As per the NFL, and @AdamSchefter, the New Orleans Saints are signing quarterback Derek Carr to a four-year agreement that should be finalized as early as Monday afternoon. The financial terms of Carr’s new deal are not yet known.
Shefter adds, “With Derek Carr headed to New Orleans, Jameis Winston now becomes a likely salary-cap casualty.”
New Orleans could move on and save $4.4 million against the salary cap by moving Winston out, but the team would take on $11.2 million in dead money should they choose to do so. A post-June 1 cut would save $12.8 million, but Shefter points out there would be no savings until then. Ian Rappaport writes, “With a big QB number coming, they’ll make it work with their cap situation.”
Colin Cowherd suggests an elite defense, stability in ownership, and a tremendously stable front office might have been some of the things that drew Carr to the Saints. Michael Balko writes that Derek Carr chose the Saints over the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers who were both rumored to be making a pitch for his services. He notes, “He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t think he had the opportunity to win a Super Bowl in New Orleans.”
The belief is that Carr gives the Saints an advantage in the NFC South over Kyle Trask, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral.
