Saints closing in on deal with Jets target Derek Carr

The Jets had interest in Carr, and will likely now turn their attention to Aaron Rodgers

3/6/2023, 3:33 PM

Here's the latest buzz on Derek Carr...


Mar. 6, 10:33 a.m.

The New Orleans Saints and free agent QB Derek Carr are closing in on a deal, according to multiple reports.

The contract is expected to be for four years and worth $150 million ($37.5 million per year) with $100 million in total guarantees. Carr will get $70 million effectively fully guaranteed ($60 million at signing, another $10 million in year three, vesting after year one), per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Carr made it clear that he wanted to agree with a new team before free agency officially started to help recruit talent with him to his new team, SNY's Connor Hughes reports.

Per Hughes, the Jets remain focused on Aaron Rodgers as their top QB target, and were not going to go ahead with contingency plans until they knew what he wanted.

Mar. 5, 6:30 p.m.

As Derek Carr continues this offseason as a free agent, the veteran QB shows a current "slight lean" towards the Jets as his preferred next destination, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler

Teams such as the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints remain in the mix for the soon-to-be 32-year old quarterback. 

Mar. 5, 12:02 p.m.

In addition to the Jets, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, there have been "at least" two other teams that have contacted Derek Carr amid his free agency, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.

According to the report, the Saints are confident they have made a "compelling case" for Carr to sign with New Orleans. The Panthers are also a "factor" in the Carr sweepstakes.

Carr recently met with the Jets and other teams at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis as he prepares to make his decision on his next team.

Both Jets head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas have spoken highly of Carr's ability and character after meeting with him in New Jersey prior to the NFL Combine.

Mar. 2, 9:37 a.m.

Robert Saleh discussed the team's recent meeting with Derek Carr in New Jersey, which the head coach thought was "great."

"His mind is in the right spot," the head coach said. "He understands. He keeps the main thing the main thing. A really impressive young man for sure."

Carr arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the NFL Combine and had an in-person free agent meeting with the Jets, which Saleh was unable to attend because an illness prevented him from flying. 

In addition to the Jets, the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers will also meet with Carr at the Combine, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Regarding the meeting with Carr last week, Joe Douglas said it was "fantastic."

"Really enjoyed spending time with him," the GM said. "He left a strong impression with everybody."

Carr visited the Jets and Saints earlier this month, but the meeting with the Panthers will be his first time discussing his free agency with Carolina.

In addition to Carr, the Jets have serious interest in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has not yet made his intentions known.

Rodgers recently exited a "darkness retreat," where he went to contemplate whether he wants to continue playing and -- if he does -- whether he wants to be traded.

Feb. 20, 10:57 p.m.

Carr's visit with the Jets "went very well," according to SNY's Connor Hughes, and the former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback's brother has since provided additional insight to the weekend New York trip.

On NFL Total Access, Carr's older brother, NFL Network analyst David Carr, described the Gang Green meeting as "great" and detailed the next steps.

"Derek had a great trip," David Carr said. "So he went there to get a feel for how they work, from the top down, and everyone he met -- he knew he would love (Jets head coach) Robert Saleh ... he's fantastic, and they hit it off, and they would love to work together.

"But there's a lot of questions that have to be asked. He has to find out how the inner workings of the front office work but also -- I think the most important thing, for him, as a veteran quarterback -- what is it going to be like as an offensive play caller and a quarterback and that relationship? Todd Downing is there. He has a relationship with Todd.

"Nathaniel Hackett is also there. So how does all that work? And they had a good chat, they talked about a lot of different things, and obviously the team is just in need of a quarterback -- there's some stability there. They have a lot of good components. There's a lot of things that are very positive about the Jets. He had a great trip, so it's honestly going to be a long process, though.

"He really only has the Saints, the Raiders and the Jets to kind of compare those three places. And so, he wants to do his due diligence and see as many places as he can and get a feel for what the best place is for him."

Feb. 20, 6:35 p.m.

Derek Carr’s meeting and visit with the Jets “went very well,” according to SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes.

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington added on Monday that the former Raiders quarterback's visit was “very positive and the Jets really believe that Derek Carr is the type of quarterback that can lead them to a potential championship.”

Carr plans to go through the full process of visits before deciding and he wants to have everything done by the start of free agency so that he can help recruit.

