Saints’ first Derek Carr contender in free agency revealed

Finally let go from the Raiders’ iron clench, quarterback Derek Carr is enjoying the free agency life and has added another team to his official suitors list.

Following news of Derek Carr’s visit with the New Orleans Saints, another team has officially emerged as a contender to sign Carr this free agency.

The New York Jets are bringing in Carr for a visit this weekend, according to NFL’s Mike Garafolo. It’ll mark Carr’s second meeting with an interested team and his first as a free agent.

After Carr got released by the Las Vegas Raiders, the Saints were reportedly still in the running and in even better position to bring him on in 2023. Rather than deal with the Raiders middleman in a potential trade, NOLA can now save its draft picks and discuss contract variables with Carr himself.

Unfortunately for New Orleans, Carr’s free-agent status means any quarterback-needy team can try to lure Carr away, and the Jets just might be the neediest.

New York was one solid quarterback away from being a serious playoff contender in 2022, boasting a roster chockfull of young talent including two rookies of the year, Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner.

After two disappointing seasons, 2021 No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson exists in a static limbo state in which he’s not good enough to be a starter, but the franchise doesn’t seem to want to cut him either. In Wilson’s place, the Jets are seeking a veteran quarterback to serve as a reliable stopgap for at least the 2023 season: Aaron Rodgers is one highly rumored option, and Carr is another.

New York Jets will test Derek Carr’s sensitive personality in visit this weekend

News of Carr’s impending visit makes the Jets’ interest in the Pro Bowl quarterback all the more real, and the Saints may suddenly have to fight off a franchise much more desperate than them.

Whereas NOLA could viably keep its passable quarterback room of Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton for next season, the Jets don’t have a single desirable starter under center (the Mike White run was fun while it lasted), and it feels more likely than not that the Jets will make a big splash at the quarterback position whether in free agency or by trade.

Between the Saints and the Jets, the latter has more salary cap space to potentially sign Carr. Carr’s decision may not come down to a matter of zeroes on his paycheck, though. Carr’s brother, David Carr, said on NFL Network that Carr wanted more autonomy over play-calling and controlling the offense in 2022, something Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels refused to give him.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh has also been known for keeping a tight leash on his quarterbacks in the past several years. If Saints head coach Dennis Allen is willing to have a more conducive meeting of the minds with Carr this offseason, the Saints could take the lead in the Carr sweepstakes.

This is far from the end, and expect Carr’s list of interested suitors to grow much longer in the coming weeks.