Category: Derek Carr

Derek Carr preparing for his first preseason snaps since 2019

Saints fans won’t have to wait much longer to see their new quarterback. Derek Carr is preparing for his first preseason snaps since 2019:

New Orleans Saints fans won’t have to wait much longer to see their new quarterback. Derek Carr will hit the field at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday against a familiar opponent — the same Kansas City Chiefs he dueled for years in the AFC West while leading the Las Vegas Raiders.

And this is going to be Carr’s first preseason snaps since 2019. The 2020 preseason was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s not uncommon to see teams limit their starters’ reps in these exhibition games in an attempt to protect them from unnecessary injury, but it’s been years since Carr took any snaps in preseason.

When asked about the last time he was active for a preseason game after Friday’s training camp practice, Carr was befuddled; turning to his longtime teammate Foster Moreau, he asked whether they had played in preseason last summer.

“I did,” Moreau replied, prompting a round of laughter.

Carr was on the field for just six snaps in one exhibition game in 2019, his most recent appearance; before that he played 13 snaps in two games in 2018, but he hasn’t seen a (relatively) heavy workload since the 2017 season, which was Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore’s rookie year, for context.

Earlier this week Saints coach Dennis Allen said he expected the first-string offense and defense to each play about 15 scripted snaps, so that gives us an idea of what’s ahead for Carr. He’s played well in training camp but live reps against a real opponent moving at full speed is going to be good for him as he continues to settle into a new offense.

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Derek Carr’s New Orleans Saints gear ranks among NFL’s best-selling merchandise

The NFLPA reports that Derek Carr’s New Orleans Saints gear ranks among pro football’s best-selling merchandise:

Look out for a lot of Derek Carr jerseys inside the Caesars Superdome in the fall. The New Orleans Saints quarterback ranked 14th in player sales in the last quarter, per NFL Players Association records. The NFLPA tracks the sales of officially licensed products and merchandise each fiscal quarter, and it’s clear that fans are excited to see Carr dropping back to pass in New Orleans.

Though Carr was the only Saints player on the list, he’s also the highest-ranked member of the NFC South. The three lesser teams in the division are represented by Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (at No. 48), Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (No. 49), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (No. 50).

Will Carr meet these high expectations and give Saints fans something to cheer about? That’s what everyone is waiting to see when the regular season kicks off in September. But early reviews out of training camp are positive, and it sure sounds like Carr’s version of the offense is going to run more smoothly than the inconsistent attack we saw with Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston at the helm.

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The Athletic’s QB tiers rank Derek Carr 14th in the NFL

The Athletic’s Mike Sando surveyed 50 voters around the NFL, who ranked Saints QB Derek Carr 14th among his peers:

Every summer The Athletic’s Mike Sando speaks with dozens of talent evaluators around the NFL to assemble the best-informed ranking of pro quarterbacks possible, a group which Sando says “includes eight general managers, 10 head coaches, 15 coordinators, 10 executives, four quarterbacks coaches and three involved in coaching/analytics.”

So where does New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr rank among his peers? Organizing the passers into tiers, Carr was slotted firmly in Tier 3, a group Sando describes as “a legitimate starter but needs a heavier running game and/or defensive component to win. A lower-volume dropback passing offense suits him best.” Sando’s sources around the league put Carr at No. 14 overall.

That’s in line with his salary as the 12th-highest paid quarterback in the league, though he’ll take a step back in those rankings once Joe Burrow puts pen to paper with the Cincinnati Bengals. In last year’s version of this project, Carr clocked in at No. 12, while Jameis Winston ranked halfway down the list at No. 24. Andy Dalton wasn’t ranked at all.

It’s a fair evaluation of Carr, though the Saints are hoping he’ll outperform those expectations. If he can just be an upgrade over the quarterbacks they’ve fielded post-Drew Brees, this should be a playoff team. If he can elevate the talent around them and be a legitimate asset, their ceiling might be even higher.

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Highest-paid QBs after Justin Herbert extension: Where does Derek Carr rank?

Highest-paid quarterbacks after Justin Herbert extension: Where does Derek Carr rank?

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers rocked the NFL world this week in announcing a new landmark contract extension valued at a record-breaking $52.5 million per year — but it won’t take long for young passers like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to surpass him.

