Derek Carr won’t take a pay cut for 2025 but willing to restructure to help the cap (1 Viewer)

[Rouxble]

No we don’t.

The money is definitely there, I put out one scenario in another thread that still left a few contracts untouched.

Money would be tight in March, but we would clear $30m in cap space in June, and should also have an additional $47m in cap space in 2026 from the Carr and Ramczyk contracts coming off the books (which would help to offset the $50-$60m in dead money created through all the 2025 restructures).

Edit: Here is the post:

Rebuild or Reload

Quick question, as it stands right now, (if we're 60 mill) over the cap for 2025, what moves/ restructures would make sense to get under the cap? Is there a way to get under the cap without restructuring Carr?It's possible, you just have to restructure just about everyone else. Assuming...

saintsreport.com

 

[DaveXA]

You truly believe that we will make the Super Bowl with Carr? Good on ya then.


Keep the straw man, those QB’s had much better TEAMS.than we have. That’s the difference. I took no shot at Carr.

To be completely fair, there isn't a QB out there who can take this team to the SB so the point is moot. The team has to improve before an elite qb can get us there. We had DB9, one of the best to play the game and only got there once in 15 years.

Until the roster is significantly improved, talking QBs is just avoiding the deeper issues the team has.

We really need a new GM. Either thar or Loomis seriously has to change his strategy and approach.

 

[DaveXA]

And as for Carr, I want to like him, but I don't think he's the long term answer so I lean towards not extending him to restructure. The team has some time to figure out what they want so it's not super urgent now anyway.

 

[MarylandWHODAT]

I will never fault a player for taking as much money for as long as possible. It’s not their fault the team paid them the contracts that they did, and the teams will only look out for the team’s interest, so why shouldn’t the player only look out for their own?

Could not agree more!!!!!

I just imagine if that my heads of state came to me at my job and asked me to take a pay cut, I would say no and then start looking elsewhere for employment.

I don't blame him one bit.

 

[Saint Taysom]

…We had DB9, one of the best to play the game and only got there once in 15 years.

Technically, but we all know for certain that the NFL jobbed the Saints in that NFCCG vs the Rams, so that they could try to ignite the LA market… the most egregious no-call in the history of professional sports, followed by another terrible no-call in OT where Brees was blasted in the face and shoulder have resulted in a 15 yard personal foul.

 

[DaveXA]

Technically, but we all know for certain that the NFL jobbed the Saints in that NFCCG vs the Rams, so that they could try to ignite the LA market… the most egregious no-call in the history of professional sports, followed by another terrible no-call in OT where Brees was blasted in the face and shoulder have resulted in a 15 yard personal foul.

Oh, no question we should have gotten at least 2 more appearances. What I'm saying is even Hall of Fame qbs need a team to work with. There were a handful of 7-9 type seasons we had with Drew. Simply having an elite qb isn't enough.

 

[Elvis]

If anybody on the team took a paycut that would be an unexpected gift. It shouldn't be expected. We also shouldn't expect a bunch of roster turnover. Any turnover would be a two year process. So asking to cut our players and tear it down isn't realistic. Doesn't matter who our coach or even gm is.

Settle in for a similar roster. Hopefully we get some value FAs, a good draft and maybe some injury luck for once.

There are ways to cut Carr outright and still get under but it would painful to a degree. You'd have to restructure nearly everyone on a 2nd contract, convince some older players to take pay cuts to stay, and cut some under performers. And you get some of that cap space back once Carr signs with another team because of offsets so theoretically you could convert salary to option bonuses for most of your restructures that don't kick in until the beginning of the season. By that time Carr would have signed with another team giving some room for the options.

 

[Da freak]

not mad about him, i wouldn't take a pay cut either, but that contract needs work.

 

[B4YOU]

I sometimes wonder where we would be today if we kept Dalton one year longer and brought in Kubiak one year sooner.

Prior to signing a QB, I posted price ranges for Carr of 25-30M and Dalton/Mayfield at 5M. I would have happily signed Dalton/Mayfield at 5M over Carr at 37M. Loomis added 20M worth of roster bonuses and a “no trade clause” that had zero reason to be on that deal. His fear was TB/NYJ signing Carr when he should have been looking for value and future cap flexibility.

Carr made 25M in cash from the Raiders his last year and we offered him 37M/yr. It was always an overpay. At least Carr is playing to his market value.

 

[Clintonrebel]

It’s kind of a dumb question with no context. I mean, nobody would just randomly say, yeah give me a paycut. But couple the question with the right enticements, then it’s a difference question.

 

[JvilleJoe]

I don't blame Carr one bit for not taking a pay cut. I do, however, strongly believe that the Saints should not push more money down the road on a slightly above average QB who has proven to be injury prone. This team needs a complete rebuild, whether Loomis wants to do that or not, and this is the time for everyone to get fiscally sound so that we can start rebuilding now. If we can't cut him this year due to cap limitations, I can live with him for another year while we hopefully start the rebuild with a solid draft class.

 

[St. Widge]

There are ways to cut Carr outright and still get under but it would painful to a degree. You'd have to restructure nearly everyone on a 2nd contract, convince some older players to take pay cuts to stay, and cut some under performers. And you get some of that cap space back once Carr signs with another team because of offsets so theoretically you could convert salary to option bonuses for most of your restructures that don't kick in until the beginning of the season. By that time Carr would have signed with another team giving some room for the options.

In the end these are decision that are going to have to be made by the new HC. Hard to know if the new guy is okay with keeping Carr so he can weed out some of the older players or if he would rather move on from Carr now, keep older players for 2025, and then have a full reset in 2026.

 

[Elvis]

In the end these are decision that are going to have to be made by the new HC. Hard to know if the new guy is okay with keeping Carr so he can weed out some of the older players or if he would rather move on from Carr now, keep older players for 2025, and then have a full reset in 2026.

Hopefully Khai is using his magic cap computer to figure out a whole bunch of scenarios right now to give the new HC options. Because no coach is going to succeed with a mediocre QB and not a ton of talent anywhere else. There needs to be a plan to get roster flexible, younger and more talented within a few years.

 

[SweetT]

Seriously though…who would willingly take a pay cut? Especially when they have the leverage? A fool.


The same guy who brought Carr in and paid him (Loomis) is going to have to figure it out.

That’s how I’d look at it as well, if I was Carr.

Someone has to stand up to the mess that Loomis has made and force him to at least attempt to fix it. The last thing we need is players enabling his poor salary cap management further.

Taking a pay cut just helps Loomis keep “doing what he’s doing” - to borrow a phrase.

Joe Mixon took a pay cut, after a down year in 2022. Plus, he’s a RB, who took the pay cut after his 6th season, also after signing a 4 year $48 million dollar contract initially. I mean, RBs have a shorter shelf life, and they don’t see contracts the size that QBs do.

 

[SweetT]

Could not agree more!!!!!

I just imagine if that my heads of state came to me at my job and asked me to take a pay cut, I would say no and then start looking elsewhere for employment.

I don't blame him one bit.

True, but there’s a difference in your field of trade and Derek’s which gave him $100 million guaranteed. It’s not the same.
I don’t know what you make money wise, but I don’t think it’s a job that you can negotiate a $100 million guaranteed contract. If it is, then let me borrow $5