Derek Carr seeks a Super Bowl contender. Could the Colts, with quarterback uncertainty, become his next NFL destination?
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is one of the big names of the NFL offseason this month. Carr made headlines when it was revealed he could return to the NFL for another season next year.
Carr made his return conditional on one main priority. The quarterback wants to play for a team competing for a Super Bowl in 2026. Carr's primary condition comes with an ambiguous definition, as "Super Bowl contender" status is in the eye of the beholder. Nevertheless, it presumably narrows the field of teams he would be willing to play for in 2026 and beyond.
Finding a team for Carr shouldn't be difficult if money isn't an issue. The quarterback has a good reputation as a leader and teammate from his time with the Saints and the Raiders. Carr's remaining Saints contract could be an issue for teams wanting to trade for the player.
Several analysts have predicted where Carr could play next season but one made an interesting claim. John Breech of CBS Sports writes that the former star quarterback could play for the Indianapolis Colts next season.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after tight end Taysom Hill (not pictured) scores a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images"Daniel Jones had a strong season in his first-year with Indianapolis, but it came to a painful end in December when he tore his Achilles. That's one of the most brutal injuries in sports and there's no guarantee he's going to be ready for Week 1 in 2026. As a matter of fact, if you look at the recovery timeline for quarterbacks, it would be a borderline miracle if Jones were to play in Week 1. Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins both tore their Achilles in 2023 and they ended up playing in Week 1 of the following season, but both of those injuries happened early in the season (Cousins' injury came in Week 8 while Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. Jones suffered his injury in Week 14).
Not only is Jones' health up in the air, but he's also set to be a free agent, so the Colts have to figure out what they want to do with him, and that's where Carr comes in. If the Colts decide to re-sign Jones, Carr could sign a one-year deal and be the QB until Jones is ready to play. If Carr has proven one thing in his career, it's that he can be successful when he has some great offensive talent around him and the Colts have that."
It's uncertain if the Colts would move on from Daniel Jones, but the prediction highlights what could be an interesting trade process should Derek Carr decide to return to the league.