Saints Predicted To Part Ways With Derek Carr, Acquire 64-TD Dual-Threat QB To Kick Off Kellen Moore Era

The New Orleans Saints are at a crossroads. After a disastrous 5-12 season that landed them the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team is in dire need of major upgrades at multiple positions.

While quarterback Derek Carr was supposed to bring stability, his first two years in New Orleans brought mixed results. Now, with potential franchise-altering decisions on the horizon, some are speculating that the Saints may be preparing to move on from Carr and go in a completely different direction.

With dynamic QB prospects like Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward potentially available, the Saints have a real opportunity to reshape their future. However, the latest reports suggest that instead of committing to a rookie immediately, New Orleans may look to bring in an established talent … one who still has untapped potential.

A New Direction? New Orleans Saints Linked to Justin Fields

According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, if the Saints can find a way to escape Carr’s contract, they should go all-in on a rebuild and prioritize acquiring younger quarterbacks with upside. One name that has emerged as a possible target is Justin Fields.

“Assuming it can avoid paying that $30 million to Carr, New Orleans ought to embrace a full rebuild—which means playing players with future upside,” Walder wrote.

“Fields and a rookie could make sense in that context. There’s still a possibility Fields can kick his level of play up a notch and if not, a mid-round rookie can get some run. My only hesitation is that even Fields might be too expensive for the Saints given how rough their salary cap situation is. New Orleans must stop doling out money and focus on a clean slate for 2027, as it will likely need multiple years to clear out its cap issues.”

Fields, who accounted for 64 total touchdowns in his first four seasons as a pro (three seasons with the Chicago Bears and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers), remains an intriguing option for QB-needy teams.

Fields’ dual-threat ability and untapped ceiling make him a compelling bridge quarterback — and possibly even a long-term answer — if paired with the right offensive scheme.

A Contradiction to the Saints’ Public Stance on Derek Carr

While rumors about a potential Saints-Fields connection continue to gain steam, they directly contradict what the team’s front office has been saying about Carr’s future. General manager Mickey Loomis has repeatedly stated that New Orleans remains committed to Carr as its starter in 2025.

“I think we feel like we’ve got a guy we can win with,” Loomis said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “We’re excited about it.”

Loomis’ comments were the strongest endorsement Carr has received this offseason, even more definitive than head coach Kellen Moore’s remarks weeks earlier. At Moore’s introductory press conference, he praised Carr’s ability but stopped short of naming him the clear-cut starter.

The Financial Reality of Carr’s Contract

While the Saints are saying all the right things publicly, the financial aspect of Carr’s deal remains a major hurdle. His $51.5 million cap hit in 2025 puts New Orleans in a precarious position, as they are already among the most cap-strapped teams in the NFL.

With free agency and the draft approaching, the Saints’ QB situation is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the offseason.

MORE: Simulate the NFL Offseason With PFSN’s Offseason Manager

The Saints’ face multiple hurdles when it comes to their cap situation. They are dead last in the NFL in effective cap space, per Over The Cap, with nearly -$53 million in projected space heading into the offseason.

Surprisingly, New Orleans only has two players facing cap hits north of $20 million in 2025: Carr ($51.5 million) and pass rusher Cameron Jordan ($20.06 million), though he could retire before the start of the season. Additionally, only two other players face hits of $15+ million (Erik McCoy and Taysom Hill).

However, the Saints are paying more than $48 million in dead money to players no longer on their team: cornerback Marshon Lattimore ($31.7 million), wide receiver Michael Thomas ($9.2 million), and quarterback Jameis Winston ($7.4 million). As a result, drastic moves need to be made, setting the Saints up for a potentially rough 2025.

How Does Carr Stack Up With Other Available Options?

Furthermore, contract aside, Carr has performed favorably in New Orleans despite the team’s 14-20 record over the last two seasons. He ranked 11th in PFSN’s QB+ metric, a higher ranking than Fields, who played just half the 2024 season.

“The New Orleans Saints have certainly felt Derek Carr’s absence this season. They were 5-5 in games where he played and 0-7 in games he didn’t — all five wins came in games in which Carr qualified for a QB+ grade,” PFSN’s Ben Rolfe said in PFSN’s QB+ rankings.

“Despite the turmoil around the team, 2024 was Carr’s best year in New Orleans. He ranked 11th in EPA/DB (0.11) and finished the year 12th when working under pressure (-0.20 EPA/DB). Carr was also ninth in TD/INT rate (3.0) and inside the top 10 for nYPA (7.5; sixth), albeit with a 10th-ranked 5.8 YAC/Cp.”

QB+ grade (ranking), 2024:

• Carr: 83.3, B (11th in the NFL)
• Fields: 78.1, C+ (N/A, did not qualify)
• Spencer Rattler: 50.0, F (38th)

If the Saints do decide to start over and look for a new QB in the NFL Draft instead, they may look in the middle rounds to do so. In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft by Jacob Infante, New Orleans selected Missouri QB Brady Cook at No. 254 in the seventh round.

While he would likely not be a replacement for what the Saints currently have (Carr, Rattler, and Jake Haener), he could add further depth in case things go south again like in 2024.