Derek Carr is on his way to the Big Easy.
The Saints are reportedly closing in on a four-year deal with the 31-year-old veteran who spent nine years as a Raider. During that time, Carr was a four-time Pro Bowler and he is the all-time passing leader for the franchise.
Carr’s final season with the Raiders, however, was not his best. According to new head coach Josh McDaniels, he was benched for QB Jarrett Stidham because of that “poor play.” Carr threw 14 interceptions and was sacked 40 times in just 15 games played with only a 60.8% completion rate -- despite the team adding superstar wideout Davante Adams.
That said, Carr’s 2021 season – before the coaching change – was one of his best. Carr threw for a career-high 4,804 yards (fifth in NFL) with a 68.4% completion rate and 23 passing touchdowns and he took his team to the postseason.
Carr’s career 64.6% completion rate is tied for 12th among active QBs and his 33,265 passing yards rank 10th. For reference, Jameis Winston’s career completion rate sits at a mere 61.3%, which ranks 31st.
Saints pass-catchers should get a slight bump with Carr at the helm, if for no other reason than consistency. New Orleans used Winston for only three games last season before Andy Dalton took over, and Taysom Hill was also sometimes thrown into the mix.
Saints wideout Chris Olave impressed in his rookie season, leading all Saints receivers with 1,042 yards and seeing 119 targets. Olave should remain heavily involved in the offense, and TE Juwan Johnson could also see a bump as the number two pass-catcher for the Saints. Johnson was targeted 65 times and also led the team in receiving TDs with seven. In 2019 and ‘20, Carr relied heavily on TE Darren Waller, who had back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons for Las Vegas.
Alvin Kamara was targeted 77 times in 2022, and the pass-catching running back should continue to see targets from Carr. Perhaps with Taysom Hill seeing fewer snaps at QB, Kamara rushing numbers could benefit from more carries. However, keep a close eye on Kamara’s legal situation. Gone are the days of Kamara being a first-round fantasy selection, but perhaps he will become a value pick if he continues to fall.
Questions remain about the health of WR Michaell Thomas, and the Saints restructured his deal in the offseason, making him an easy trade piece. It’s too early to count on Thomas in New Orleans.
Winston will likely also find himself on the move after this deal is finalized. Plenty of teams are looking for a new QB, including the Raiders, Panthers and Jets, though Winston does not seem like a natural fit for any of the above.
As for the Jets, the runway is now open for Aaron Rodgers to land in New York. That is, of course, if the darkness retreat revealed he isn’t ready to retire or leave Green Bay. Time is running out for the Jets to sign the veteran QB they have been looking for. If Rodgers and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett don’t have a reunion, Jimmy Garoppolo could find himself with a nice payday.
