After weeks of speculation that Derek Carr's time in New Orleans could be coming to an end after just two seasons, it appears the veteran quarterback will be back in 2025.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told a scrum of reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday that the club is "excited" about Carr's return.
"I think we feel like we've got a guy we can win with," Loomis said, via ESPN's Katherine Terrell.
The reasoning behind Carr's theorized exit this offseason was due to the weight of his contract. With New Orleans projected to be nearly $60 million over the 2025 cap and needing to reduce that number by the start of the new league year on March 12, Carr's contract, which carries a $51.4 million cap number in 2025, would help alleviate the issue.
Carr, who inked a four-year, $150 million deal to play for the Saints, said after the 2024 campaign that he "wouldn't take a pay cut" in order to ease NOLA's cap woes. A restructuring of his contract, however, could help all parties involved.
Loomis, a well-known salary cap finagler over the course of his long tenure in New Orleans, indicated Wednesday that wasn't an impossible obstacle.
"Yeah it's tight," Loomis said of their cap flexibility. "There's no secret to that and his is a big number, so we're going to hopefully be able to maneuver."
Kellen Moore portends to be happy with Carr captaining his first season as head coach. The former Eagles offensive coordinator spoke highly of Carr during his introductory news conference, saying he felt "fortunate" to have the soon-to-be 34-year-old QB on the roster.
"Derek's a tremendous quarterback in this league," Moore said on Feb. 13. "I've had so much respect for him, the journey that he's been on. He's a starter in this league. He's a premier player in this league."
New Orleans is coming off a disappointing season that saw multiple injuries impact the team. Carr threw for 2,145 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 starts before a fracture in his non-throwing hand ended his season in Week 14. The Saints struggled with Jake Haener and rookie Spencer Rattler trading starts, and the wins along the Saints' 5-12 record in 2024 only came with Carr starting under center.
Restructuring Carr's contract won't be the only item for Loomis to handle in the coming weeks. Saints running back Alvin Kamara, tight end Taysom Hill, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, defensive lineman Cameron Jordan and safety Tyrann Mathieu are among several aged veterans who carry pricey contracts going into 2025.
With a decision on Carr apparently made, Loomis and the Saints can begin their maneuvering and building around a proven QB in 2025.
