Saints deal with Derek Carr makes the path clearer for Aaron Rodgers

The New Orleans Saints have made the first major domino fall in the 2023 NFL offseason at the quarterback position. According to multiple major media outlets, the New Orleans Saints will be landing Derek Carr as their starting quarterback for the 2023 season and beyond.

Carr, a Pro Bowl QB, was released by the Las Vegas Raiders after being drafted by the team in the 2nd round back in 2014. He helped take the Raiders to the playoffs twice but fell out of favor with head coach Josh McDaniels late in the 2022 season, to absolutely no one’s surprise. He will be reunited in New Orleans with his former head coach with the Raiders, Dennis Allen.

Derek Carr news has implications on Aaron Rodgers

Although an agreement has not been officially reached at the time of this post being written, it’s clear that Carr is destined for New Orleans which is such a big move for that team in a very weak NFC South. Carr is much more than just a stopgap at the position. Although he might not be a superstar, he’s already in the Hall of Very Good and he’s the type of player that can really excel with the right pieces around him.

The momentary shock and awe of Carr going to New Orleans are replaced rather quickly by the other elements and fallout of the move. What does this deal mean for Aaron Rodgers? Does it mean anything? Well, yes, it really does.

The Saints were not in competition for Aaron Rodgers’ services, at least not that we know of. But the fact that Derek Carr did not end up with the New York Jets is very interesting, isn’t it? There were reports as recently as Sunday that Derek Carr was very impressed by the Jets, but that obviously amounted to nothing. Carr would have been a great signing for the Jets but they may still have their sights set on a bigger name yet.

If there’s any team out there that Aaron Rodgers might go play for besides the Packers, wouldn’t it be the Jets where Nathaniel Hackett is the offensive coordinator? Hackett became one of Rodgers’ good friends when they were together in Green Bay, and there was a strong sense last year that Rodgers was the apple of the Denver Broncos’ eye because they hired Hackett. That was probably true.

The same is probably true of the Jets, who have a very good roster right now and are in a position to be able to afford the two-year investment that Rodgers would be. Carr signing in New Orleans clears the path for the Jets. If not Carr or Rodgers, what are the Jets going to do? Are they going to go all-in on Jimmy Garoppolo? Jacoby Brissett?

The veteran QB options have now officially dwindled, at least the ones that make sense for the Jets.

With Derek Carr going to the Saints, the path for Aaron Rodgers is now clear: It’s either the Jets, the Packers, or retirement, in all likelihood.