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Jets Predicted to Make Unexpected Trade for 40,000-Yard QB to Replace Rodgers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Feb 27, 2025 7:30 AM ET

The New York Jets have been floated as a destination for a handful of free agent quarterbacks this offseason, though it may be a trade by which new head coach Aaron Glenn acquires his first starting signal-caller.

ESPN's Seth Walder predicted on Wednesday, February 26, that Derek Carr will start Week 1 for the Jets.

"In this scenario, the Jets pick Carr up off the [New Orleans] Saints' discard pile. It's hard to know what the new Jets regime will be looking for after moving from Aaron Rodgers, but new coach Aaron Glenn saw the Lions win with an unwanted Jared Goff," Walder wrote. "Carr doesn't have Goff's upside, but he would raise the Jets' floor. And as poorly as recent seasons have gone, New York has the players to launch a quicker turnaround than one might think."

The Saints also have a new head coach in Kellen Moore who has yet to commit to Carr as the guy moving forward. New Orleans is in the worst financial situation of any team in the NFL, currently more than $51 million over the 2025 salary cap.

The team must cut salary, which could render Carr a cap casualty candidate. Releasing the QB with a post-June 1 designation would save the Saints $30 million in space in 2025 and $50 million in 2026, though the dead cap hit would be north of $21 million next season and nearly $11.5 million two years from now.

Trading Carr after June 1 is the preferable option, as doing so would save New Orleans $40 million and $50 million in the next two years, respectively, with dead cap hits just shy of $11.5 million in each of those seasons. Beyond that, the Saints would get some sort of draft capital back in return -- likely a mid-round pick.

If Carr ends up in New York as Walder predicted that means two things likely happened: the Jets were unable to secure a rookie starter with the No. 7 overall pick, and QBs on the move -- or potentially on the move -- in free agency or the trade market (Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, etc.) all landed elsewhere for whatever reasons.

Carr, an 11-year veteran with four Pro Bowls to his name who will play next season at 34, remains a viable starter and has tallied north of 41,000 passing yards and 257 touchdown passes over the course of his career. He missed seven games with injury in 2024 but has generally been durable as a professional.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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