NFL Rumors: Derek Carr’s top destination, Steelers risk it all for Pickett, and Pats living in la-la land
By Kristen Wong
NFL Rumors: Derek Carr predicted to eschew gumbo for a NY slice
We have a real “Sophie’s choice” situation on our hands. Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has a handful of suitors to choose from in free agency, and the two most interested contenders may be the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets.
Does Carr want to play with a team still trying to get out of the shadow of the Sean Payton era, or does he want to join a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs for over a decade? It’s a tough one.
According to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, the tide is turning ever so slightly into the Jets’ favor.
"If Rodgers does wind up back in Green Bay, the Jets should be viewed as the favorite to land Carr. His meeting in New Jersey recently with Saleh and others went well and the Jets view Carr as a quarterback who can get them over the hump and contend in the AFC."
Rosenblatt also notes that he heard the Jets are willing to wait for Aaron Rodgers, so any move for Carr will likely happen after Rodgers makes his decision on his future.
The Saints have been itching to sign Carr ever since early February when Carr was still on the Raiders, and Las Vegas allowed Carr to visit NOLA in preparation of a trade. Carr ended up flipping the bird as his old team and is blazing his own path in free agency.
If Carr does choose to play with the Jets, he’ll have to learn to live with the New York media hounds on his back, though he would be stepping into a very desirable offense on a young, up-and-coming team. Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner — compare those guys to the Saints’ Alvin Kamara (on the decline and embroiled in a lawsuit), Michael Thomas (when is he not injured?), and Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs were smart to get rid of him when they did).
In New York, Carr would unfortunately have to share a quarterback room with Zach Wilson, but as long as Carr keeps his mom close by, he shouldn’t have anything to worry about.