Latest NFL coaching hire opens up another viable QB option for the Tennessee Titans that could be the biggest bargain of them all
Why Derek Carr could be a QB option for the Titans.
NASHVILLE — After a long wait, the New Orleans Saints have finally found their new head coach.
New Orleans has hired Kellen Moore, who just won Super Bowl LIX as the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, to be the 19th head coach in Saints franchise history.
With Moore at the helm, quarterback Derek Carr’s standing with the team is being called into question even more than before. That could open up another veteran QB option for the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
Carr and Moore have some history together. Back in 2011, they actually played each other as collegiate QBs for Fresno State and Boise State. Moore's No. 5 ranked Broncos walloped the Bulldogs 57-7. Moore (a senior) threw three touchdowns, while Carr (a sophomore) went 17/30 with 126 passing yards and an interception.
Many years later, Carr and Moore are now reunited in New Orleans with Moore (36) being the youngest active head coach in the NFL. But for a while, it looked like Moore might pass on the job.
Is Derek Carr Available?
Dianna Russini previously reported that Moore could pass on the Saints’ head coaching vacancy because he was not impressed by the quarterback room. Translation: He didn’t want Carr as his quarterback for his first (and maybe last) gig as an NFL head coach.
After Moore was announced as the new head coach in New Orleans, the consensus was that the Saints were "going to decide on Derek Carr’s future soon." Naturally, Moore being hired begs the question if the Saints will move on from Carr. He’s a candidate to be cut in the offseason, but there are some conflicting views among insiders about how realistic that is.
Adam Schefter recently wrote in an article that Carr "probably will be the team's QB1 entering 2025." Despite having a large cap hit in 2025, releasing Carr would not provide the Saints with much immediate cap relief. New Orleans would only save a few million dollars.
But as the situation unfolds, the Titans should be a team keeping a very close eye on what the Saints decide to do. Carr would be a reliable, cost-effective veteran that raises the floor for Tennessee in 2025. Similar to what the Steelers did with Russell Wilson in 2024, the Titans could sign Carr to a cheap contract while the Saints pay him big bucks. It would be a very small financial commitment and would not prevent Tennessee from also drafting a quarterback if they see fit.
I can definitely see a world where you go into training camp with Carr as your starting QB and you have a rookie in waiting, depending how the year begins. I think that would be comfortable for Brian Callahan, Mike Borgonzi, and others. Let’s keep in mind that Carr has connections to a shocking number of coaches executives in Tennessee .
Titans Connections
Head coach Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator Nick Holz, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, and assistant to the head coach Tom Jones all worked with Carr in Oakland in a meaningful capacity. Newly hired executives Reggie McKenzie and Dave Ziegler are former GMs for the Raiders as well .
McKenzie is the man who drafted Carr back in 2014. Ziegler is the GM that traded him and was involved in the decision to bench him during his final year in Las Vegas. There could be some sour feelings there, but it’s possible Ziegler and Carr are on relatively good terms after reuniting with the Saints in 2024.
When surveying the options at quarterback for the Titans in 2025, it's hard to find a cost-effective and viable one outside of the NFL Draft. Sam Darnold will cost big money in free agency. Matthew Stafford would require trading away draft picks. Aaron Rodgers…brings baggage.
With that in mind, I'm not ruling out the possibility of the Titans signing Carr and still drafting either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. They may even decide to pass on the rookie QBs altogether and have Carr be the bridge QB this fall.
Tennessee Titans make unprecedented selection, pass on QB with first overall pick in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft from ESPN
Titans make bold pick at 1st overall in latest mock.
