If Derek Carr decides to unretire, the New Orleans Saints could find themselves holding a valuable trade chip - and one they didn’t expect to have back on the table.
Carr, who stepped away from the game, is still under contract with the Saints. That means if he returns, New Orleans controls his rights and could look to move him in a trade. And while Carr might not be the same Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback he once was, he’s still a veteran presence with playoff experience - and in a league where steady quarterback play is at a premium, that counts for something.
Who Might Come Calling?
Let’s start with the quarterback-needy teams.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been loosely linked to Carr, especially with Klint Kubiak stepping in as head coach. But with Geno Smith already on the books and the expectation that they’ll draft Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, that door seems mostly closed.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a more intriguing possibility. They’ve leaned on veteran passers before, and with Aaron Rodgers unlikely to return, Pittsburgh could be in the market for a stabilizing presence under center. Carr fits that mold.
Then there are teams like the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets - franchises that either lack long-term clarity at quarterback or have been dealing with injuries and inconsistency at the position. Carr wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he could offer a bridge option or a veteran to push the current starter.
Even teams with a quarterback in place might take a look. Take the Indianapolis Colts, for example.
Daniel Jones is on the roster, but his recent injury history and uneven play could prompt the team to explore backup plans. If they can’t reach a new deal with Jones or want a more reliable option in the short term, Carr could become a target.
What’s the Market for a Derek Carr Trade?
To get a sense of what Carr might fetch, let’s look at the quarterback trade market from just last season. There were seven QB trades in 2025, and the most relevant comp is probably the Raiders acquiring Geno Smith from Seattle for a third-round pick. Both Smith and Carr are veteran quarterbacks with recent success - but also with questions about age and consistency.
Here’s a quick rundown of those 2025 quarterback trades:
- Joe Flacco to the Bengals: 2026 fifth-round pick
- Kenny Pickett to the Raiders: 2026 fifth-round pick
- Sam Howell and a sixth-round pick to the Eagles: for a 2026 fifth-rounder and 2027 seventh-rounder
- Joe Milton III and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys: for a 2025 fifth-round pick
- Kenny Pickett to the Browns: for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick
- Geno Smith to the Raiders: 2025 third-round pick
The Geno Smith deal sets the high end of the market. But it’s worth noting that Smith’s first season in Vegas didn’t go as planned.
He struggled, and now the Raiders are left with an aging quarterback on a hefty contract. Other teams will be aware of that, and it could temper their willingness to pay a premium for Carr.
That’s why a fourth-round pick feels like a more realistic starting point. If there’s a bidding war or a team gets desperate - maybe after a preseason injury - the price could climb. But given Carr’s retirement status and the uncertainty that comes with it, teams will likely be cautious.
Saints Hold the Cards
From New Orleans’ perspective, this is a win-win situation. Carr isn’t currently on the roster, so any return - even a Day 3 draft pick - is pure bonus.
And with no immediate need to move quickly, the Saints can afford to be patient. They hold the leverage, and they know it.
If Carr does decide to come back, don’t expect the Saints to give him away. They’ll look to maximize value, and with multiple teams potentially sniffing around, they just might get it.