Here's some thorough reporting from NFL Network's Jane Slater on New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Citing "a person with knowledge of the situation," Slater reports that Carr has made two trips to New Orleans in recent weeks to meet with the team doctor at the Saints' Metairie headquarters, and that Carr would rather not have surgery on his throwing arm if he can avoid it, but he is "still navigating that decision," John Sigler of Saints Wire reports.
Additionally, Slater says that "The Saints are trying to decide what’s best for the team and Derek is still actively trying to make the best decision for his shoulder." Both sides are working to reach a solution, and she wrapped up this report by acknowledging that a decision "will be made here sooner rather than later" one way or another.
That's a big one. Because the Saints guaranteed Carr an extra $40 million by restructuring his contract earlier this spring, cutting him now would accelerate that money onto his $20.4 million cap hit. That means it would cost the Saints almost $60 million to release or trade him today, tomorrow, or through the rest of May. But if they wait until after June 2, moving off of Carr's contract doesn't cost them anything, at least not this year. They'd break even on the 2025 salary cap while paying $59,670,000 in dead money on the 2026 cap. That isn't ideal, but it might be the best path forward if the Saints don't plan on playing Carr this season.
Much of Slater's reporting lines up with what was previously shared by David Carr, Derek's older brother and another former NFL quarterback, who said before the 2025 NFL draft that Carr didn't try to throw a football at game speed until after the season was over, at which point he felt soreness in his throwing shoulder. Slater confirms that Carr believes his right shoulder was tweaked on the same ill-advised dive that injured his non-throwing hand late last season against the New York Giants.
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