Derek Carr is the new QB in New Orleans, and his arrival signals an important shift toward aggressiveness in the 2023 NFL Draft for the Saints. Now that Dennis Allen has his QB, how can he and Mickey Loomis maximize their newly-opened window in the NFL draft?
New Orleans Saints Set To Sign QB Derek Carr
The first QB of the 2023 offseason is off the board. Early on Monday, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Saints had emerged as the frontrunners to sign former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr.
Carr all but confirmed the report less than an hour later, tweeting “Who Dat” with a Saints video on his personal Twitter account.
The Saints’ signing of Carr ends a saga that started less than a month ago, when Carr was released by the Raiders on February 14. At various points, Carr was tied to the Panthers and Jets, among other teams. But after meeting with the Saints at the NFL Combine, a deal came into place quickly.
MORE: Derek Carr is a Great Short-Term Option for the Aging New Orleans Saints
Ironically, Carr was originally drafted by current Saints head coach Dennis Allen, who was head coach of the Raiders in 2014 when Carr was selected. Carr won over Allen then, and Allen still remains bullish on what he brings to the table.
“I think he’s highly competitive. He’s highly intelligent. He’s got a great work ethic; he’s an outstanding leader,” Allen said in an article by Terrin Waack of nola.com. “Those are all the qualities that I like about him, and those are qualities that we like in the quarterback position.”
Before the Combine, Carr’s landing spot remained a mystery. Now, his landing with the Saints not only gives him welcome stability but also clarifies the Saints’ path forward in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. How exactly does Carr’s acquisition impact New Orleans’ draft philosophy?
How Derek Carr Affects the Saints’ 2023 NFL Draft Plans
It makes sense to start with the obvious: The Saints needed a QB, and now they don’t. It would’ve been nearly impossible for the Saints — who have the 29th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — to make a move for one of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis. Now, they can rest easy knowing they don’t need to force a massive trade-up — and they can keep their draft capital.
Making the Carr acquisition work is the next step of the process, and that process is two-fold for New Orleans. Carr himself provides enough at the QB position. He’s competitive, he has a good arm and solid mobility, and at 31 years old, he’s still in his prime. But for Carr to win anything notable, the Saints need to give him as much support as possible.
The Saints have proven themselves to be cap wizards, but their cap situation could naturally be somewhat limiting this offseason.
MORE: New Orleans Saints Offseason Preview
Cutting Michael Thomas is on the table, but that move wouldn’t be an immediate respite with the amount of dead cap that comes with it. It’s a similar story with Alvin Kamara, who’d saddle the Saints with almost $20 million in dead cap if let go.
It’s important to note that New Orleans isn’t working from square one from a roster standpoint. The offensive line is solid. Chris Olave is an impact player, and Juwan Johnson could be Darren Waller-lite for Carr. But the roster also isn’t complete, and the defense, in particular, is aging fast.
Over $18 million in the hole, with a hefty contract for Carr on the way, the Saints will be strapped in free agency, making a strong 2023 NFL Draft performance all the more important for Mickey Loomis. Getting young, cheap, and quality supporting talent is the one thing that can make the Carr gambit worth it long term.
Saints Should Focus on Rounding Out WR Group and Defensive Line Rotation
Set to potentially lose David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Marcus Davenport in free agency, two position groups stand out as areas to target early in the 2023 NFL Draft: Defensive line and wide receiver.
The Saints still have Cameron Jordan, and they re-signed Tanoh Kpassagnon as valuable depth. They also have 2021 first-round pick Payton Turner in the wings, who’s flashed promise at times. But Turner has struggled to stay healthy, and Jordan turns 34 years old in July. Nothing is precluding the Saints from targeting either an EDGE or DT early on.
At 29th overall, it’s tough to see exactly who will be available, but a number of early-round prospects fit the Saints’ desired mold of big EDGE. Myles Murphy, Lukas Van Ness, and Tyree Wilson would all be excellent fits. If they’re out of the Saints’ price range, Zach Harrison and Keion White could be worthy consolation prizes.
On the interior, there is an excess of undersized disruptive types in the 2023 NFL Draft, but if the Saints are tasked with replacing Onyemata, they need a dense, powerful presence who can both hold his ground and displace blockers. Gervon Dexter is one early-round DT who fits that mold, along with Keeanu Benton and Zacch Pickens.
To maximize the defense in a short competition window with Carr, the Saints need to ensure that their defensive line is up to par. New Orleans has a star LB duo in Pete Werner and Demario Davis and a respectable secondary. But defenses are built from the front to the back. Thus, more pressure generation is a must for Allen in the 2023 offseason.
MORE: New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL Draft Picks
However the Saints spend their first few picks, their most reasonable path forward is to trade off between defensive linemen and wide receiver prospects. Olave is a key foundational piece, and there is some depth present with fellow 2022 rookie Rashid Shaheed and Tre’Quan Smith.
Much like the defensive line, however, quality WR groups are made up of multiple high-level playmakers who feed off each other. If the Saints are going to hitch their wagon to Carr, they need more. It’s that simple.
Luckily for the Saints, the prime value of the 2023 class falls in line with where they pick. At 29th overall, a first-round WR like Quentin Johnston, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Josh Downs, Zay Flowers, or Jordan Addison could fall into their lap — or they could wait until Day 2. With both the 40th and 71st picks in their possession, prospects like Cedric Tillman, Trey Palmer, Jonathan Mingo, Jayden Reed, Rashee Rice, Marvin Mims, or A.T. Perry could also be available.
The Saints should come out of the first three rounds with at least one new defensive lineman and one new wide receiver, and with eight selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, they shouldn’t be averse to doubling up, either. This class is especially deep in the Day 3 range, and as the Saints figured out with Shaheed last year, it’s never too late to acquire a potential contributor.
Therein lies the framework of the Saints’ NFL draft philosophy with Carr at QB. On offense, continue to strengthen his weapons core. And on defense, target potential weaknesses with impending turnover and keep the unit strong up front, where its foundation lies. The Saints have a window in the NFC South with Carr, and that’s how they maximize it.
