Insider offers update on Saints, Derek Carr offseason saga

Multiple NFL insiders previously noted that the New Orleans Saints could still trade Derek Carr later in the offseason even though the club recently restructured the quarterback's contract. 

On Monday, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared why it'd now "be awfully tough for the" Saints to part ways with Carr before next year. 

"If the Saints were to move him now," Breer wrote, "they’ll have given Carr $38.745M in cash for 2025 to play somewhere else and they’ll have to take the $59.67M in acceleration onto their [salary cap]. Which they could do, I guess, but wouldn’t make much sense. So it’s hard to see where Carr isn’t in New Orleans in 2025, though given the desperation of a couple teams right now, I actually think there’d be a decent market for him if he became available."

Other than the money attached to Carr's deal, the fact that the Saints would probably struggle to find an upgrade at the sport's most important position makes it likely they'll stay married to the 33-year-old until further notice. Sam Darnold, Justin Fields and Geno Smith are now all off the market. Both Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are in the twilight of their careers. There's no indication the Saints are considering trading for the first pick of the 2025 draft that could be spent on Miami's Cam Ward, and many believe every other to-be rookie quarterback in this year's class is a project at absolute best. 

Assuming the Tennessee Titans plan to hold onto the draft's first choice so they can acquire Ward, that leaves the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers looking for bridge quarterbacks with both Rodgers and Wilson available in free agency. Additionally, it's no secret the Falcons want to trade Kirk Cousins now that they have 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. as their starter.

Breer added in his piece that he thinks recently hired Saints head coach Kellen Moore will not "have much trouble" getting on the same page with Carr following an awkward offseason that included the veteran making it known that he wouldn't take a pay cut. While plenty can happen between now and January, it seems the 2025 campaign could be Carr's last with New Orleans.