Saints could get to $14.61 million under the cap without restructuring Derek Carr, after Saints salary cap potentially increases by $5M (18 Viewers)

[oysters]

So we should restructure everyone else on the team to avoid another year with Carr? I dont like that idea. I’d rather keep Carr who isn’t a problem but understandably not the long term solution, and avoid keeping the old guys around any longer.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

looking at those numbers and those players associated with those numbers and you wonder why we aren't good anymore.

 

[BBarnes]

I just do not see them letting Carr go this year unless some dumb team gives up draft picks and takes on his contract as is. Other than that, Carr will be the Saints' quarterback this coming season, and we will continue to clean up the cap and try to shape the roster with preparations for 2026 and 2027, the years we are really trying to make some noise.

 

[Mojomajik9]

I just do not see them letting Carr go this year unless some dumb team gives up draft picks and takes on his contract as is. Other than that, Carr will be the Saints' quarterback this coming season, and we will continue to clean up the cap and try to shape the roster with preparations for 2026 and 2027, the years we are really trying to make some noise.

I think if a team shows interest in trading for Carr you go for it regardless of the return in picks. This is a salary dump like you see in baseball. As long as a team is willing to take on Carr’s contract who cares what else we get? A 6th or 7th rounder? A random ST player? Pfft. Take it and run.

I know people say this is unlikely but this is a weak QB class in the draft and the list of available QBs in free agency is kinda meh. There is a possibility a QB hungry team, who feels they can compete with the right guy, comes knocking. J-E-T-S

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

My two cents. Carr will have to take a paycut or be released post 6-1.

 

[Nolan]

What are the savings from cutting Carr? It's blurred out.

I ask because I believe that it's imperative not to restructure the trio of Jordan, Mathieu, and Davis again.

 

[St. Geezy]

I just don’t get this notion that the team would be this desperate to move on from a player that was a top 10 rated passer, playing with mostly depth players and one of the worst head coaches in league history.

Unless you can get compensation and a team takes on some of the cap burden, it just doesn’t make sense to make this move this current year.

Next year is a different story though.

You listen to people here and you’d think Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of all-time.

 

[BBarnes]

I just don’t get this notion that the team would be this desperate to move on from a player that was a top 10 rated passer, playing with mostly depth players and one of the worst head coaches in league history.

Unless you can get compensation and a team takes on some of the cap burden, it just doesn’t make sense to make this move this current year.

Next year is a different story though.

You listen to people here and you’d think Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of all-time.

Yes I don’t see anyway he’s cut or traded to be honest. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely that either happens, no. It’s very unlikely that he’s traded and unlikley that he’s released. However, he holds all the cards and can choose not to take a pay cut (I believe he said he’s fine with a restructure) and force their hand.

The team is going to remain competitive or try to this season while still attempting to rebuild. It’s just how Loomis does it and he isn’t changing that for a first time head coach.

 

[greatshow25]

What are the savings from cutting Carr? It's blurred out.

I ask because I believe that it's imperative not to restructure the trio of Jordan, Mathieu, and Davis again.

This year it’s 30 million but you won’t get the money until June 2.

 

[St. Geezy]

Yes I don’t see anyway he’s cut or traded to be honest. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely that either happens, no. It’s very unlikely that he’s traded and unlikley that he’s released. However, he holds all the cards and can choose not to take a pay cut (I believe he said he’s fine with a restructure) and force their hand.

The team is going to remain competitive or try to this season while still attempting to rebuild. It’s just how Loomis does it and he isn’t changing that for a first time head coach.

Yes that’s what he said, and just to clarify in case you weren’t aware…he has no choice on the restructure. Those rights are written into player contracts. The team can do that at-will.

Agree with you on Loomis and his motive here as well. I just don’t see us not setting up a new HC hire for immediate success, or rather, knowingly and intentionally setting him up for a down year.

 

[Optimistic Ozzy]

I just don’t get this notion that the team would be this desperate to move on from a player that was a top 10 rated passer, playing with mostly depth players and one of the worst head coaches in league history.

Unless you can get compensation and a team takes on some of the cap burden, it just doesn’t make sense to make this move this current year.

Next year is a different story though.

You listen to people here and you’d think Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of all-time.

I think it's more of Carr and how he rubs quite a few of the players the wrong way. He's not elite enough to get past that issue.

 

[RJS]

I just don’t get this notion that the team would be this desperate to move on from a player that was a top 10 rated passer, playing with mostly depth players and one of the worst head coaches in league history.

Unless you can get compensation and a team takes on some of the cap burden, it just doesn’t make sense to make this move this current year.

Next year is a different story though.

You listen to people here and you’d think Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of all-time.

Why would next year be a different story? If the team believes he is a top 10 option then they should build around him for the long haul. If they don't, then get started on the future.

