Derek Carr trade: NFL insider drops key info on Saints interest and asking price (Exclusive)
Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints might be close to pairing forces for the 2023 season. Per the NFL insider who spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda, there is mutual admiration from both sides and the Saints are the front-runners to land the quarterback.
Carr has demanded a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders and has already bid farewell to fans. He was drafted by the Raiders in 2014 and was the starter quarterback for nine seasons, leading the team to two playoff appearances but failing to note a postseason win.
The quarterback completed a visit with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday and there is interest from both parties. He likes several of the Saints' skill players and feels that playing in New Orleans makes a lot of sense to him, per the highly-placed NFL source.
His brother might feel the same about the Saints. On Wednesday, Darren Carr shared an image of Derek wearing a New Orleans jersey with the caption "Life is a movie"
The asking price by the Raiders for a Derek Carr trade is a third-round pick plus compensation. A deal is already in place between New Orleans and Las Vegas, as they had to agree on compensation before allowing the quarterback to visit with other teams.
He had a final chance to say goodbye to Las Vegas fans during the 2023 Pro Bowl, which was held at the Allegiant Stadium, where he played as an alternate. This was the fourth time he was on a Pro Bowl roster.
Why trading for Derek Carr makes sense for the Saints?
He's an above-average quarterback who's coming from a disappointing season and will be cheap. His time in New Orleans produced some good individual seasons, but he failed to lead the team to consistent playoff appearances as the franchise did not build good rosters around him.
For the Saints, it would be the perfect opportunity to improve at the quarterback position without compromising the salary cap. Of course, he isn't coming on a cheap contract like Andy Dalton or Jameis Winston, but he has a team-friendly deal that should be restructured as soon as the trade becomes official.
For both sides, not many opportunities can be better than this. It looks like a matter of time before the deal becomes official and the quarterback becomes a member of the New Orleans Saints.