We know that free agent quarterback Derek Carr is in Indianapolis this week for follow-up meetings with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, as well as an introductory visit with the Carolina Panthers. What we don’t know is how soon he intends to choose which team he’ll be playing for in the fall. It doesn’t sound like Carr will be signing in the next day or two, but this is something the former Las Vegas Raiders passer hopes to resolve in the near future.
“I get the sense as far as a timeline goes, nothing is imminent here,” said NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “Derek Carr would like to make a decision on his future before the negotiating period begins on March 13. So some time between now and then I expect Derek Carr to find his new home. Really right now it’s about fit; what is the best fit (for Carr)?”
Some reporting has already been done on the numbers Carr is seeking — ESPN’s Dianna Russini says he wants more than $35 million per year, which would put him among the top-10 earners at quarterback — but as Garafolo emphasized, he’s putting a premium on his comfort level with his new team.
That’s not to say Carr will settle for less than he feels he’s worth. Garafolo added: “And then the money is going to come in later. So then the negotiations, as far as the financials are concerned, have not yet really begun, that is secondary to Derek Carr setting himself up where he feels comfortable.”
Carr has a well-established relationship with Saints head coach Dennis Allen, who drafted him to the Raiders back in 2014. His two-day visit in New Orleans went well and the Saints are very much in the mix for his services. But as more competitors emerge and the salary cap outlook begins to crystalize, New Orleans is at a real risk of getting priced out for their top target. And that may not be the worst thing given Carr’s unceremonious exodus from Las Vegas, though you have to wonder who the Saints turn to if they can’t bring him in.
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