Derek Carr has retired from the NFL. Now, Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints must create their plan at the quarterback position, both for the upcoming season and multiple years down the road. There is plenty of unknown involved.
Potential replacements for Derek Carr
Tyler Shough
This feels like the most likely option, at least for next season. Shough was the 40th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Kellen Moore has plenty of confidence in his makeup to be a long-term QB answer in the pros.
Teddy Bridgewater
We went from most likely, to potentially least likely here. Bridgewater is currently coaching football and loving every second of that. As the head coach of Miami Northwestern, it is a tough prediction to see him as a starting quarterback anytime in the near future.
He may not even field any interest from teams until very late in the year, which would be in the middle of this season. Bridgewater does have strong ties to the Saints from his previous stint with the team earlier in his playing career.
Jameis Winston
A trade with the New York Giants has been floated around social media, but the fit does not make sense to me. Winston is a gunslinger type that has proven to not take care of the football in most of his experience at the pro level.
Feels like Kellen Moore would target a higher-floor, more predictable option for his signal-caller for the Saints.
Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be the most likely landing spot for Rodgers. The former MVP talent may consider the Saints if they come knocking, but I think New Orleans should choose a better option if they want to hit a bit of a reset. Adding Rodgers to the mix at QB would not accomplish that.
2026 NFL Draft QB
Garrett Nussmeier, Arch Manning, and Cade Klubnik are all popular options early in 2026 NFL Draft mocks so far. Drew Allar and LaNorris Sellers are two other wildcard prospects with intriguing physical attributes.
This would be a "look-ahead" route for Kellen Moore's squad in every way.
We will see what route the Saints choose to go for the short and long-term of their franchise at the quarterback position.
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