After Derek Carr's retirement, the place do Saints go from right here at quarterback?

The Derek Carr period in New Orleans has ended. The 34-year-old quarterback is retiring, citing a shoulder damage that can require surgical procedure and would have compelled him to overlook the 2025 season.

He went 14-13 in his two-year run with the Saints, restricted by accidents and taking part in by others, in the end unable to be the quarterback to get New Orleans again to the playoffs for the primary time since Drew Brees’ retirement after the 2020 season.

Carr’s retirement ends a clumsy interval of uncertainty, with information of the shoulder damage popping out simply earlier than the draft. The Saints’ tough wage cap state of affairs had compelled them to transform his contract to create rapid cap house and, because of this, his contract will rely $50 million in “lifeless cash,” or cap house dedicated to a accomplished contract, over 2025 and 2026.

The Saints had anticipated Carr’s absence through the use of their second-round decide within the draft on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, and the 25-year-old is now the favourite to step in to Carr’s position at quarterback below first-year head coach Kellen Moore. New Orleans has drafted quarterbacks three years in a row, however Shough ought to be capable to beat out second-year professional Spencer Rattler, who went 0-6 final season filling in for Carr, and third-year professional Jake Haener, 0-1 in his solely profession begin.

If the Saints wish to signal a veteran QB, the most effective free brokers nonetheless accessible embody Aaron Rodgers, who seems headed for the Steelers, Carson Wentz and Desmond Ridder.

New Orleans is coming off a 5-12 season that was the franchise’s worst report since 2005, earlier than Brees joined the staff. The Saints’ salary-cap inflexibility restricted their offseason additions, so the problem shall be maintaining with the Panthers and Falcons, additionally with younger quarterbacks, all going after a Bucs staff that has received the division 4 years in a row and is favored to take action once more.

Carr’s NFL legacy is a combined bag. He handed for 41,245 yards and 257 landing passes in an 11-year profession, largely with the Raiders, but additionally is void of virtually any postseason résumé. His greatest season, in 2016, noticed him miss the playoffs attributable to damage, so he performed in a single playoff recreation, dropping after the 2021 season. He made 4 Professional Bowls with the Raiders, however his Saints tenure shall be famous primarily for the large contract he signed — he’ll find yourself making $100 million for 3 years — and the dearth of constant success to match that deal.

His retirement makes it a clear break in New Orleans: new coach in Moore, new quarterback probably in Shough. The rookie, who performed three seasons at Oregon and three at Texas Tech earlier than discovering success at Louisville final season, will now have the burden of making an attempt to alter the franchise’s trajectory. He was the third quarterback drafted, forward of different high quarterback prospects like Seattle’s Jalen Milroe and Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders.

Prime receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will assist Shough, in addition to an upgraded offensive line. New Orleans used its previous two first-round picks on tackles, with Taliese Fuaga final yr and Kelvin Banks Jr. this yr. Moore is an offensive coach with a long term in Dallas earlier than time with the Chargers and Eagles, and he follows an unremarkable 18-25 report by Dennis Allen, who took over for Sean Payton in 2022.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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