Derek Carr’s retirement from the NFL last year could prove to be just a brief break from the sport.
There are a few situations in the league where Carr could jump in as a starter, but there are some potential landing spots that stand out should he indeed return.
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The former Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback walked away following rotator cuff surgery, seemingly bringing an end to a career that spanned 11 seasons and saw him earn four Pro Bowl selections.
A report from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero indicated Carr could come out of retirement if the right situation presents itself. Teams reportedly did due diligence on Carr this season as quarterback injuries hit, with the Cincinnati Bengals contacting him after Joe Burrow went down with turf toe.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are once again starting all over again following a dreadful 3-14 season that cost Jonathan Gannon his job.
Rapoport, Garafolo and Pelissero reported that the Cardinals are expected to move on from Kyler Murray this offseason, opening the starting job in Arizona.
Despite picking third overall, it appears unlikely the Cardinals will use their first-round pick on a quarterback, given the lack of elite prospects in this class.
As such, a pairing between Carr and new head coach Mike LaFleur could make a lot of sense.
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Carr would surely relish the chance to play in a Shanahan-style offense again after initially impressing under Klint Kubiak in 2024 before injury struck.
And, with targets such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson, Carr could quickly find success in the desert.
Miami Dolphins
Like the Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins are also expected to move from a high draft pick that hasn’t quite worked out. Miami, per Rapoport, Garafolo and Pelissero, will look to part with Tua Tagovailoa via release or a trade.
That would present another potential option for Carr, who would again have the chance to work with a Shanahan acolyte in new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
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Miami’s well-documented offensive line issues make it a potentially riskier landing spot, and Slowik’s reputation is not particularly high following the disappointing end to his time as the Houston Texans’ play-caller.
Yet between the chance to play with the likes of Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane, and the potential opportunity to reunite with pending free agent tight end Darren Waller, the Dolphins have plenty that could appeal to Carr.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings committed heavily to J.J. McCarthy, and their decision to go with him over Sam Darnold last offseason looks extremely foolish after the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl triumph with Darnold at the helm of their offense.
Still, after a 9-8 season in which McCarthy struggled markedly, the Vikings have to be considering competition.
Carr would provide that, and there’s no doubt he would be incredibly enthused to get the chance to work with Kevin O’Connell and throw the ball to Justin Jefferson.
Even after a year out of the game, Carr would be the favorite to win the quarterback job in a competition with McCarthy, who ranked 37th in PFSN’s QB Impact metric this season.
For a Vikings franchise that will be desperate to get back into playoff contention, Carr is an interesting quarterback alternative to consider.
