New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has made it clear he will not accept a pay cut, which could prompt the team to trade him in order to free up salary cap space. Carr was signed in 2023 to provide the stability and potential that Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston couldn’t, but while he hasn’t been a major liability, he hasn’t been able to carry a struggling roster to the playoffs either.
Since joining the Saints, Carr has posted a 14-13 record, completing 68.2% of his passes for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. While he’s a solid starting quarterback, he hasn’t been the type to elevate a flawed team. With New Orleans needing to clear cap space, the team could trade Carr, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the New York Giants may be interested.
It’s easy to see why the Giants would consider trading for Carr. Although the four-time Pro Bowler is entering his age-34 season and isn’t a long-term solution, he could be a solid short-term option. The 2025 NFL Draft class is lacking in quarterback talent, and the Giants currently hold the third overall pick, sitting behind two quarterback-needy teams, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.
If the Giants don’t feel strongly about any of the top quarterback prospects or fear that the Titans and Browns will pick them, they may have to rely on a veteran quarterback for at least one season, and Carr could be their best option. While the Giants’ offense isn’t perfect, there are promising pieces, like 2023 first-round pick Malik Nabers and reliable receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who could thrive with Carr. Though he may not turn the team into Super Bowl contenders, Carr would likely improve the offense and could help secure head coach Brian Daboll’s job.
In terms of trade logistics, it’s unclear how the Saints would approach a Carr trade without knowing who their next head coach will be. Carr has a $51.48 million cap hit, but the Saints could save $11.3 million by trading him now or $40 million after June 1st. Given that this would mostly be a financial move, it’s unlikely the Saints would receive more than a Day 3 pick for Carr.
If the Saints trade Carr to the Giants, they’d need to find a short-term replacement at quarterback. Neither Spencer Rattler nor Jake Haener impressed enough as rookies, so the team could look to re-sign veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton, a free agent, has familiarity with the Saints’ receivers and could serve as a competent short-term starter.
