The New Orleans Saints are navigating a pivotal offseason, finding themselves in the tricky position of hunting for their third Head Coach in just 19 years. The Dennis Allen experiment didn’t quite take off as planned, and now the Saints are also grappling with significant cap space challenges. But that’s not the only interesting storyline coming out of the Big Easy – there’s also the Derek Carr question.
Derek Carr, the Saints’ quarterback, presents a conundrum. He’s a reliable, though perhaps temporary, fix rather than the long-term solution for the quarterback position. The Saints may very well decide to take their future in a different direction, potentially releasing or trading Carr. And in such scenarios, the Tennessee Titans emerge as an intriguing option.
Carr’s tenure in New Orleans has been put into question, especially since he declared he wouldn’t accept a pay cut to remain with the team. “I wouldn’t take a pay cut…Yeah, I wouldn’t do that. Especially with what I put on tape,” Carr stated firmly. “Would I restructure? Absolutely. I’ll always help the team that way. But there are some things that you put out there that you earned. Even in some cases, it could be even worse, but I felt confident when I signed it that this would give the team the best flexibility at the time. But yeah, I wouldn’t take anything less to do this. It’s hard enough putting our bodies through it. And you’re trying to get everything you can for your family for it.”
This stalemate sets the stage for a possible quarterback exchange. Carr is confident about his conversations with key Saints figures, including GM Mickey Loomis and owner Gayle Benson, leaving the door open for all possibilities. “I’ve had great conversations with everyone in this building,” said Carr. “And we all have mutual feelings and so my confidence level is very high in what can happen, what could happen.”
So, why would the Tennessee Titans be interested in Carr? Two main reasons stand out: Familiarity and Assurance. Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan and Carr have a history; Callahan served as Carr’s quarterbacks coach back in 2018. While that season wasn’t extraordinary, such connections are invaluable, particularly for a team on the brink of a make-or-break situation. If there isn’t a clear path forward at quarterback, Callahan could feel the heat.
The Titans have options, looking at prospects like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward in the draft. However, a bold move could see them trade down or potentially draft a talent like Travis Hunter first overall. But adding a veteran like Carr who can deliver familiarity and immediate stability could sway the decision in a crucial offseason move for the Titans.
Stay tuned as these dynamics unfold because, in the NFL, the only constant is change.