For now, though, it’s worth taking a look at the rising salaries of franchise quarterbacks around the NFL to see where Derek Carr ranks. The New Orleans Saints’ deal with their new passer raised plenty of eyebrows earlier this year, but he ranks near the middle of the pack now that contracts for other quarterbacks have gotten hammered out:

All contract numbers can be found on overthecap.com

Madden NFL 24 reveals New Orleans Saints QB player ratings

Madden NFL 24 reveals player ratings for each team’s quarterbacks — including New Orleans Saints starter Derek Carr:

Madden NFL 24 is continuing its rollout of player ratings for the latest version of the flagship video game, with the developers at EA Sports sharing a look at every team’s quarterbacks — including New Orleans Saints starter Derek Carr. Here’s how Carr stacks up against his backups Jameis Winston and Jake Haener, as well as do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill:

Chris Olave says he’s ‘been cooking up’ with Derek Carr

Chris Olave says he’s ‘been cooking up’ with Derek Carr, adding that Carr’s steady demeanor has helped put him at ease after a tumultuous rookie season:

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Few receivers are seeing as big a leap from their quarterbacks from one year to the next than Chris Olave, with the New Orleans Saints wideout expressing his eagerness to work with Derek Carr on Richard Sherman’s podcast. Olave discussed his relationship with veterans like Derek Carr and Michael Thomas, sharing that he’s quickly gotten up to speed with his new quarterback.

Sherman asked Olave whether he’s begun to develop chemistry with Carr, to which Olave replied: “Oh hell yeah, we’ve been brewing, we’ve been cooking up. I feel like it’s just getting better and better. Just being on the field together, getting consistent. That’s how everybody builds chemistry just getting those reps, continuous repetition.”

Olave missed time late in minicamp with Achilles inflamation, but he’s expected to be full-go for training camp and he’s wasted no time in putting in work with Carr. He was quick to note that there’s more to cultivating that relationship than just catching passes at the facility — pointing to Carr’s steady demeanor as something that’s helped put him at ease after a tumultuous rookie season.

“I feel like we all know what he can do on the field but he helps me a lot off the field too, just a leader he is,” Olave reflected. “Just his vibes he comes with, I feel like always makes a young player better. So I’m excited to play with him.”

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ESPN’s NFL sources don’t rank Derek Carr as a top-10 quarterback

ESPN’s NFL sources didn’t rank Derek Carr as a top-10 quarterback. A panel of executives, coaches and scouts poked holes in his game:

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This isn’t too surprising given all of the takes we’ve seen from around NFL media this offseason, with Derek Carr regularly ranked in the middle of the pack — including here at Saints Wire, where the New Orleans Saints quarterback slotted in at No. 16. He’s coming off a down year with the Las Vegas Raiders that led to his unceremonious split with the only team he’s ever played for, so it makes sense that Carr’s stock is down around the league.

That’s the case in ESPN’s positional rankings, where they polled NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to put together a list of the game’s best active quarterbacks going into the 2023 season. Carr was ranked outside the top-10 again after making the top-12 a year ago, this time receiving an honorable mention. But he still has fans in the league.

“Quick processor and highly accurate,” one anonymous NFC team official told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, adding, “He can also handle heavily game-plan installs. Very smart.”

The Saints are hopeful that Carr can return to his pre-2022 form in a friendlier offense that plays to his strengths, giving him a number of run-after-catch weapons who can make the most of his accurate passes underneath the defense; guys like running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, but also tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. If things go as planned, that’s going to open up opportunities for Shaheed and wideout Chris Olave to make plays deeper downfield. And the biggest X-factor in the group is Michael Thomas, whose return to dominance would change everything for everyone in the group.

But that’s the plan as it’s been drawn up. Now it’s time to execute it, put points on the board, and win a lot of games — proving Carr deserves a spot among the NFL’s best passers, too. Let’s see if they can pull it off.

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Saints should not accept B/R’s ridiculous Davante Adams trade proposal

The New Orleans Saints should not accept this Davante Adams trade proposal. Bleacher Report has cooked up something ridiculous | @southexclusives

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When Davante Adams was ready to leave the Green Bay Packers last year, he specifically sought out a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders to play with his collegie quarterback Derek Carr. The two kept a strong relationship off the field despite not sharing it as teammates for nearly a decade. Derek Carr’s departure from the Raiders means Adams’ initial reason for being in Las Vegas is gone. It has even made some speculate if another reunion could be in order, this time in New Orleans.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has gone so far as to outline potential trade details:

“Raiders Receive: 2024 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick

Saints Receive: WR Davante Adams

Davante Adams went to the Las Vegas Raiders, in part, to reunite with college teammate Derek Carr. The duo was quite successful in Vegas, with Adams posting his second career 1,500-yard season.