I'm fine with either option but I'm not crazy about keeping Carr as a placeholder with the intent to cut him next year. Now is the time to reset the culture of the future. Moore needs to decide if the future is Derek Carr.

 

[Nolan]

I just don’t get this notion that the team would be this desperate to move on from a player that was a top 10 rated passer, playing with mostly depth players and one of the worst head coaches in league history.

Unless you can get compensation and a team takes on some of the cap burden, it just doesn’t make sense to make this move this current year.

Next year is a different story though.

You listen to people here and you’d think Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of all-time.

It isn't black and white. Regardless of what Kellen Moore said in his press conference about wanting to compete in 2025, this has the makings of a rebuild. No team actually announces a rebuild, the message is always "compete".

If this team were locked and loaded, coming off of a prime season that ended in disappointing fashion, and we now have a head coach who is capable of getting us over the hump? Yes, we absolutely keep Carr because it makes sense.

But the reality is we're coming off of a horrible season and this is a roster, and whether folks want to admit it or not, that needs to be rebuilt.

With or without Carr, this team is at least 2-3 years out from making serious noise. I don't think it makes a ton of sense to run it back with a quarterback who has already peaked, and is likely to be on the downward slope of his career by the team that this team is ready to compete (assuming we draft well.)

I'd much rather avoid the restructure of our very old and underperforming vets (Davis, Jordan, Mathieu) and rip the quarterback band-aid off now instead of later. Even if it restricts what we do in FA this year. I don't see a real need to spenders in year 1 anyway for the reasons mentioned above. At that point it doesn't matter what we do at quarterback. The no brainer would be to see what Kellen thinks Rattler, since he's shown flashes and has the arm talent. If he doesn't show it, we're in a prime position to land a guy next year to hopefully build around.

It doesn't have to look pretty in year 1. Dan Campbell went 3-13 in his first year in Detroit. Even in a down year, there can be a lot of things to build on.

There's a good chance that the people in charge feel differently, but if you're wondering why there's a large portion of people wanting to cut ties with Carr now instead of later, the above is why I'm for it from strictly a football and roster building standpoint.

 

[Rexman100]

It isn't black and white. Regardless of what Kellen Moore said in his press conference about wanting to compete in 2025, this has the makings of a rebuild. No team actually announces a rebuild, the message is always "compete".

If this team were locked and loaded, coming off of a prime season that ended in disappointing fashion, and we now have a head coach who is capable of getting us over the hump? Yes, we absolutely keep Carr because it makes sense.

But the reality is we're coming off of a horrible season and this is a roster, and whether folks want to admit it or not, that needs to be rebuilt.

With or without Carr, this team is at least 2-3 years out from making serious noise. I don't think it makes a ton of sense to run it back with a quarterback who has already peaked, and is likely to be on the downward slope of his career by the team that this team is ready to compete (assuming we draft well.)

I'd much rather avoid the restructure of our very old and underperforming vets (Davis, Jordan, Mathieu) and rip the quarterback band-aid off now instead of later. Even if it restricts what we do in FA this year. I don't see a real need to spenders in year 1 anyway for the reasons mentioned above. At that point it doesn't matter what we do at quarterback. The no brainer would be to see what Kellen thinks Rattler, since he's shown flashes and has the arm talent. If he doesn't show it, we're in a prime position to land a guy next year to hopefully build around.

It doesn't have to look pretty in year 1. Dan Campbell went 3-13 in his first year in Detroit. Even in a down year, there can be a lot of things to build on.

There's a good chance that the people in charge feel differently, but if you're wondering why there's a large portion of people wanting to cut ties with Carr now instead of later, the above is why I'm for it from strictly a football and roster building standpoint.

Good solid take. I happen to disagree completely. I think ML influenced KM to come to NOLA because of the way they performed against his Eagles team. The “NFL” stands for, win now or else. So you run it back with Carr for one year. I like your idea better, but it’s not logical business-wise. Cutting Carr now, you’d have to entertain going 0-17 next year. We have no evidence to the contrary. And if any coach, new, old, young, goes 0-17. He’ll be one and done. So you compete next year with Carr, while also working on the long term QB1 situation.

 

[St. Geezy]

Why would next year be a different story? If the team believes he is a top 10 option then they should build around him for the long haul. If they don't, then get started on the future.

I'm fine with either option but I'm not crazy about keeping Carr as a placeholder with the intent to cut him next year. Now is the time to reset the culture of the future. Moore needs to decide if the future is Derek Carr.

Because we won’t be as choked to death on the cap as a result. We are in much better position to absorb it next year. This year, you’re essentially “Tanking” the off-season, for lack of better word.

What I am saying is, the benefit of the proverbial tanking of an off-season isn’t necessary to accomplish the same goal for 2026-2027.

I don’t think it’s egregious to hold onto Carr for a year to buy you time to find another QB. It’s been done before. If that guy is Rattler, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show that.