Saints Cap Moves: Derek Carr restructured, Erik McCoy restructured; J. Williams released; cap space is at -$8,543,537 (117 Viewers)

[nolastyle]

I really don't know how anyone can be so confident this was done just to cut him. Not a single thing about this has suggested that. Carr's starting every game he's available in 2025.

Sorry, i wasn't very clear. Those numbers assume he is cut AFTER this season. He will definitely start when healthy in 2025.

 

[Tulsa Saint]

I get it, we're a bit slightly better in theory next year moving the cap hit to then but you know we're going to still use the cap up to the tip top. I just wanted to rip the bandaid off this year. It's not logical, it's not the best play, I'm just ready for a new QB.

That’ll happen next year

They said two weeks ago they were keeping Carr.

I understand restructuring Carr so you don’t have to restructure a ton of other vets. I get this also allows for signing some free agents and draft picks. I got it.

But…as a fan and seeing the general fan reaction to this…ehhh. I think most people wanted a completely new Saints era with Moore and Carr, rightly or wrongly, is forever tied to DA. So that DA vibe might linger.

He’s also just not liked by the fans in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. It might have been too hard to do but damn I wish this was a true fresh start and turning of the page.

Agreed but all of this was known two weeks ago.

I don’t know why anyone would think the saints would change their minds about keeping him this year and Carr probably was not taking a pay cut.

The “outrage” seems a little silly right now when it was the obvious move. I want a new direction at QB as well (I really like the new staff btw) but it’s just not viable RIGHT NOW. The last thing we need is to restructure the entire roster to accommodate carrs departure.

I’m no huge Carr fan as I’ve stated multiple times in my past post history. Eating his hit next year with a rookie QB next year is probably the best option with no real “good” option.

 

[Taker597]

That doesn't at all sound like "Loomis caved."

That 100% sounds like caving. You wanted to keep Carr on a pay cut. He refused said pay cut. You restructure and give him all his money.

 

[ynot]

No. Untradable

Hopefully they at least got rid of no trade clause when the changed his base in a signing bonus. Did they release any details yet besides they are converting his base to a signing bonus and Carr is not taking a pay cut?

 

[Treybad]

There needs to be buyouts so GMs quit moving cap debt for next year and so on

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I have a feeling they’re going with option C and scrambling for a QB next year.

You think this move makes it more likely we move up to take Ward?

Lets look at it this way.

Last year, the Saints didn't ask Carr to take a paycut. They restructured and were happy to pay him at that rate. This year, after their 2nd season w/ him, were unwilling to pay him at that price and approached about a paycut.

If they were unwilling to pay him at this rate this year they DEFINITELY won't be willing to pay him next year...he's as good as gone.

If that's the case you have to have a sure fire answer. The only way Rattler confirms he's the guy is if he gets an opportunity to, and if things go well w/ Carr he wont.

The only thing that makes you feel comfortable about your QB room in 2026 is if you draft a high round QB this year. AKA....you have to have your Penix on the roster.

Ward is a real possibility and I'd be completely ok w/ it even though I'm fond of giving Rattler more opportunity.

 

[BlackNGoldblood]

Not even in the slightest. You’re reading me wrong. I am saying quite the opposite - That restructuring this Carr deal is how we get better immediately so that we can (possibly) win immediately.

If you don’t re-do this Carr deal and cut him, you’re effectively torpedoing your chances of winning in 2025.

Oh, so you’re all about win now? Well, I totally disagree with that position. This team should not be thinking of going all in this year. You’re right, I totally misread what you were saying.

 

[Elvis]

Just pencil in Saints 2027 in your calendar.

It would of been nice to cut a deal with Carr to cut him and tank for QB. 2026 would of been exciting with a rookie QB.

We'll do the same thing we been doing. Win 7-9 games. Get a mid draft pick. Make excuses for injuries. Rinse. Repeat.

Mediocrity is going to be Loomis' legacy. Payton and Brees will get all of the credit for the good years. The non-Payton Saints record under Loomis is 49-66 and I don't see that changing much while he's still with the team. We'll just have to wait him out.

 

[nakadish]

Curious to see what the new offensive regime/HC thinks of Kendre.

I'm sure it will be the same as everyone else, "wish he could stay healthy."

 

[St. Geezy]

Oh, so you’re all about win now? Well, I totally disagree with that position. This team should not be thinking of going all in this year. You’re right, I totally misread what you were saying.