Their Sin City tenure wasn’t long, though. The Raiders’ decision to part ways with Carr marks the dawn of a new era, and Jimmy Garoppolo is slated to take over under center.
There’s already reason to believe that things could be headed toward a divorce between Adams and the Raiders, though. He hasn’t been all that supportive of the team in the media.
“I’m going to have to buy into this and try to be as optimistic as possible,” he told Mirin Fader of The Ringer. “It’s not what I expected to happen, but it’s something that’s the reality now.”

There isn’t a team in the NFL whose wide receiver room wouldn’t improve by adding Adams. He’s one of the best at his position. The Saints, however, should not pursue Adams. Chris Olave, Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed is a solid top-three and should make you comfortable enough to not make such an aggressive move at the position. There are clear health questions, specifically with Thomas. Questions about health are not enough of a reason to send away first- and third-round picks. 

New Orleans should retain future assets as a team that is getting older on the defensive side and could have future holes along the offensive line next season. It doesn’t help that the Saints only have five picks in the 2024 draft right now while waiting on compensatory selections to be awarded next March. As talented as Adams is, New Orleans should retain their picks and bank on the talent at the top of their receiving corps.

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Ranking all 32 quarterbacks: Where does Derek Carr fit in?

Ranking all 32 starting quarterbacks: Where does Derek Carr fit in after signing with the New Orleans Saints?

We’re just two weeks away from the start of New Orleans Saints training camp, so it’s a good time to take stock of teams around the league and see how the black and gold stack up.

Today we’re focusing on the game’s most important position: quarterback, where the Saints made a big investment in what they’re hoping to prove an upgrade. But where does Derek Carr rank among his peers? Here’s our take:

Chad Johnson predicts sky-high passing numbers for Saints QB Derek Carr

Chad Johnson predicts sky-high passing numbers for Saints QB Derek Carr. Ochocinco has high expectations for Carr’s next chapter | @ClutchWDN

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Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has the chance to prove his doubters wrong this upcoming NFL season. As one of the newest additions to a new-look New Orleans Saints roster, he has all the weapons in place to make some noise this season.

Former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson also seems to believe this is the case, as he took to Twitter this afternoon.  He took the time to respond to an NFL post asking fans to predict Derek Carr’s stat line this season with the Saints.

He would go on to respond with the following prediction:

This prediction is not only one that reflects a positive opinion of Carr, but the belief that there is truly something special brewing in the bayou. Taking these numbers out of context is impressive enough, but let’s take a look at how they look compared to the league leaders last season.

First up, let’s address the passing yards projection. Johnson predicted Carr at 4,700 passing yards, which would have ranked third in the league last year. The only two quarterbacks who surpassed this mark last season were two of the best in the sport, those being Patrick Mahomes (5,250) and Justin Herbert (4,739). This would also nearly surpass Carr’s career high in passing yards, which came in 2021 with 4,804 yards. If he had played in every game this season, he would have been on track for 3,991 yards for reference.

In terms of the interceptions projection, Johnson is predicting that Carr would tie his career low in this statistic. The lowest number of interceptions he has ever thrown in his career in a season was six back in 2016. Since then, he has thrown at least eight every season, with 14 the last two seasons each. Despite this being a very low projection, it is not completely out of the realm of possibility based on his career. In terms of the league, this is predicting Carr among the elite, with Jalen Hurts only throwing six interceptions last season, as well as Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray throwing seven in limited seasons.

Finally, the passing touchdowns thrown statistic, where Johnson predicted 38 for the New Orleans signal caller. This would surpass the career high for Carr, in which he threw 32 previously in the 2015 season. On average, he typically throws right around 24 passing touchdowns in a season, so this is somewhat of a bold prediction for sure. Among other quarterbacks this season, that would have placed him second behind Patrick Mahomes (41), and three touchdowns above Joe Burrow and Josh Allen who each had 35.

So, overall, is this a bold prediction? Absolutely. However, with the weapons Carr now has in New Orleans, with a quality offensive line to protect him and a top-tier defense to get him the ball back, it is not out of the realm of possibility. Hopefully this does come to fruition, but we will have to wait and see as the season unfolds if this will be the case.

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