Derek Carr backup plans: 1 trade, 1 free agent and 1 pick for the Saints

One trade the Saints could pull off as backup plan to Derek Carr: Aaron Rodgers

If the Saints look to the trade market, they better go big or go home. Lamar Jackson is going to take an absurd offer, so don’t expect him to make his way to New Orleans. But Aaron Rodgers has created a perception that he’s hard to manage and difficult to work with, which could mean if he hits the trade market, he’ll be attainable for a lower price.

Not to mention he’s been in the league for nearly two decades now and closer to the end than the start.

He’s still capable and could muster out another Super Bowl run in his twilight years. There are better receivers in New Orleans than he had in Green Bay last year. It’s easy to envision him making some magic happen in the passing game with this receiving core.

Plus, the Saints can continue to wrinkle in Taysom Hill as a backup, short-yardage piece, trick-play wildcat QB here and there and limit Rodgers’ reps simultaneously to extend his career, even if ever-so-slightly.

This feels like a long shot and a trade that would potentially wipe the Saints of assets needed to eventually retool and build back better. That said, New Orleans has been committed to staying competitive for the last decade-plus and doesn’t seem to be getting away from that mindset anytime soon.