That Derek Carr Contract is Looking Pretty Brilliant Now (1 Viewer)

[Saint KayBee]

And then hired the coach who screwed up Carr, then signed Carr.

Screwed him up in four games?

How does that go?

 

[Saintslfc13]

Dudes in the locker room played with Drew freaking Brees.
1.) They know what it takes from a QB, to be the undisputed face of the team. From leadership down to accountability.
2.) Drew was ultra competitive and had a certain fire about him
3.) Drew built a relationship with his teammates and never ever not given them their praise, even on the defensive side of the ball.
4.) Drew lived and played with a purpose. He wanted to be a savior, not shied away from the burden.

While DC4 may be a QB that can make all of the throws, I don’t see the intangibles that some of these guys are accustomed to seeing with Drew.

The problem with that, clearly, is that there aren't many Drew Brees' around. Even in the NFL Drew and Brady were the last of a dying breed, and the way the NIL and transfer portal have college kids jumping ship every off-season I'm not sure where these intangibles are going to develop unless it happens in the league, or were already instilled to them before the NCAA. If the standard of QB required for players (and even fans to an extent) to be excited about being part of the New Orleans Saints is "Drew Brees or bust" we're likely to be waiting for a very long time. The Dolphins have been looking for the next Dan Marino since the guy retired for example. The Colts had a guy in Luck but couldn't/refused to protect him so he retired and they've been on the journeyman QB carousel since then, and just benched their top 4 pick from last year (not that Anthony Richardson should've ever gone that high but that's another discussion). The Packers formula of letting a guy develop for 2-4 years seems to have paid off again with Jordan Love and obviously worked going from Favre to Rodgers, but if you don't have a Favre or Rodgers in front of the guy you're developing then fans, players, and management are likely to have an issue with that approach. Not to mention you need the right guy to develop for that matter.

 

[Hank]

I made this argument last year, but understandably, it didn’t resonate. Carr ended up playing right around the worth of his contract in 2023 when you consider all the numbers and our win total. He’s clearly over performing it now.

Loomis looks like a genius locking him down at $37m a year and only $60m guaranteed when guys like Prescott are now getting $60m a year and $231m guaranteed.

Having a QB on that manageable of a contract is going to make 2025/26 more competitive as well for the Saints.

This allows the Saints if a potential young QB is available at their #1 draft slot in 2025 that is better than Rattler or Haener--to take them and sit for a couple of years. But first you have to decide if that QB is already on the Roster and what does the 2025 QB class look like. Saints need cheap younger talent/starters---trading out of a top spot with QB desperate team for multiple high picks would seem to make sense

 

[Rouxble]

It's not that it's even that bad of a penalty. It would have cost us $70 million over two years. But with how the roster was designed, it left us no outs for so many players. If we were to swing and miss on the 17th highest paid QB in the league and walk away when it didn't work, that would be fine. Many teams could get out of his contract in 2025 if they weren't forced to restructure it last year and have such a low base the first year. Loomis's cap management strategy is why it's a problem. Not the number itself.

The Falcons didn’t have to make any major cuts or restructures to trade Ryan. They didn’t even need to make it a post June 1 trade. They cleared their books, went and got an actual QB this year, and now may take the division.

The Broncos had to do a post June 1 release and three restructures, but each of those restructures were for salaries that were already guaranteed. Since they weren’t maxing out every year before that, they are going into 2025 with $70m in space, even with a dead cap hit of $32m from Russell Wilson.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

I made this argument last year, but understandably, it didn’t resonate. Carr ended up playing right around the worth of his contract in 2023 when you consider all the numbers and our win total. He’s clearly over performing it now.

Loomis looks like a genius locking him down at $37m a year and only $60m guaranteed when guys like Prescott are now getting $60m a year and $231m guaranteed.

Having a QB on that manageable of a contract is going to make 2025/26 more competitive as well for the Saints.

