The New Orleans Saints are in quarterback purgatory. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Saints still lack clarity on quarterback Derek Carr's shoulder injury despite hopes that the two parties could sort out the issue prior to tonight's draft.
One factor that plays into the NFL Draft: The #Saints are not expected to have clarity on Derek Carr's situation and what the future holds prior to tonight as the parties had hoped, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2025
GM Mickey Loomis said the uncertainty won't affect their draft plans. pic.twitter.com/BC4rpySHgL
Carr has reportedly been mulling shoulder surgery that could sideline him for the entire 2025 regular season. He missed seven games in 2024 due to a variety of ailments, including a broken hand and an oblique injury. His shoulder injury didn't appear in the Saints' weekly injury reports.
Carr has played an up-and-down two seasons with the Saints, winning 14 of his 27 starts while averaging 223.1 passing yards per game and 6.65 net yards per attempt. He has two years remaining on a four-year, $150 million contract signed in 2023. Cutting or trading him would saddle the Saints with nearly $80 million in dead money.
The Saints are in a delicate position with Carr. They've failed to find a credible alternative so far, either via development or free agency, and he has kept them competitive enough to miss out on a top draft pick.
The Saints could theoretically pursue a veteran like Aaron Rodgers, who remains unsigned, but it's difficult to imagine they could provide a more enticing situation than the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been in talks with Rodgers for weeks.
Ultimately, even if Carr ends up healthy enough to play, the Saints should be looking for their next quarterback via the draft. If they don't deem any prospect worthy of the ninth-overall pick, they should strongly consider moving up to either the late 20s or early 30s if there's a player they believe is capable of starting in 2025 or beyond. Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart could be sensible options.
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