ESPN names the most important thing the Saints need to do this offseason
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently named the most important thing that each NFC team needs to do this offseason and he went with an obvious choice for the New Orleans Saints. Barnwell thinks the Saints need to sign free agent quarterback Derek Carr. From ESPN: For the Saints, who need all the draft capital they can […]
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently named the most important thing that each NFC team needs to do this offseason and he went with an obvious choice for the New Orleans Saints.
Barnwell thinks the Saints need to sign free agent quarterback Derek Carr.
For the Saints, who need all the draft capital they can get, signing Carr would align with their philosophy of trying to win now around their veteran core. (My thoughts on that philosophy have been covered elsewhere.) The cap-strapped Saints can't afford a $34.9 million cap hit for Carr in 2023, but had they traded for him, they were going to restructure his deal to create short-term cap space by converting his base salary into a bonus and adding voidable years to the end of the deal. If they sign him, they can structure a new deal from scratch for short-term cap benefits.
There's no doubt that New Orleans needs to add a veteran quarterback. And Carr is the best option — unless the Saints want to trade for Aaron Rodgers which obviously isn't going to happen.
If New Orleans wants Carr, though, they'll need to beat out the New York Jets for his services. The Jets are strongly pursuing Carr this offseason (and also Rodgers).
The Saints might be wise to go hard after Carr now — even though his brother, David, says Derek's free agency will last a while — and take advantage of the Jets' interest in Rodgers (who knows when that will be resolved).
If the Saints can land Carr, they'll instantly become the overwhelming favorites to win the NFC South in 2023.
Featured image via James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
