Derek Carr is officially stepping away from football. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback announced his retirement on May 10, ending a career that began as the 36th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Carr’s decision appears to be driven by health concerns. A series of injuries, including a rotator cuff issue, reportedly couldn’t be fully repaired through surgery, ultimately prompting his exit from the game.
Now that Carr is gone, the Saints find themselves without a clear starting quarterback heading into the summer. While the free agent market isn’t nearly as strong as in March, a few viable veterans could help bridge the gap — especially as the team evaluates rookie Tyler Shough’s long-term potential.
3 QBs the Saints Need To Consider To Replace Derek Carr
1) Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers has been quiet for most of the offseason, but his name is starting to surface again with the NFL Draft behind us. At this point, two teams seem to be in the mix: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans.
In 2024, Rodgers earned a 72.2 grade in PFSN’s QB+ metrics, which ranked him 21st in the league. That might not be elite, but considering the Saints’ current options, landing a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber in May would be a huge win. He’s also previously said he’d be willing to play for just $10 million — a manageable price for New Orleans.
Rodgers wouldn’t solve the team’s long-term problems, but he’d give the Saints a proven arm to lean on while they slowly bring Shough along.
2) Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater has been in and out of retirement, but he’s had moments of solid play throughout his career. In 2021, he went 7-7 as the starter for the Denver Broncos — comparable to Carr’s pace from last season.
He is also familiar with the Saints. Bridgewater went 5-1 as a starter in New Orleans during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Those wins came under Sean Payton, but his .500 record in Denver pre-Payton shows he can still manage games effectively.
With Kellen Moore now calling plays, Bridgewater could benefit from a fresh offensive system — especially if he can recapture some of the poise he showed in 2018 when he threw nine touchdowns to just two picks.
3) Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz has worked under Andy Reid and Sean McVay in recent years. That kind of mentorship should have left an impact, even if the results haven’t always shown it.
He struggled mightily in a 38-0 loss to Denver in Week 18, but he was working with backups and facing a tough defense. Wentz has a Pro Bowl on his résumé and ranks 16th in career touchdown passes among active players. At 32 years old, he still offers experience — and maybe a second wind.