I agree. I just don't think Carr is a solution at QB. He doesn't elevate the players around him, the players around him elevate him. I honestly don't think Haener would be any worse then Carr. Haener seems to even have great poise, which with experience usually translates to top 10-15 QB in their late 20's/early 30's, more often then not. I suspect he may be overlooked to some degree to the craze of scrambling/running QB's being the "flavor of the month". At some point the phase will swing back to pocket passing QB's and QB's like Browning, Haener will be sought over who have poise, accuracy a strong arm and quick release.

I understand it is a very controversial statement I've made, but it's a suspicion I have. Its also a bit of a painful one, cause we're talking handful of years before I see if my suspicion may or may not play out.

 

[No2DC]

Carr can be the bridge QB for the "guy" (assumed not on this roster currently). That's his only value at this point.

 

[Elvis]

The Falcons didn’t have to make any major cuts or restructures to trade Ryan. They didn’t even need to make it a post June 1 trade. They cleared their books, went and got an actual QB this year, and now may take the division.

The Broncos had to do a post June 1 release and three restructures, but each of those restructures were for salaries that were already guaranteed. Since they weren’t maxing out every year before that, they are going into 2025 with $70m in space, even with a dead cap hit of $32m from Russell Wilson.

Must be nice to have that kind of flexibility. Loomis never for one minute considered that he might need to do something like that. Even after that terrible Junior Gallette contract and the Covid year. Nope, he just keeps digging the hole.

 

[Domeination]

I’d like to see Rizzi give Haener or Rattler a legit shot. Carr just isn’t the guy. He can’t handle pressure and cannot create. He needs everything to go right to play well. I’ve now seen his ceiling, and it isn’t very high. Now’s the time to experiment and see if we have something with one of the young fellas. Last time I saw them play, there were so many dropped balls that it would be unfair to evaluate them. I’d like to see one of them—whoever Rizzi thinks is best—get an extended try out.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Carr can be the bridge QB for the "guy" (assumed not on this roster currently). That's his only value at this point.

I'm not ready to rule out Haener. I suspect if he had a good offensive minded head coach with a QB friendly scheme that he would excel. Browning, the backup for the Bengals, but he would make more sense going to the Titans.

 

[bigearl]

I'm not ready to rule out Haener. I suspect if he had a good offensive minded head coach with a QB friendly scheme that he would excel. Browning, the backup for the Bengals, but he would make more sense going to the Titans.

Haener reminds me of Mark Bulger... and it wouldn't necessarily surprise me if his career goes in a similar direction once he's out of this dumpster fire of an organization.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Haener reminds me of Mark Bulger... and it wouldn't necessarily surprise me if his career goes in a similar direction once he's out of this dumpster fire of an organization.

That’s a really good comparison. I was thinking Kurt Warner bits hard to imagine he will be as successful, making the comparison seem a bit ridiculous diluting the original purpose.

I think I like your comparison better

 

[SaintLIX]

What an absolutely ridiculous thread, Carr isn't worth more than the league minimum. He may retire having NEVER won a playoff game! He's worse than his brother!

 

[solarbear88]

Carr is aptly named. He is like a sports car.

He has good stats overall. Much like a sports car has X amount of power and torque.

However, he fails to get you there-- fails to win play off games or even make the play offs. When you go to take this Carr on vacation or something it constantly fails to get you to the destination.

So is the sports car worth it?

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Carr is aptly named. He is like a sports car.

He has good stats overall. Much like a sports car has X amount of power and torque.

However, he fails to get you there-- fails to win play off games or even make the play offs. When you go to take this Carr on vacation or something it constantly fails to get you to the destination.

So is the sports car worth it?

Idk, you can still get some super hot chicks with an awesome parked sports car.

 

[solarbear88]

Idk, you can still get some super hot chicks with an awesome parked sports car.

Similarly, Carr will sell some tickets to a game and give a bit of hope to the ingnorant.

But he will never be able to get you to the play offs without disappointing you.