The New Orleans Saints received major news regarding their starting quarterback, Derek Carr. On Saturday, Carr made the difficult decision to retire from football. The veteran QB, who spent the majority of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Saints, is stepping away from the game after suffering a significant shoulder injury.
Throughout the offseason, the Saints anticipated Carr might miss some time, but a full retirement wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” said Carr. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
Carr’s departure leaves the Saints with one of the most uncertain quarterback situations in the league. Recent second-round pick Tyler Shough is now the most likely candidate to start when the season begins. While he has received promising evaluations, he remains unproven at the NFL level.
The Saints may consider making a bold move by exploring trade talks with division rival Atlanta Falcons for veteran QB Kirk Cousins. If they choose not to go that route, another option could be bringing in Aaron Rodgers. The former MVP is still on the market, and with the Steelers yet to sign him, New Orleans could step in.
“Now, a lifeline may have been given to Rodgers as he looks to continue his NFL career. Bringing in Rodgers would give at least one year of experience to Shough to learn from one of the best quarterbacks of all-time,” Eric Blum wrote.
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Adding Rodgers would bring a fresh dynamic to the Saints’ quarterback room and offer much-needed leadership. With the NFC South wide open once again, such a move could instantly make the Saints a legitimate contender.
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