Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is signing with the New Orleans Saints, sources instructed ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Monday.
The Saints, who completed 7-10 final season, had been amongst three groups, together with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, to have pursued Carr for a number of weeks after the Raiders allowed the veteran quarterback to speak to groups to probably facilitate a commerce.
Carr, 31, visited New Orleans and met with a number of members of the group over two days in early February. He additionally met once more with the crew final week on the NFL scouting mix in Indianapolis.
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Carr declined to waive a no-trade clause in his contract and was launched by the Raiders on Feb. 14 — simply earlier than a deadline that might have assured $40 million of his contract over the subsequent two years. The discharge allowed him to right away signal with any crew as an alternative of ready till the official begin of free company.
Final season he completed with 3,522 passing yards (the third-lowest mark of his nine-year profession), 24 landing passes, 14 interceptions (tied for probably the most in a single season), a 60.8% completion share (a profession low) and an 86.3 passer ranking (a profession low).
Carr’s historical past with Saints coach Dennis Allen dates to 2014, when Allen was in his third season as coach of the then-Oakland Raiders. Allen was concerned with deciding on Carr within the second spherical of the 2014 draft and made the choice to begin him instantly as a rookie.
Allen was fired by the Raiders simply 4 video games into the 2014 season, however Carr remained with the crew for 9 seasons, going 63-79 whereas finishing 64.6% of his passes and throwing for 35,222 yards, 217 touchdowns and 99 interceptions.
“[Allen] and I’ve an important relationship nonetheless to today,” Carr stated in October earlier than the 2 groups performed. “And I nonetheless speak to him and issues like that — clearly not this week and all these issues — however we have all the time saved in touch, we have all the time been shut.”
Carr made the Professional Bowl 4 occasions and helped the Raiders make the playoffs in 2016 and 2021. He stepped away from the crew for the ultimate two video games of the 2022 season after being benched in what was described as a “mutual choice.”
The Saints made sense as a touchdown spot for Carr after they went into the offseason with an unsure future at quarterback. Andy Dalton, who began 14 video games for the Saints in 2022, might be a free agent.
The Saints have Jameis Winston beneath contract for another yr, however Carr’s signing may facilitate his launch. Winston is due $12.8 million in base wage in 2023 and began solely 10 video games over the previous two seasons after successful the beginning job from Taysom Hill in 2021.
Winston tore his ACL seven video games into the 2021 season and spent the remainder of the yr on injured reserve. He signed a brand new deal in 2022 after the Saints failed to accumulate Deshaun Watson.
Winston fractured his again and injured his foot originally of final season and was inactive in Weeks 4 and 5. He by no means regained his beginning job.
The addition of Carr ought to assist enhance an offense that dropped into the underside half of the league in factors and complete yards after the retirement of Drew Brees earlier than the 2021 season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
