Mike Garafolo: Saints are set to make a decision on Derek Carr within the next few weeks; likely to have multiple suitors if released (16 Viewers)

[DavidM]

That you have no indication what he thinks of the city after two years IS the indication.

All it indicates is I'm not hyperfocused on dissecting what these guys do every minute or away from the game.

So now I'm listening to this, from January 6, and not getting at all what you're saying, but that's okay. Sounds like he has a lot going on and a lot to think about, including disappointment the way his season ended and the uncertainty of organizational changes. Talks about his teammates and coaches. Talks about how passionate he is about the community and the fans and how he and his wife are able to make their imprint here. At times, it sounds a lot like he's lamenting and honestly, I think we can all recognize that this hasn't gone the way he, or any of us, hoped. I get it even if others can't.

I didn't listen to the end and I don't doubt that there will be things for people to pick apart if that's what they are looking to do.

 

[StudioSaint]

All it indicates is I'm not hyperfocused on dissecting what these guys do every minute or away from the game.

So now I'm listening to this, from January 6, and not getting at all what you're saying, but that's okay. Sounds like he has a lot going on and a lot to think about, including disappointment the way his season ended and the uncertainty of organizational changes. Talks about his teammates and coaches. Talks about how passionate he is about the community and the fans and how he and his wife are able to make their imprint here. At times, it sounds a lot like he's lamenting and honestly, I think we can all recognize that this hasn't gone the way he, or any of us, hoped. I get it even if others can't.

I didn't listen to the end and I don't doubt that there will be things for people to pick apart if that's what they are looking to do.

And we only lament what we care about.

 

[cygnus_ltb]

The Jets are willing to bite the bullet on Rodgers, so its possible the Saints can as well.

I don't pretend to fully understand the cap implications of cutting Carr, or cap implications in general, but I think I read that if Carr is a post 6/1 cut, there would be a net savings of about $8 mil. If that is true, why wouldn't they cut him, unless the answer is Moore really likes him to lead the team. Carr is ok when the pocket is clean and the run game is clicking, but he doesn't inspire much excitement. I would think Moore wants to fill that spot with his choice.

 

[SuperSaint]

The simple truth of the situation is that, right now, they don't know if Carr will be the quarterback going forward.

I'd rather they be vague, instead of lying.

 

[StudioSaint]

The simple truth of the situation is that, right now, they don't know if Carr will be the quarterback going forward.

I'd rather they be vague, instead of lying.

The impression I get is that Moore, Loomis and Carr are all open to the idea of Carr staying on as the starter, but it won't be a done deal unless Loomis and Carr's agent can reach an agreement on adjustments to his contract.

 

[nakadish]

The impression I get is that Moore, Loomis and Carr are all open to the idea of Carr staying on as the starter, but it won't be a done deal unless Loomis and Carr's agent can reach an agreement on adjustments to his contract.

I think that Moore sees the Saints as a team that can possibly beat a Super Bowl champion when healthy, because Philly only won by only 3 points when they played the Saints. So, I don't see the wholesale changes coming that people are expecting. I would not be surprised to see Carr starting next season, along with the same starting O-line. Though the backups will definitely be different.

 

[MikeyF]

That isn't true. Cutting him has very real savings for this year and next. If he was a June 1 cut, the team would get $30m back in cap in June and it cuts his cap hit for 2026 in half.

If the Saints cut him:







Either way he cost you $50 million in 2025...

 

[MikeyF]

Ask Denver that very question. They dumped Wilson ate his contract, “helped out” the Steelers and still made the playoffs.

Denver wasn't $55 million over the NFL Salary Cap when they cut R. Wilson.

If you cut him the Saints will have to restructure a bunch of players that are already not earning their salary...

 

[Ghost]

Denver wasn't $55 million over the NFL Salary Cap when they cut R. Wilson.

Yes they were not that bad yet they still did it.

If you cut him the Saints will have to restructure a bunch of players that are already not earning their salary...

