After taking a year off from football, Saints quarterback Derek Carr has expressed interest in returning to the NFL next season. The problem for Carr is that teams have not shown much desire to coax him out of retirement. Five days into the new league year, the Saints have not received any inquiries about Carr’s availability, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
While New Orleans still holds Carr’s rights, resuming his career there is not on the table. The Saints found a new starter in 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough, who had an encouraging rookie year. Prying Carr from the Saints may only cost a late-round pick, but job openings have dwindled this week.
The Cardinals (Gardner Minshew), Dolphins (Malik Willis), Falcons (Tua Tagovailoa), Jets (Geno Smith) and Vikings (Kyler Murray) have all added potential new No. 1 signal-callers. Carr has said he wants to play for a team with a chance to contend, which could have ruled out the Cardinals, Dolphins and Jets even if they had interest in the soon-to-be 35-year-old.
Looking around the rest of the league, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh are probably the last teams that do not have their starting passers under contract. The Raiders will address that when they draft Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall next month. The inevitable Mendoza addition will officially rule out a reunion with Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Raiders from 2014-22.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are continuing to wait for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he wants to play a 22nd season in 2026. If Rodgers retires, the Steelers may be Carr’s best bet. After going 10-7 and winning the AFC North last year, the Steelers will aim to contend again next season. However, it is unknown if general manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy would even given serious thought to a Carr trade. They may have their sights set on Kirk Cousins as a fallback plan.
Carr might not find a taker in the next few months, but interest could arise if a team loses a starting QB to an injury between training camp and the trade deadline. At least two clubs considered Carr during the season last year, though he was less open to returning at that point.
The Bengals, then dealing with an injury to Joe Burrow, called the Saints about Carr in October. Two months later, the Colts contacted Carr in the wake of Daniel Jones‘ early December Achilles tear. The Nov. 4 trade deadline had passed by then, meaning Indianapolis could not have landed Carr unless New Orleans cut him and nobody ahead of the Colts made a waiver claim. There would be fewer hoops to jump through in acquiring Carr now, but another NFL opportunity does not appear imminent.
I mean… Gardner Minshew and Geno Smith were more valued than you, Derek… Might be time to seriously look into broadcasting.
Because he is not good. He is stubborn and set on being the starter for a good team. None of the good teams need him, maybe something gets figured out at trade deadline due to a ton of injuries.
Not even the bad teams he doesn’t want to play for want him, Jets would rather renew the toxic Geno Smith situation
Hell be picked up during the season when someone gets hurt
He was on the decline to begin with. Plus he already retired what team will think he is committed? Teams must not view him as starting caliber anymore.
Ship has sailed buddy boy
if he’s serious his agent will stage a public workout. I wouldn’t rule out a Flacco like renaissance if he can sling it
Maybe he could do sit-ups in his driveway for the media. Bring some attention to himself.
I mean I could see him in LV as a mentor and super emergency backup for cheap.
He has no intentions of being backup and mentoring.
Its like nobodycrwades the articles
Apparently, NO wants more than a simple late round pick swap for his rights. I’m not sure who’d be willing to do that now.
Has more to do with his wanting to play for a contender. NO has never said what they want in a trade.
“Who’s gonna tell you when
It’s too late?
Who’s gonna tell you things
Aren’t so great?
You can’t go on thinking
Nothing’s wrong, oh oh
Who’s gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Who’s gonna pick you up
When you fall?
Who’s gonna hang it up
When you call?”
Podcaster > NFL QB