a lack of return on investment.

The worst free agent signing in NFL history is still widely considered Washington’s 2009 signing of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to an unheard of (at the time) seven-year, $100 million contract only for the previous two-time All-Pro defender to be out of the starting lineup by 2010 and traded to the Patriots in 2011.

While his contract may not scratch the worst signings in league history, quarterback Derek Carr’s deal will be a tough pill to swallow for the Saints if the quarterback never sees the field in black and gold again. 

Again…
If this shoulder injury ends Derek Carr’s 2025 season and his tenure in Black & Gold.

Top 3 worst FA signings in NOLA 🏈

🥇 Derek Carr
🥈 Jairus Byrd
🥉 Brandon Browner
Honorable mention: Jason David https://t.co/WicUme9ci9

— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) April 11, 2025

Carr’s four-year, $150 million agreement with the Saints could have already seen its conclusion as the quarterback faces a future in jeopardy with a shoulder injury that threatens his 2025 season availability. Should he not find the field at all this year, it was already a foregone conclusion that he would likely be out of New Orleans come 2026.

The contract is the richest free agency contract the Saints have ever doled out in their entire history to a new acquisition.

Should he not see the field for the Saints again, his tenure in New Orleans out of a possible 68 regular season games will end with an underwhelming whimper.

• 27 games started
• 14-13 record
• 4,149 passing yards
• 26 touchdowns
• 11 interceptions

New Orleans’ worst signing before this potential was often considered safety Jairus Byrd who inked a five-year $54 million contract. The agreement included $28 million in guarantees. The three-time Pro Bowl safety appeared in just 33 games over three seasons, logging just a trio of interceptions in the process. Like Carr, who has suffered oblique, head, hand and now shoulder injuries during his time, Byrd’s tenure was also riddled with injury and availability concerns. 

Byrd’s deal may hold the top spot for many due to the position both players manned in New Orleans.

Taking a nine-digit swing at a starting quarterback in the NFL isn’t illogical at all. But the way things could end in this situation is loud and clunky enough to overcome what could have otherwise been seen as a sensible swing.

Signing a safety with a history of injury concerns to a top-flight contract was one that felt more ill-advised from the outset. Carr’s injuries didn’t start to pile up until he made it to New Orleans, but the foil to his deal is also the greatest signing of the franchise’s history in quarterback Drew Brees. So, the shadow that’s been cast over Carr’s signing is a dark one.

The Saints tried to revamp their starting quarterback spot in order to remain a competitive team under then-head coach Dennis Allen, but it looks like both Allen and Carr will ultimately come up short of the organization’s expectations. And that’s likely to leave Carr’s run with the team among some unfavorable conversations.