Saints signing Derek Carr to $150M Contract: Winners & Losers

March 7, 2023

Hunter Macias

Saints signing Derek Carr to $150M Contract: Winners & Losers

Free Agency

Derek Carr Signs $150M Deal with Saints

The Las Vegas Raiders' offseason has been full of surprises, including the departure of their longtime quarterback Derek Carr. After rumors swirled that Carr was headed to the New York Jets, the former Pro Bowler instead signed a massive deal with the New Orleans Saints worth $150 million, with $100 million in total guarantees. The deal, which Carr reportedly structured to accommodate the Saints' cap situation, includes $60 million at signing. Carr's move to New Orleans was a shock to many, as recent reports had suggested the Jets were the frontrunners to land the quarterback. But the Saints, who had been in the running from the beginning, managed to snag the offseason's top available QB. Carr himself confirmed the news with a Tweet that read "Who Dat" late Monday morning. The Saints also announced the agreement on their social media platforms.

Carr took to Instagram to thank Raiders fans for their support during his nine years with the franchise, saying, "I will miss all of you Raiders fans also. Thank you for an amazing 9 years." Carr leaves the Raiders as the franchise's all-time career passing leader and a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Despite having one of his best seasons in 2021, Carr was benched this past year after struggling to lead the team to victories. He completed just 60.8% of his passes, his lowest mark since his rookie season, and threw 14 interceptions in just 15 starts. The Raiders finished the season with a disappointing 6-11 record.

Carr's move to New Orleans brings a new set of challenges, as the Saints offense has several pending question marks. Five-time Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara is a talented running back, but the offensive line is in need of upgrades after being one of the league's worst units in 2022. The future of wide receiver Michael Thomas is also uncertain after several injury-plagued seasons.

Carr, however, remains optimistic about his future with the Saints. In a statement earlier this offseason, he said, "That fire burning inside of me to win a championship still rages. A fire no man can extinguish; only God. So I look forward to a new city and a new team who, no matter the circumstance, will get everything I have. Winning a championship is what I've always wanted and what I will continue to work towards." Only time will tell if Carr can lead the Saints to a Super Bowl victory.

Which Teams and Players Come Out on Top? Winners & Losers

Winner: Derek Carr

While recent reports suggested that the New York Jets were the frontrunners to land Carr, the Saints managed to secure the offseason's top available quarterback. Carr confirmed the news via social media, expressing gratitude to his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders, and to the Saints for the opportunity to join their roster. With the Saints, Carr will bring experience and leadership to the offense, as well as a strong arm and accuracy in the passing game. Despite some concerns regarding his performance in the 2022 season, Carr's previous achievements in leading the Raiders to the playoffs in 2016 and 2021, as well as his all-time career passing record with the franchise, suggest that he has the potential to make a significant impact in New Orleans. The Saints' offense, led by five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, has struggled in recent years due to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play. However, with Carr now at the helm, the team has the potential to bounce back and compete in a wide-open division. While some may question the high price tag of Carr's deal, the Saints' lack of a long-term option at the quarterback position and limited draft capital make the move a necessary one for the team's future success. As Carr looks to continue his quest for a championship, he now has the opportunity to do so with a new team and a fresh start in New Orleans.

Winner: Packers

The Green Bay Packers emerge as winners with Derek Carr's decision to sign with the New Orleans Saints. This move potentially gives the Packers more leverage in shopping longtime QB Aaron Rodgers. With the New York Jets being long considered as favorites to pursue Rodgers, Carr was reportedly their next-best option, even leaning towards signing with the Jets in recent days. With Carr off the board and in New Orleans, the Jets' options for an experienced starter are now limited. The Jets would certainly prefer to pay for Rodgers than rely on Jimmy Garoppolo's health, assuming they are still interested in pursuing Rodgers.

Winner: Dennis Allen

In the aftermath of Derek Carr's arrival in New Orleans, one of the clear winners is Saints head coach Dennis Allen. After a somewhat underwhelming debut as Sean Payton's successor, Allen now has reason to be thrilled and confident about his job security. For starters, Allen already has a history with Carr from their time together on the Raiders, with Allen having served as Carr's first NFL head coach. This familiarity should help Carr hit the ground running in his new surroundings. Additionally, Allen's defense was a key reason the Saints remained in the wild-card hunt in the latter stages of the 2022 season. While Carr may not be a massive upgrade over former starter Andy Dalton, he has a higher ceiling and should give the Saints a boost on offense. The fact that Carr signed a four-year deal suggests that the Saints are not looking for a complete rebuild and are committed to building a competitive team around their new quarterback. This bodes well for Allen's future as the Saints head coach, as he will not be tasked with the daunting challenge of overhauling the roster.

Loser: Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders missed the opportunity to get maximum value for Derek Carr when they waited too long to trade him, making them one of the losers in the recent trade to the New Orleans Saints. Despite their commendable efforts to search for a better long-term solution, they should have made this decision a year earlier, before investing in Carr's contract extension and trading for his friend, Davante Adams. By waiting, the Raiders diminished Carr's value and made their intentions clear when they benched him with two games remaining in the season. As a result, they were unable to secure valuable assets in return for their Pro Bowl quarterback as they had zero leverage, leaving them with a significant gap at the quarterback position and few options to address it in the near future. It's a difficult situation for the Raiders, and they'll need to act quickly to find a new solution.