Scott Logush
Sports Editor
The first significant quarterback domino is set to fall as the New Orleans Saints and free agent quarterback Derek Carr are expected to agree on a deal, per reports from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
After nine seasons in the silver and black, Carr is expected to sign with the Saints after the Raiders cut him earlier this offseason. Carr will be reuniting with head coach Dennis Allen. Allen served as the head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders when Carr was drafted in 2014.
Carr leads the Raiders in all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns. He was cut in February due to cap reasons after the Raiders could not find a trade due to Carr refusing to waive his no-trade clause.
According to Ian Rapoport, it will be a four-year deal and the Saints will “make it work with their cap situation.” The Saints will always find a way to figure out the salary cap, and now have the best quarterback in the division.
1971 was the last time the Saints utilized a first or second-round pick when they selected Archie Manning. With Carr’s expected signing, that looks to remain unchanged. With the addition of Carr, it appears that free-agent quarterback Andy Dalton is unlikely to return, and quarterback Jameis Winston will most likely be a cap casualty.
Carr’s four-year deal is worth $150 million with $100 million in total guarantees, per Ian Rapoport. Carr gets $60 million fully guaranteed at signing and an additional $10 million in year three that becomes fully guaranteed after year one.
