Derek Carr received immediate interest from NFL teams after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders. After meeting with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, an early asking price has emerged for the four-time Pro Bowl selection.
The Las Vegas Raiders attempted to deal Carr before releasing him, reaching out to every club in the quarterback market in the hopes of finding a deal. While Carr’s meeting with New Orleans occurred before his release, the franchise made it clear salary is the biggest hurdle to adding him.
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Money will still be something any interested team must overcome. With impending free agent Daniel Jones reportedly seeking a multi-year extension worth $45 million per season and quarterback Geno Smith expected to re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks, Carr has leverage.
As he meets with teams pitching him on why they are his best landing spot and selling him on a vision for contending, what each club is willing to offer could have a significant impact on who he signs with this spring.
Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up, NFL insider Dianna Russini shared that Carr is looking for a contract worth at least $35 million per season. He also isn’t going to rush a decision, waiting for other quarterbacks to sign deals before making his decision.
A $35 million AAV would make Carr one of the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. While he would be tied with Kirk Cousins, there is a strong possibility quarterback salaries explode this offseason and that would influence Carr.
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Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow are both eligible for contract extensions in 2023, with deals that could reach a $50 million AAV for both signal-callers. Meanwhile, Jones and Smith will set new markets for the middle tier of quarterbacks.
- Derek Carr stats (2022): 86.3 QB rating, 24-14 TD-INT, 3,522 pass yards, 60.8% completion
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers committed to internal options at quarterback, the Saints and Jets stand out as front-runners for Carr. Both teams can create the necessary cap space to sign Carr relatively easily. However, the Jets’ preference for Aaron Rodgers could push Carr to New Orleans.
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