Tomorrow’s Super Bowl has obviously been the league’s top storyline in recent days, but the future of Derek Carr has generated plenty of interest as well. The Raiders quarterback is close to having more than $40MM in guaranteed money vest, meaning clarity could emerge soon. 
[RELATED: Saints Viewed As Carr Frontrunners]
Vegas allowed Carr, 31, to visit the Saints this week, having previously prevented him from meeting with teams which had yet to agree on trade compensation. The fact that New Orleans hosted Carr meant that at least the framework of a deal has been agreed upon. More details have emerged on that front.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Raiders are seeking a third-round pick in exchange for Carr. Such a selection has been seen in plenty of high-profile QB trades in recent years, but Fowler is likely accurate in calling the ask a “modest” one. Of course, Carr has significant leverage in this situation by holding a no-trade clause and thus having the ability to force the Raiders to release him in the coming days and sign with the Saints (or any other potential suitor, of which there would be several) as a free agent.
New Orleans once again holds a first-round pick via the Sean Payton trade, but also the 41st and 72nd overall selections in this year’s draft. The latter would be headed Vegas’ way if previous reporting on terms being agreed upon holds true. The other complicating factor in this situation, though, is of course Carr’s contract and the Saints’ current financial situation.
New Orleans is more than $60MM over the 2023 salary cap ceiling, leaving them with more cost-cutting to do than any other team around the NFL before the new league year begins in mid-March. Carr has a scheduled cap hit of $34.9MM in 2023, and $7MM of his 2024 salary will become guaranteed this week barring a restructure. As Fowler and colleague Dan Graziano note, unsurprisingly, the Saints would be keenly interested in lowering Carr’s financial cost upon acquisition, but that the four-time Pro Bowler has no need (at least at this point) to agree to do so.
Carr would likely provide an upgrade under center to the Saints compared to their 2022 setup of Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. The Raiders, meanwhile, have made it clear they are prepared to move on to a new era at the position, leaving attention squarely placed on Carr himself as he weighs his options.
Carr should clearly pick the team he wants to play for and let the Raiders live with the fallout.
Right. He should demand to be cut rather than having his new team give up a pick or 2 for him.
Do you mean like another nine years of no playoffs with him? That will show them.
Not all of it is Carr look to the coaches. Raiders haven’t had a decent head coach since the first round of Chucky.
Fallout of not getting a whopping 3rd rounder. Devastating.
Sorrynotsorry- I guarantee you Vegas would much rather have that 3rd than not. I’m not sure why you’re acting like 3rd rounders aren’t valuable. Lots of good players have come out of that round.
he’s worth like a 4th and conditional 5th
Do the Saints even have the money to make this trade?
On one hand, no, even if they cut Winston, Jordan, and Peat. On the other hand, have the Saints ever had a bill due today that they weren’t willing to put off until tomorrow with interest?
Agreed with both, but as I’ve said many times, Mickey Loomis is the most slippery cap manager that I have ever seen. This would be a new high in my memory, but if I had to pick a GM that wouldn’t surprise me I getting it done, it’d be him.
I wouldn’t trade for him I would make it known we want him and hope we can woo him here with a good contract and a team ready to compete. Make the Faiders make the move let the option vest or not. If they let it vest they are on the hook for tons of money if they waive him then Carr walks away clean and more teams will show interest.
It’s kind of funny that the Raiders think they’re even CLOSE to the driver’s seat with this.
No one in the world thinks the Raiders are in the drives seat. And I mean literally -0-.
I’ve been a Raiders fan for 50+ years, and they have the stupidest FO I’ve ever seen.
As a Cowboys fan, I must admit our front office is just as awful.
No…it might not be good, but it doesn’t fall to the level of the Raiders. The Cowboys are usually competitive at least
The waive him and save money. They trade him and save money and get a 3rd rounder.
There literally is no drivers seat for anyone here.
Is there anyone that thinks the Raiders will get a QB that plays better and wins more games than Carr with McDaniels as coach? They should just fast forward two years and fire him now.
Yes
Any team that’d give the raiders ANY draft pick for Carr would define infantile patience. The raiders will release him so wait and you can pick him up using a reworked contract and 0 draft capital
Hopefully, Mark Davis will use the cost savings from dumping Carr to get himself a new barber.