Feb. 17, 1:45 p.m.

Following his release from the Raiders on Tuesday, QB Derek Carr will visit the Jets in New York this weekend, reports SNY's Connor Hughes.

This is the second visit for Carr after previously visiting the New Orleans Saints.

With Carr visiting, the Jets are continuing to explore the market in the team's search for a veteran quarterback.

Feb. 14, 3:40 p.m.

Carr’s nine-year Raiders career has officially come to an end, as the team released him on Tuesday afternoon.

This move was expected after the quarterback informed Vegas he would not waive his no-trade clause to accept a trade to the Saints or any other team. The $40 million in guarantees in Carr’s contract was also set to kick in later today, which explains the timing of the release.

Carr now becomes one of the top free agents available on the open market.

Since he was released instead of his contract expiring, Carr is able to sign with any team immediately, instead of having to wait for the new league year to start next month.

Despite that, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this morning that Carr will not be in any rush to sign a new deal. He is expected to garner “significant interest” and certainly will go on many visits before making a decision on his new home.

The Saints, who Carr has already visited with twice, are said to still be in the mix. Some other teams who could make sense as a potential fits include the Jets, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Commanders.

Feb. 14, 10:34 a.m.

Carr is scheduled to officially be released on Tuesday at 4 p.m., and while Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that there will be "significant interest" in him, he won't be in a rush to sign.

Carr has already visited with the New Orleans Saints, as the Saints and Las Vegas Raiders had worked out compensation on a potential trade, but the veteran QB then informed the team that he would not be waiving his no-trade clause, forcing the Raiders' hand to release him.

Per NFL Network, the Saints are still in the mix, but it's possible Carr goes on more team visits before making up his mind.

Feb. 12, 4:20 p.m.

Derek Carr reportedly plans to exercise the no-trade clause in his contract.

He informed the Raiders on Sunday that he will not accept a trade to the Saints or any other team, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

As a result, the team is expected to release the veteran before the guaranteed $40.4 million in his contract kicks in on Wednesday. He will immediately become one of the top free agents available.

Carr will certainly draw a ton of interest from teams in the market for a veteran quarterback, such as the Jets.

Feb. 7, 6:50 p.m.

The Las Vegas Raiders have granted Derek Carr permission to visit with the New Orleans Saints, per multiple reports.

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the plan for Carr is to visit the team Wednesday. Carr has a no-trade clause and this is just the QB doing his due diligence as no trade is imminent.

The Saints went 7-10 last season, but were unlucky in regards to their quarterback situation. They began the season with Jameis Winston, but he went down to an injury after three games. New Orleans went with veteran QB Andy Dalton the rest of the way.

Feb. 3, 9:44 p.m.

The Raiders have reportedly granted Derek Carr permission to speak with other teams interested in trading for him, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The interested team must also agree to compensate the Raiders. This is the same arrangement the Houston Texans offered quarterback Deshaun Watson when they were looking to shop him last offseason.

However, in the hours since there have been conflicting reports on this point.

NBC's Albert Breer and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo have said that Las Vegas has not given Carr permission to speak to other teams. The date to look toward is Feb. 15 when a trigger occurs that makes $40 million over the next two years guaranteed for the Raiders.

Any move, or non-move, involving the Raiders and Carr will likely occur around then.

Jan. 29, 7:31 p.m.

A new report suggests that the Jets will search for a veteran quarterback, and that will star with the Raiders' Derek Carr, Packers' Aaron Rodgers among others, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"While the Jets will certainly take a long look at potentially trading for Rodgers, he's not the only veteran quarterback the team is evaluating," Jones wrote Sunday for CBS Sports. "According to sources, the Jets will be looking closely at Rodgers, (San Francisco 49ers quarterback) Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr. They won't limit their search to just those three quarterbacks -- and sources stress it's still early in the process -- but that's where the focus will begin."

Jan. 21, 1:00 p.m.

Derek Carr is expected to be deal from the Las Vegas Raiders "earlier rather than later."

While speaking on ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown, Adam Schefter said Carr is expected to be traded at some point this offseason.

“The entire NFC South is expected to be in the market for a new quarterback," Schefter said. "The Jets, the Commanders, the Colts, the Texans. There are so many teams that need quarterbacks, which elevates the value of Carr.”

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