We don’t need to go “all in” per se. We just need to make roster improvements while being responsible with who we select.

Your salary cap “landing zone” for 2026/2027 isn’t changing as drastically as it is being characterized by trying to win now.

As I and others have indicated, including Nick and Trip on occasion…you’d basically be throwing a year just for the sake of throwing a year; there’s very little benefit to throwing in the towel on 2025.

 

[Taker597]

So it seems you’re not buying St. Geezy and TulsaSaint’s argument that this was the only move they could do (if Carr was unwilling to take a pay cut), because letting him walk would cause the Saints to kick the can even more just to field a team this year?

Let's say... The team was winless without Carr.

You cut a deal where he drop his base pay to $5 million and you cut him. You use that cap space($25 million) and the $30 million next year you saved to re-tool the roster around the QB.

You still have a QB problem, but a much better team. You take those loses and turn them into a high quality QB prospect in 2026 with roster that far ahead of whatever half way contender that they are trying to build right now.

Instead... We are just going to push all that back another year. We are going to try to win a bad division. Which we haven't been able to do for 3 seasons.

We are trying to be the 2022 Giants if anything is more apparent. Granted... 2023 and 2024 haven't been kind to the Giants either. Long term... It's bleak

 

[dtpham]

Let's say... The team was winless without Carr.

You cut a deal where he drop his base pay to $5 million and you cut him. You use that cap space($25 million) and the $30 million next year you saved to re-tool the roster around the QB.

You still have a QB problem, but a much better team. You take those loses and turn them into a high quality QB prospect in 2026 with roster that far ahead of whatever half way contender that they are trying to build right now.

Instead... We are just going to push all that back another year. We are going to try to win a bad division. Which we haven't been able to do for 3 seasons.

We are trying to be the 2022 Giants if anything is more apparent. Granted... 2023 and 2024 haven't been kind to the Giants either. Long term... It's bleak

Even more that there was an opportunity for both sides to separate but Moore didn’t want that. Unreal. If he’s not going to be here after this year, why keep him?

 

[Tulsa Saint]

We don’t need to go “all in” per se. We just need to make roster improvements while being responsible with who we select.

Your salary cap “landing zone” for 2026/2027 isn’t changing as drastically as it is being characterized by trying to win now.

As I and others have indicated, including Nick and Trip on occasion…you’d basically be throwing a year just for the sake of throwing a year; there’s very little benefit to throwing in the towel on 2025.

One thing I think we can all surely agree upon:

We need to draft much much better over the next 2 or 3 drafts. We BADLY need another dozen plus starters/contributors like we got in the 2016-17 drafts.

We have to set up whomever is under center for success through better drafting.

 

[BlackNGoldblood]

Let's say... The team was winless without Carr.

You cut a deal where he drop his base pay to $5 million and you cut him. You use that cap space($25 million) and the $30 million next year you saved to re-tool the roster around the QB.

You still have a QB problem, but a much better team. You take those loses and turn them into a high quality QB prospect in 2026 with roster that far ahead of whatever half way contender that they are trying to build right now.

Instead... We are just going to push all that back another year. We are going to try to win a bad division. Which we haven't been able to do for 3 seasons.

We are trying to be the 2022 Giants if anything is more apparent. Granted... 2023 and 2024 haven't been kind to the Giants either. Long term... It's bleak

If you’ve read my takes in here, you’ll know I totally agree, however, I respect the opinion of TulsaSaint as well, who thinks not restructuring Carr would kick the can down the road even more than cutting him would. I don’t understand when you talk about saving $55 million in cap space by cutting him after a pay cut. I didn’t think that was possible.

 

[NEBaghead]

Let's say... The team was winless without Carr.

You cut a deal where he drop his base pay to $5 million and you cut him. You use that cap space($25 million) and the $30 million next year you saved to re-tool the roster around the QB.

You still have a QB problem, but a much better team. You take those loses and turn them into a high quality QB prospect in 2026 with roster that far ahead of whatever half way contender that they are trying to build right now.

Instead... We are just going to push all that back another year. We are going to try to win a bad division. Which we haven't been able to do for 3 seasons.

We are trying to be the 2022 Giants if anything is more apparent. Granted... 2023 and 2024 haven't been kind to the Giants either. Long term... It's bleak

Why do people think a high pick QB is a sure thing QB.