Derek Carr seriously considers an NFL comeback, but only for a championship-contending team. His decision hinges on finding the right fit.
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is weighing a return to the NFL. Per reports, Carr's NFL interest is not just talk but substantive.
That's fine and all but why hasn't Carr made his return official. The reason for Carr's hesitance is that the quarterback's potential return is conditional on finding a team in pursuit of a championship next season.
Jared Kawada of Clutch Points discussed the all-important decision coming up for Carr. He wrote the following of what it means for the quarterback, the Saints and other teams around the league.
"Amid rumors that Carr is considering a comeback, the 34-year-old is reportedly 'very serious' about unretiring NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported.
Carr has spent the last season recovering from various injuries and spending time with his family. The injuries are what forced him to call it a career in the first place, but he appears to believe he is fully healthy and prepared to get back on the horse.
While Carr left the Saints in a precarious position when he initially retired, they no longer need him in 2026. New Orleans is fully content with Tyler Shough as its franchise quarterback, giving Carr only one option if he unretires.
Carr still has two years remaining of the four-year deal he signed with the Saints in 2023. His rights remain with New Orleans, but multiple teams 'with winning aspirations' would be interested in trading for Carr, Schultz reported."
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) tosses the ball to the referee against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesInjuries have plagued the once highly regarded quarterback. Carr broke out early in his career leading the Raiders out of mediocrity and into the postseason. Yet injuries and inconsistent surrounding talent caused Carr not to live up to high postseason aspirations. Now, he's hoping for a shot to rewrite his postseason narrative.
Per Shultz, multiple teams could be interested in adding Carr, though only time will tell if that interest is legitimate. The quarterback certainly played well for the Saints despite lack of surrounding talent in New Orleans as well. The question would be what each team would be willing to give up.
Carr's return, should he not command good trade value, would be suboptimal for the Saints who probably don't want their backup making starter money. That's especially true with how well starting quarterback Tyler Shough played as the season progressed.
Carr seems serious about returning. We'll see if it amounts to anything over the next few months.