Robert Griffin III has solution for Saints after shocking Derek Carr retirement

Weeks before New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr shockingly confirmed over the weekend that he was retiring due to a shoulder injury, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin noted that Aaron Rodgers could ultimately sign with New Orleans rather than join the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. 

During the latest edition of his "Outta Pocket" podcast, former NFL signal-caller and current analyst Robert Griffin III explained why he feels the Saints need to do whatever is necessary to convince Rodgers to serve as their potential short-term savior. 

Per Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing, Griffin suggested that having noteworthy veteran players such as pass-rusher Cameron Jordan, running back Alvin Kamara, linebacker Demario Davis and wide receiver Brandin Cooks makes the Saints a win-now team that can't bank on 2025 second-round draft pick Tyler Shough taking it where it hopes to go this coming season. 

"Those veterans don’t have time to go through a rebuild," Griffin added. "They don’t have much time left on their clock when it comes to NFL years. So if you’re going to call a guy that you know can get the job done, that you know will instill confidence into that locker room, Aaron Rodgers."

While Rodgers reportedly "has stayed in relatively constant contact with" Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin since the 41-year-old visited the Steelers in March, the fact that the future Hall of Famer still hadn't signed with the AFC North club as of Monday morning could indicate he is leaving his options open. 

Meanwhile, analysts such as Benjamin mentioned back in April that the Saints may have an easier road to the postseason than a Steelers side that will have to compete against Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.

"The NFC South's combined record over the last half-decade or so easily puts it among the NFL's worst quartets," Benjamin said. 

As for Shough, he is the advertised "most pro-ready" quarterback in what numerous analysts saw as a weak class. He may be the favorite to win the New Orleans starting job during a competition that's set to also feature 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and 2023 fourth-round choice Jake Haener, but it's easy to understand how some outsiders would feel that members of the Saints locker room would rather have Rodgers in the lineup.

If nothing else, Griffin's words serve as a reminder that some will continue to assume Rodgers is stalling on announcing his plans for the 2025 season because he doesn't want to end his career playing for a club that recently traded a talented offensive playmaker in wide receiver George Pickens. 

First-year head coach Kellen Moore had nothing to do with the Saints acquiring Rattler or Haener, and it's reasonable to believe that Moore could decide that Shough should learn about life in the NFL by sitting behind a proven commodity such as Rodgers from training camp through this coming January. 

Of course, Rodgers could silence such chatter by putting pen to paper on a deal with the Steelers as soon as this week.