So this might be something. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels announced Wednesday that quarterback Derek Carr has been benched for the rest of the season, with Jarett Stidham to start in his place and Chase Garbers promoted to backup. Carr has likely thrown his final pass in a Raiders uniform given his hefty salary cap hits in future years, which were only guaranteed for injury. Sidelining Carr at this stage protects the Raiders from owing Carr much money in the 2023 offseason, giving them an opportunity to move on.
Carr was drafted by the Raiders in 2014 — Dennis Allen’s abridged final year with the team, at No. 36 overall out of Fresno State. Now he’s the New Orleans Saints head coach. Could the Saints make a move for Carr in the months ahead and get them together in New Orleans? We can’t rule out the possibility.
The Raiders will be left with about $5.6 million in dead money should they move on from Carr before Feb. 15, saving more than $29.2 million against the salary cap. However, more than $40 million will become guaranteed for 2023 and 2024 if Las Vegas chooses to hold on to Carr after that date. If he’s not released to avoid that, it’s because the Raiders believe another team (like New Orleans, maybe) would trade for him and take on those costs themselves.
Jameis Winston is the only Saints quarterback under contract for 2023, but it feels like that ship has sailed and that it might only be a matter of time until they part ways with him. Carr would give New Orleans an experienced starter under center, though he hasn’t found great success over the tumultuous years with the Raiders. Carr has played in the postseason just once (2021), though his MVP-caliber 2016 season was ended by a broken leg in Week 16. But, hey, it was similar when Drew Brees signed with the Saints once upon a time, too. AFC West retread quarterbacks have worked well in New Orleans.
Carr may have a 63-79 record in the NFL, but he’s completed 64.6% of his attempts while throwing 217 touchdown passes against 99 interceptions in his Raiders career. He’s never led the league in interceptions (well, not until now, and others will surpass him after this benching) but he’s twice set the pace for fumbles (putting the ball on the ground 12 times in 2018 and 11 times in 2020). He also doesn’t have an extensive injury history. The point is that the Saints could do worse. The likes of Winston, Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian and Ian Book are proof of that. The Saints haven’t been able to find a franchise quarterback after Brees hung up his cleats, and making a move for Carr is exactly what we should expect them to do. The question is whether other teams try to outbid them.
