Report: Saints Close to Deal With QB Derek Carr

New Orleans is one of three teams that reportedly has shown interest in the former Raiders quarterback.

The Saints are closing in on a deal to sign former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport. The news was confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

The deal is for four years, per Rapoport. The exact details of the agreement are unknown at this time. The news contradicts a Sunday report from ESPN that Carr was leaning toward signing with the Jets.

The quarterback appeared to confirm the news on Twitter with a video of his new teammate Tyrann Mathieu, who joined his hometown team last year in New Orleans. Carr was benched to close the season, and it soon became apparent that he and the Raiders would part ways. 

He was released by Las Vegas last month after deciding he would not waive his no-trade clause, leading to his free agency. The Panthers and Jets were the only other teams to reportedly show interest in signing him. 

Carr, 31, passed for 3,522 yards with 24 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 15 games for Las Vegas this past season. New Orleans finished 2022 at 7–10, with Andy Dalton starting 14 of those games. He threw for 2,871 yards and tallied 18 touchdown passes with nine interceptions.