The Cleveland Browns stacked their offseason roster with quarterbacks, which could end up to their advantage as the same position group shakes out in 31 other cities around the league over the coming months.
An immediate for instance: the New Orleans Saints are kicking off offseason workouts with a bonafide QB battle after Derek Carr abruptly retired on Saturday, May 10, at the age of 34.
"Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr wrote in a statement. "For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us."
With Carr moving on to a life after football, the Saints have rookie Tyler Shough, second-year QB Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener headed toward a QB competition. That list of options, however, is missing a veteran signal caller, who could prove of significant value to New Orleans -- even if that player doesn't end up starting Week 1.
Enter Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett of the Browns. Cleveland inked Flacco to a one-year deal in free agency and traded for Pickett, who is headed into the final season of his rookie contract.
Both are guaranteed in the neighborhood of $3 million this season, so they're easy to afford. Give that the Browns drafted Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel last month, either Flacco or Pickett is likely to be expendable at some point this summer.
All of that, plus the Saints' apparent need for an experienced quarterback, makes for the prime ingredients of a trade.
"Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett becoming available at some point before the season is a real possibility, as it will be unlikely that Cleveland would keep all four on the initial 53-man roster," Damon Wolfe of SB Nation wrote. "Connecting Pickett to the Saints would also make sense, as he played for [head coach Kellen] Moore last season in Philadelphia."
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