The New Orleans Saints sit at 4-7 after eleven weeks of play. They're entering their bye week with a new head coach alongside a two-game winning streak.
The vibes are high currently, but a prior seven-game losing streak and a frustrating 2023 still sits on the minds of many Saints fans. Quarterback Derek Carr has shown flashes of great play, but the inconsistencies have been clear as well.
Is it too early to look ahead to 2025 when it comes to who will be the QB in The Big Easy? Not particularly.
Derek Carr's future
It is possible that Carr remains the QB for New Orleans next season.
He is under contract. He has a no-trade clause. The Saints could keep the same offensive scheme in place. All that being said, NFL insider Dan Graziano discussed the possibility that Carr plays elsewhere in 2025.
Carr and his agent, Tim Younger, built some solid protections into his contract, including a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus next year and a clause that fully guarantees his $30 million 2025 salary if he's still on the Saints' roster on the third day of the league year. So if the Saints are moving on, Carr knows he'll for sure get the $10 million and will know early enough that he can find work elsewhere before the free agent money dries up.
And who knows? Maybe Carr and the Saints finish the season strong without any receivers and decide to stay together. But more likely, Carr is looking for his third team by the middle of March, while the Saints are looking at the draft and free agency to find his replacement. -- Graziano, ESPN+
"More likely" is a phrase that is intriguing when someone like Graziano puts it out into the open. There is a reason he thinks New Orleans may hit a strong reset in the offseason, including at the QB position.
Carr provides experience and veteran leadership, but if he does not align with the new regime in New Orleans, it is likely that both sides will want a fresh start. Only time will tell, though.
Darren Rizzi has gotten plenty of love from players since becoming the HC for New Orleans, so more success in the later half of the season in 2024 could help him land the job and drop the interim tag from his title.
If that occurred, Klint Kubiak could remain at offensive coordinator for the Saints next season. Many aspects still up in the air for the near and distant future for the black and gold.