Not post-June 1st. Elvis’ thread on the matter is fairly well detailed. As he notes it’s one way to do it not what I think will happen.

Elvis' 2025 cap and roster cleanup proposal

I know this will be controversial to some and we won't all agree that this is the way things should be done. This is what I would do to manage the roster and cap situation as the team enters a new era with a new head coach. I believe it's time to clean up the mess that was created over the last...

saintsreport.com

It can be done just not without some pain.

The Saints management have done themselves no favors in this one. There is no good option with his contract, just degrees of lesser “bad” ones. Add to this his no trade clause and the Saints method of managing the cap is finally at its point of where it gets painful.

Regardless something will have to be done because next year is also a problem.

 

[Elvis]

If the Saints cut him:





Either way he cost you $50 million in 2025...

I can see you cut and paste some stuff you found on the internet, but you're missing the 3rd option which is to cut him with a June 1 designation. You carry his $51m cap hit until June and get $30m back to sign players (rookies, free agents, etc.) at that time. The remaining prorated roster bonus gets taken as dead cap in 2026. This has been gone over 100 times.

 

[Ghost]

I can see you cut and paste some stuff you found on the internet, but you're missing the 3rd option which is to cut him with a June 1 designation. You carry his $51m cap hit until June and get $30m back to sign players (rookies, free agents, etc.) at that time. The remaining prorated roster bonus gets taken as dead cap in 2026. This has been gone over 100 times.

Yep.

I don’t think anyone would argue that the Saints aren’t between a rock and a hard place. The contract is not team friendly at all.

Add to this his valuation is low, pay vs performance. Not an enviable position to be in for a 1st time HC.

 

[MikeyF]

Yes they were not that bad yet they still did it.

Not post-June 1st. Elvis’ thread on the matter is fairly well detailed. As he notes it’s one way to do it not what I think will happen.

Elvis' 2025 cap and roster cleanup proposal

I know this will be controversial to some and we won't all agree that this is the way things should be done. This is what I would do to manage the roster and cap situation as the team enters a new era with a new head coach. I believe it's time to clean up the mess that was created over the last...

saintsreport.com

It can be done just not without some pain.

The Saints management have done themselves no favors in this one. There is no good option with his contract, just degrees of lesser “bad” ones. Add to this his no trade clause and the Saints method of managing the cap is finally at its point of where it gets painful.

Regardless something will have to be done because next year is also a problem.

Denver's salary cap prior to Russell Wilson's release.





It is going to be interesting to see what our FO does this year with the Salary Cap!

 

[Ghost]

Denver's salary cap prior to Russell Wilson's release.





It is going to be interesting to see what our FO does this year with the Salary Cap!

See above.

ETA: and they are not doing paying for it:

Russell Wilson still has a large salary cap hit with Broncos in 2025

Ex-quarterback Russell Wilson will still have a $32 million cap hit for the Broncos in 2025 before moving completely off the books in 2026.

broncoswire.usatoday.com

And still doesn’t address the fact they did it, and still made the playoffs. Point being it can be painful yes, but still can be done.

 

[MikeyF]

I can see you cut and paste some stuff you found on the internet, but you're missing the 3rd option which is to cut him with a June 1 designation. You carry his $51m cap hit until June and get $30m back to sign players (rookies, free agents, etc.) at that time. The remaining prorated roster bonus gets taken as dead cap in 2026. This has been gone over 100 times.

Okay, I see that option...



I don't know how you get rid of any of our overpaid older players if we go this route...

 

[Elvis]

Okay, I see that option...



I don't know how you get rid of any of our overpaid older players if we go this route...

It’s tricky, but it’s possible. You do have to restructure the older guys and a couple younger guys in 2025. However, when all of the older guys contracts void in 2026 the savings from cutting Carr this year more than covers the increase of those restructures. So all of the worst contracts would be gone by March 2026 with a bit of cap space to spare. And nothing would carry into 2027.