Derek Carr Rumors: NFL Insiders Thought Saints QB Was Open to Testing FA Market

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr surprised some around the league when he renegotiated his contract.

Katherine Terrell of ESPN reported that some around the NFL believed that Carr was "open" to testing the free agent market and that the Saints had no desire to release or trade him.

"Several NFL sources believe that Carr was open to testing the market in recent weeks, possibly filling a void with a quarterback-needy team before free agency, but the Saints showed no outward desire to trade or cut him," Terrell wrote. "Multiple teams in the quarterback market were made aware of this in recent weeks, the sources said."

Carr also revealed to ESPN in January that he would not be willing to take a pay cut. The restructuring reduced his salary cap figure to $20.4 million.

Carr has been with the Saints since 2023 and is under contract through the 2026 season. He played in 10 games for New Orleans in 2024, throwing for 2,145 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He went down with a hand injury in 2024 and the Saints finished the season 5-12. All five wins came with Carr under center and the team will hope a healthy Carr can help turn the team around.

The Saints will try to use the extra cap flexibility to build a stronger roster while Carr will focus on putting a healthy season together in 2025.