Now that Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has vetoed a trade to the New Orleans Saints and any other NFL team, if the Saints want him, they’ll have to land him as a free agent. Carr is expected to be released before the Feb. 15 deadline that activates more than $40 million in guarantees over the next two years. The nine-year veteran visited New Orleans, has been introduced to key members of the organization and visited the team’s facilities last week before making his decision. Perhaps Carr liked what the Saints had to offer, but was not interested in the Raiders getting a return for his departure. If that’s the case and Carr finds his way to the Big Easy as their next starting quarterback, what might his free agent contract look like?
There are a couple of paths that the Saints and Carr could take depending on the market he finds. Make no mistake, Carr and his representation will take time to visit with other teams no matter how much they liked New Orleans. Teams like the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers are among many NFL clubs in search of a starting quarterback for 2023. It’s in the best interest of Carr and his team to rustle up multiple offers. If the Saints end up having to compete with other teams, his contract could look very similar to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
