The New Orleans Saints were thrown a major curveball Friday when NFL Media reported that quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that could threaten his availability for the 2025 season. Carr is now exploring his options, which reportedly include surgery. Details about the injury and its potential seriousness have not been disclosed.
Carr appeared in just ten games for the Saints last season, holding a 5-5 record as the starter, while accumulating 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He was sidelined for the remainder of the year after suffering a hand fracture and a concussion during a 14-11 win against the New York Giants in Week 14. The five games Carr won were the only victories recorded by the Saints all season, as Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener combined for a 0-7 record.
Despite missing seven games, Carr ranked in the top ten for completion percentage (67.7%), yards per attempt (7.7), and touchdown-interception ratio (15-5) for the 2024 campaign.
Having signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints before the 2023 season after a nine-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, there were questions about whether Carr may be cut or traded this offseason. Instead, the Saints chose to convert a significant portion of his salary into a signing bonus last month, signaling their intention to keep him as the QB1 for 2025.
This development raises questions regarding the Saints’ draft strategy, especially since they possess the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Previously favorites to select former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, they are now in the market for a quarterback following this news. Currently, they have three other quarterbacks on their roster:
- Rattler
- Haener
- DiNucci.
