.jpg)
1 hour ago
1
Doubt over Derek Carr's future as the Saints' starting quarterback had grown in recent months, with reports indicating he was still dealing with a lingering shoulder injury. The questions over whether Carr would start for New Orleans in 2025 got an early answer, though, as the veteran quarterback announced Saturday that he's calling it a career.
Statement from Derek Carr: pic.twitter.com/31tDccwRuI
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025Carr spent just two seasons with the Saints, but he was still by far the most experienced passer on their roster. With his decision to retire, it leaves new head coach Kellen Moore with a group of young, unproven quarterbacks. Right now, there's no clear indication of who will be under center for New Orleans by Week 1.
Moore could either work through growing pains by giving one of his young quarterbacks the starting job or pursue an outside option that offers more experience. If the Saints prefer the latter route, there are a few current free agent passers and trade candidates the Saints could kick the tires on.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here are the Saints' best starting quarterback replacement options as Carr heads into retirement.
MORE: Updated Saints QB depth chart following Derek Carr's retirement
New Orleans Saints' best Derek Carr replacements
Tyler Shough, Saints QB
Perhaps the simplest answer for the Saints, who are likely entering a rebuild with Moore as head coach, would be giving their newest quarterback a chance to lead the team.
Starting a rookie from Week 1 comes with risk, but for a team that probably doesn't have realistic playoff aspirations in 2025 anyway, rolling out Shough could allow him to work through any early struggles while giving the team an indication of whether or not he'll be a long-term answer at quarterback.
Moore said following Carr's retirement that he expects a "three-man competition" for the starting job including Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Of those options, Shough would make the most sense on a franchise level. He's also heavily experienced for a rookie, as the 25-year-old played six collegiate seasons.
Given the starting role, Shough, New Orleans' second-round pick in April, can immediately prove himself. If he struggles, then the Saints could turn elsewhere. There are not many drawbacks for the team to let Shough hit the gridiron in Week 1.
MORE 2025 NFL DRAFT: Grades for all 32 teams | Winners and losers | Biggest steals
Spencer Rattler, Saints QB
If the Saints decide their rookie quarterback isn't quite ready to handle a starting job, they do have some more in-house options. While versatile weapon Taysom Hill and Haener, who appeared in eight games last season, deserve mentions for at least having some experience, Rattler would likely be the wiser option to roll with.
Rattler appeared in seven games in 2024, throwing for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. The turnover issues are apparent, but Rattler's ceiling is also higher than Haener's, who completed a mere 46.2% of his passes last year.
At the very least, giving Rattler the QB1 role would give him another chance to establish himself as a long-term NFL quarterback after his standout collegiate career between Oklahoma and South Carolina. The 24-year-old was New Orleans' fifth-round pick in 2024.
Just like with Shough, Rattler getting a shot would allow the Saints to assess a young quarterback's future on a team whose 2025 season likely won't bring many meaningful games.
Aaron Rodgers, free agent QB
While Moore indicated for now that New Orleans will resort to an in-house competition following Carr's retirement, things can change quickly. There's still a looming giant on the free-agent quarterback market as of the second week of May, and the Saints could strike if they see a fit.
Aaron Rodgers isn't going to suddenly make the Saints Super Bowl contenders, but what he could do is help provide leadership, experience, and arm talent to an offense that could use it. None of the Saints' three rostered quarterbacks have played in the NFL for more than one season.
If nearly everything worked out well, perhaps a rejuvenated Rodgers, even at 41, could help the Saints sneak into the NFC playoff bracket with a group of weapons that includes the always-dangerous Alvin Kamara and a proven talent in Chris Olave.
Of course, all signs and reports have pointed to the Steelers eventually landing Rodgers in free agency, but the quarterback changing his mind wouldn't be the first time he made a surprising decision. Perhaps Rodgers sees more of a fit in New Orleans than Pittsburgh.
Kirk Cousins, Falcons QB
Despite a disastrous first season following his massive free agency deal, the Falcons haven't yet shown they're willing to trade away Kirk Cousins. He was benched for Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 after struggling with turnovers, and the expectation is that Penix will remain QB1 in Atlanta.
Financially, a trade involving Cousins may prove difficult, and the Falcons probably don't want to trade him within the division. But crazier things have happened in the NFL. If the Saints are desperate for a veteran presence and strike out on Rodgers, maybe Atlanta is willing to talk about a deal for Cousins.
Like Rodgers, Cousins would bring plenty of experience to New Orleans and could slightly lift the team's 2025 ceiling while guiding a young quarterback room. At 36, he's younger than Rodgers, and he's just two years removed from a 2023 season with the Vikings in which he threw 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games.
It's unlikely, but Cousins could use a change of scenery, and the Saints are one of few quarterback-needy teams at this point in the offseason.
Joe Flacco, Browns QB
Here's another older quarterback that doesn't have a long-term future with his current team. Joe Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Browns earlier in the offseason, but that was before Cleveland went on a quarterback binge by trading for Kenny Pickett, then drafting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
It's extremely likely that one of those four passers is released at some point this summer. Gabriel and Sanders are probably safer, considering they're rookies that the team will want to assess over time. Pickett could certainly be the victim of the crowded room, but he also brings some long-term intrigue, having had some time to learn on the Super Bowl champion Eagles' roster.
Despite his successful first stint with the Browns a few years back, Flacco could be the odd man out at 40. If so, the Saints could show some interest. He's another elder quarterback that would be a guiding voice on a rebuilding team, while also still being capable of helping New Orleans win a few games in 2025.
Compared to Rodgers and Cousins, Flacco also shouldn't be too expensive. He's on the verge of retirement and has been a journeyman for around six years now, but the New Orleans could use his many years of NFL experience.
Carson Wentz, free agent QB
For yet another veteran quarterback that's well past his prime, enter Carson Wentz. The former Eagles MVP candidate has seen his career trajectory flip due to injuries and some poor performances, but Wentz also still has some talent left in the tank.
He has spent the past two seasons as a backup between the Rams and Chiefs. Wentz hasn't had a chance to start in a quite while — the 32-year-old is still seeking his next shot and has remained a free agent as summer approaches.
Unlike Cousins or Flacco, the Saints wouldn't have to trade for Wentz, and compared to Rodgers, he's not going to be nearly as expensive or as much of an off-field distraction. Signing Wentz could bring the Saints a nice balance of what they need: a cheap veteran with previous starting experience who's hungry for a starting job and could provide leadership.
Wentz makes sense as a buy-low candidate for New Orleans to sign off the open market following Carr's retirement. He could fill a similar role that Carr would have, and there's not much downside to giving him a one-year deal.
English (US)