Saints Quarterback Options After Derek Carr Announces Retirement

In a bit of a surprising development, Derek Carr has decided to retire.

He was dealing with a shoulder injury that was putting his 2025 NFL season in jeopardy. Instead of maybe sitting out a year, Carr has decided to retire from the game completely.

Let's discuss Carr a bit and what he meant to the Saints. We'll also look at some possible replacements for the team, whether that be QBs on the team or outside options.

Let's dive in!

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Carr's Numbers and Value

Carr played 11 years in the NFL, spending time with two teams, the Raiders and Saints. He retired at the age of 34.

Carr completed 65.1% of his passes over his career. He had 257 touchdown passes and 112 interceptions, along with 41,245 passing yards, which averages out to 244.1 per game.

Carr rushed for 956 yards and seven scores on the ground. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

He played just 10 games for the Saints in 2024. Carr completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Carr certainly seems to have more in the tank, but after maybe a year off, he decided to step away from the game instead of possibly risking another injury that might bother him the rest of his life.

It leaves the Saints with a gaping hole at quarterback, not just for the upcoming season, but for the long run.

Internal QB Options for Saints

The Saints drafted Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 draft, and he is probably the favorite to win the starting job. He might have already been the starter if Carr was out, but this takes away one less competitor for the rookie.

Spencer Rattler is a second-year NFL player who got some experience as a rookie in 2024. The only other QB on the roster right now is Jake Haener.

Rattler started six games and appeared in seven last year. New Orleans went 0-6 in his starts. Rattler completed 57% of his passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 146 yards and no scores on 18 attempts.

Haener lost his only start and appeared in eight games total last year. He completed 46.2% of his passes for 226 yards, a score and pick, while rushing for 22 yards on 11 attempts.

Can you see why Shough is the likely starter right now? Carr might not have been an elite QB, or even an above-average one, but he gave the Saints a chance to compete.

Right now, the Saints look like they are going to be one of the worst teams in the league, unless Shough takes the league by storm. He wasn't a highly sought after prospect, so I wouldn't bank on that.

Outside QB Options for Saints

Not many free agent quarterbacks are out there.

The biggest name is Aaron Rodgers, who has been linked to the Steelers. Maybe playing his home games in a dome is more appealing for the veteran QB, but New Orleans is probably a notch down from Pittsburgh when it comes to being a contender in 2025.

I think that Rodgers would still prefer Pittsburgh over New Orleans, but you honestly never know with that guy. He'd at least give the Saints a chance to compete for a playoff spot.

Other free agents right now, according to spotrac, include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, C.J. Beathard, Tyler Huntley and Desmond Ridder. Those are all better backups, but if the Saints want to roll with Shough as the starter, one might be in as a mentor and insurance if the rookie flames out.

Going team by team, I'm going to try to identify some other possible QBs who could be traded to New Orleans.

Mitchell Trubisky is in Buffalo, where Josh Allen obviously is the starter. Zach Wilson is a Dolphin, where Tua Tagovailoa starts and rookie Quinn Ewers landed.

Joshua Dobbs is in New England, but he's the only reliable backup for Drake Maye, so I don't see that happening unless New Orleans pays up. Tyrod Taylor is with the Jets as the backup to Justin Fields, but he might stick there in case Fields fails as a starter.

Cooper Rush is Lamar Jackson's backup right now - Baltimore doesn't have another reliable backup, so this is tough to envision too. Jake Browning is still in Cincinnati, but is the only reliable backup for Joe Burrow.

One of the Cleveland QBs could be moved to New Orleans. It probably has to be Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett though, as bringing in rookie Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders isn't a great look with a rookie in Shough already there.

The loser of the starting job battle in Indy could end up with New Orleans. I don't think that makes sense for New Orleans to do though, so I'm thinking this won't happen.

Will Levis is now the backup in Tennessee, so maybe a change of scenery could be good for him? Gardner Minshew and Bailey Zappe are both in KC, so maybe one gets moved to New Orleans - Minshew would be the preferred target I'd think.

Aidan O'Connell is now the clear backup in Las Vegas, so there's a chance the Saints trade for him if they don't believe in Shough. Taylor Heinicke and Trey Lance are both with the Chargers and could be options for New Orleans.

Russell Wilson looks to be the starter for the Giants, but maybe he gets moved to make room for Jaxson Dart. Jameis Winston is another Giant who could maybe go to New Orleans to start for the Saints. Tommy DeVito is also there if the Saints get really desperate.

Marcus Mariota is with Washington for now, but could maybe get a second chance to start with New Orleans. Malik Willis is the backup in Green Bay, and could be a target for the Saints - Willis is insurance if Jordan Love gets hurt again, so I'm not sure Green Bay wants to deal him away.

Sam Howell was just traded to Minnesota, but maybe the Saints like him enough to trade for him. Andy Dalton is the backup to Bryce Young in Carolina and maybe could go back to New Orleans to mentor Shough and start a few games.

Kirk Cousins is still looking for a new home, as I don't expect him to stay in Atlanta as the backup all year. This gets tricky because it's in the same division, but New Orleans and Atlanta might be desperate enough to each to do this.

Jacoby Brissett is the backup in Arizona, so maybe he mentors Shough and starts a couple games for New Orleans. Could Jimmy Garoppolo get another chance to start? He's the backup for the Rams for now.

Mac Jones is a backup in San Francisco and maybe gets another starting chance if the Saints believe in him still. Drew Lock could be traded from the Seahawks if the team sees enough in rookie Jalen Milroe to backup Sam Darnold.

Final Thoughts

I really don't see many good outside options for the Saints, whether that be a free agent or trade option. There's a chance I didn't name a QB who could be moved, but not many appealing QBs are out there.

I see the Saints rolling with the guys they have now and maybe bringing in a veteran free agent as an insurance plan through the preseason.

I think Shough is going to open the season as the team's starting QB, with Rattler and Haener as backup options. It might not end in good things for the Saints, or the rookie's confidence, but it makes more sense than adding an outside QB.

New Orleans can bite the bullet and start a bit of a rebuild in 2025. We might get an idea on the team's intentions if they make a couple trades or transactions before the season gets here.