A surprising first candidate emerges for Raiders QB Derek Carr
Derek Carr received permission from the Las Vegas Raiders to visit with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, per Ian Rapoport.
A potential move to New Orleans fits the Saints' win-now model but not the team's budget.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said "no deal was imminent" but that the Saints "are considered to be serious suitors."
He noted Saints head coach Dennis Allen has a history with Carr. Allen coached Carr during his rookie season in 2014 and named him the opening-day starter that year.
After a failed relationship with Jameis Winston and stopgap option Andy Dalton, the Saints are in the market for a starting QB. Carr is arguably the best available QB, unless the Ravens consider Lamar Jackson available or Aaron Rodgers announces he's returning once he comes to his senses.
The Saints were mentioned by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski as a fit for Carr, further highlighting why a union between the two makes sense. But the problem circles back to how the Saints make a deal work financially.
New Orleans is $60.4M over the cap. The team can restructure several contracts or cut players to get under the cap, but it would take general manager Mickey Loomis's greatest magic act yet to fit Carr's $34.9M cap hit, plus have enough money to sign draft picks and players via free agency.
ESPN's Mina Kimes is already on board to see what revolutionary tactics Loomis uses to make Carr to New Orleans a reality.
As fascinating as it will be to see how the Saints work their way under the cap, it's the same story every year in New Orleans and Loomis always finds ways to create cap space and make deals.
Whether the three sides — the Saints, Raiders and Carr — reach an agreement or not is to be determined, but we shouldn't doubt that New Orleans can scrounge up the money needed to make a trade happen should one materialize.
Carr needs to waive his no-trade clause in any deal, but the prospect of playing with an elite playmaker such as Alvin Kamara and a rising star at receiver in Chris Olave could be a nice rebound after Carr reunited with his college teammate and all-time great Davante Adams this past season.
Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore and other key Saints defenders don't appear to be going anywhere, either.
With Tom Brady out of the NFC South, the division is wide open. Carr may look around and think all the Saints need is a dependable ride to get them back to the playoffs.
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