Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has flirted with the idea of coming out of retirement. If so, the Saints still hold the rights to the veteran quarterback and would have the leverage to trade him.
So what does a Carr trade look like for New Orleans?
First, we’ll need to note potential suitors for Carr. His name has been attached to the Las Vegas Raiders as Klint Kubiak takes over as head coach, but with a hefty contract for Geno Smith and the likelihood they’ll draft Indiana quarterback
Fernando Mendoza with the first pick, we’ll write them off.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have also been named potential suitors. Aaron Rodgers likely won’t return, and the Steelers have known to target veteran passers. Other QB-needy teams could reach out for the Saints, such as the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Jets.
Some teams may have a quarterback, but would want to add Carr as a veteran presence. The Indianapolis Colts currently house Daniel Jones, but a severe injury and inconsistent play could see the former playoff contenders reach out to acquire Carr if they can’t reach a new deal with the veteran passer.
With a selection of teams, we have to find trades in recent memory that are similar to a Carr trade. There were seven trades in 2025 involving quarterbacks. The easiest comparison is the Raiders acquisiton of Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick. Both veteran signal callers have had successful seasons in recent history.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco was traded midseason for a sixth-round pick, and Kenny Pickett was moved twice, netting a fifth-rounder in both transactions.
Full list of QB trades of 2025
- Joe Flacco to CIN: 2026 5th round pick
- Kenny Pickett to LV: 2026 5th round pick
- Sam Howell and 6th round pick to PHI: 2026 5th round pick and 2027 7th round pick
- Joe Milton III and 7th round pick to DAL: 2025 fifth round pick
- Kenny Pickett to CLE: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and 2025 fifth-round pick
- Geno Smith to LV: 2025 3rd round pick
Final prediction
Any gain will be a win for the Saints. Carr was originally retired and not taking up space on the Saints roster, so getting a capital for a player not a part of your team is a success. However, New Orleans has the space to be stingy with the veteran quarterback.
The Geno Smith trade is the closest comparison, and I’m predicting the Saints start there for their asking price. Unlike the Smith trade, however, I don’t think the Saints net a third-round pick. Smith’s debut season in Las Vegas was terrible, and now the Raiders are stuck with an aging quarterback on a bad contract, and other teams will take note of that. A fourth-round pick is more in the ballpark, but the price can increase if there is a bid off.
Final prediction: 2026 4th and a 2026 7th
