After months of hypothesis, Derek Carr has selected his subsequent NFL dwelling, and it’s not the vacation spot we’d been led to imagine it could probably land. No, Carr has not signed with the New York Jets. The previous Las Vegas/Oakland Raider has signed a long-term contract with the New Orleans Saints and is now the very best quarterback within the NFC South.
Whereas this choice may show to be the suitable one, it definitely doesn’t really feel prefer it strikes the needle a lot. All of the speak over the previous few weeks about Carr heading east to play with the Jets probably was thrilling because of the division. The QB matchups within the AFC East had been way more intriguing than what we may see within the NFC South.
Clearly, Carr’s accomplished what’s in his greatest curiosity whereas selecting a well-known path. Saints head coach Dennis Allen was teaching the Raiders when Carr was drafted in 2014. So, there’s that familiarity even when they had been solely collectively briefly. Allen solely lasted 4 video games into the ’14 marketing campaign, his third in Oakland.
As a substitute of matchups like Carr vs. Josh Allen or Tua Tagovailoa, followers can sit up for Carr battling whoever the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons throw on the sector. This signing would imply way more if Sean Payton had been nonetheless working the present in New Orleans. Certain, offensive coordinator, Pete Carmichael remains to be there, however in some way it simply doesn’t really feel the identical.
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The excellent news for Saints followers is that you just now have the very best QB within the division, even when by default. Each different crew within the NFC South has questions on the place and might be trying to the NFL draft for solutions. New Orleans nonetheless has a reasonably good protection and has added a Professional Bowl QB to the combo. Something lower than a division crown and 9 wins in 2023 will probably be disappointing. Until one other crew within the division can land Aaron Rodgers or Lamar Jackson, Carr and New Orleans ought to be on straightforward avenue this season.
