Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr will likely be dealt from the Las Vegas Raiders at some point within the next week or so.
Carr, 31, was benched by Vegas late during the 2022 season and has no future with the team after nine mildly successful seasons. The Raiders are also facing a deadline of Feb. 15 that would guarantee Carr his entire $32.9 million cap salary for the 2023 campaign.
It’s in this that something could very well come together in short order. Perhaps a move to the NFC South and the New Orleans Saints could be in the cards.
According to NFL Media Ian Rapoport, Las Vegas has granted the Saints permission to meet with Carr. He’ll take a visit with the team in New Orleans on Wednesday.
As of right now, nothing seems imminent on this front. But things can change in short order when it comes to trades around the league. We saw that first-hand when New Orleans dealt away former head coach Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos back in late January.
Interestingly enough, New Orleans added a late first-round selection in that trade. Whether said pick would be used to acquire Carr in a trade with the Raiders remains to be seen. But it would be a high price to pay.
- Derek Carr stats (2014-22): 65% completion, 35,222 yards, 217 TD, 99 INT, 91.8 QB rating
This past season saw Carr struggle big time under first-year Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. He threw 24 touchdowns against 14 interceptions before being benched 15 games into the campaign.
Though, a lot of that had to do with the Raiders not wating to risk injury — guaranteeing Carr his base salary for the 2023 campaign in the process.
Related: Derek Carr and the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks
Potential Derek Carr, Dennis Allen reunion with the New Orleans Saints\
New Orleans head coach Dennis Allen served in that role with the Raiders during Carr’s rookie season back in 2014. A second-round pick out of Fresno State, Carr earned the starting gig over the likes of Matt Schaub and Matt McGloin.
While Allen was fired after an 0-4 start to the season, there’s obviously a built-in relationship between the two.
From New Orleans’ perspective, there’s certainly a major need at quarterback following a disastrous 7-10 season for the team. Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston struggled big time under center in Allen’s first season as their head coach.
- New Orleans Saints quarterback stats (2022): 66% completion, 3,969 yards, 24 TD, 14 INT
It’s interesting that New Orleans’ overall passing numbers were similar to Carr despite the latter having a down season.
As for a potential trade, there’s a chance that the Raiders and Saints might be able to get together in a deal that would send draft pick(s) and a player back to Sin City.
New Orleans currently finds itself in salary cap hell at $57.38 million over the projected 2023 number. It could entice the Raiders with Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore or star running back Alvin Kamara in a potential trade. Either way, this is certainly a story to pay attention to in the coming days.