Derek Carr already met with the Saints, after the Raiders granted permission, but the Jets will be his first free agent visit. Carr is set to meet with the Jets this weekend, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The Jets have been linked to Carr for weeks now, and their potential either/or quandary will not deter them from a meeting. The Jets have been linked to Aaron Rodgers and Carr, and the team has done early work on Jimmy Garoppolo. Carr, however, is available now. With interest from several teams expected, the Jets will face a decision. The meeting will begin Friday night, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
The Saints, Commanders, Titans and Panthers are all believed to have some level of interest in Carr. The Saints having established a trade framework with the Raiders displays their level of interest, but Carr may go through multiple meetings before making a decision. Carr, 31, is going into his 10th NFL season; he refused to waive his no-trade clause and forced a release before a $40.4MM guarantee hit the Raiders’ books.
Following Zach Wilson‘s disastrous 2022 season, the Jets have made no secret of a desire to seek a veteran upgrade. Woody Johnson said he would be willing to shell out a veteran contract, while Robert Saleh confirmed the team’s interest in acquiring an experienced arm. The team pursued Kirk Cousins in 2018, but after the Vikings won out, the team drafted Sam Darnold. The Jets have primarily given their QB keys to first- or second-round picks over the past decade and change, going from Mark Sanchez to Geno Smith to — after multiple Ryan Fitzpatrick bridge seasons — Darnold and then Wilson. But the team with the league’s longest active playoff drought has pivoted, aiming to land a passer to complement a vastly improved defense.
With the Raiders only agreeing to let Carr meet with the Saints, it can be assumed no other team was willing to trade anything of note for the nine-year starter. Though, the Jets did reach out to the Raiders on Carr prior to his release, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Jets reside in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, sitting less than a million over the cap as of Friday afternoon. If the Saints are their primary competition, that is an important number to note. The Saints’ annual February cap crisis has produced a $55MM-over figure.
QBR still slotted Carr 14th — a slight drop from his recent years’ work — last season, but his completion percentage and yards per attempt dropped noticeably under Josh McDaniels in 2022. Carr completed 60.8% of his throws (down from 68.4 in 2021) on 7.0 per pass (down from 7.7 in 2021 and 7.9 figures in 2019 and ’20), though he spent chunks of the season without Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. Davante Adams‘ arrival produced more big production from the ex-Packer, but the Raiders’ performance led Carr out of town. Given Wilson’s play and Mike White‘s inability to stay healthy, Carr would provide a considerable upgrade. White is also a free agent-to-be.
The Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, adding fuel to the Rodgers speculation. They also hired ex-Raiders OC Todd Downing, who was also Carr’s former QBs coach in Oakland, as their pass-game coordinator. The two remain close. The Jets have reached out to the Packers about Rodgers’ availability; that timing probably connects to Carr’s free agency. The Jets knowing if Rodgers is available will undoubtedly impact their decision with Carr, though the free agent quarterback will obviously make the final decision. Garoppolo would represent a Rodgers fallback option, but Carr has offered a higher ceiling and more reliability compared to the injury-prone 49er.
Garoppolo, also 31, will be available with the rest of the UFAs on March 13, when the legal tampering period begins. Rodgers may not be available for months, considering how much easier it will be for the Packers, cap-wise, if they trade him after June 1.
The Jets acquired Brett Favre well into the summer in 2008, ahead of his age-39 season. As was the case with Favre, the Packers would prefer to move Rodgers to the AFC. Carr is eight years younger than Rodgers, who turned 39 in December. Whomever Gang Green convinces to play quarterback in 2023 will have reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore and Corey Davis to target. Promising running back Breece Hall is also expected to return from his ACL tear, giving the Jets an intriguing setup — assuming they can make their desired upgrade at quarterback.
This could work. Plus they will have a former #2 overall pick as a backup qb. Good stuff.
Just cost them cash so I like it way better than trading assets for Green Bays head case. Jets are on the rise so please don’t go giving up assets now!!! Let Wilson learn behind Carr ( if his overblown ego can handle it) and then he might turn into the future QB ( albeit a couple years later than they had hoped)
I’m with you for the most part, but I don’t even hold out hope that Wilson can learn.
Wilson is done.
Wilson is cooked.
Wilson could never find the kitchen and it wasn’t his fault.
+1 on Carr, Rodgers has reached golfing strata. Not worth it. Better for a solid B+ for 4-5 years than a questionable A+ for one.
Carr doesn’t play well in cold weather, this would be settling. You have to find out what Rodgers wants to do and how Baltimore handles the Lamar Jackson situation. If Jackson is only offered the transition tag, offer him the guaranteed contract that will cost two first rounders and see if the Ravens let him walk. Jackson would be the immediate and long term best answer! If you can’t get Jackson or Rodgers, go after Tannehill as stop gap.
“Jackson would be the immediate and long term best answer! ”
No he won’t. Dude is a run first QB who is already missing chunks of seasons and only been worse and worse since 2019. Jackson will be the next big regret at QB.
And, he’s going to cost HUGE money on a contract which will put the Jets into a cap hell they don’t need…..they aren’t 1 guy away from the SB at this point…..
I love Jackson’s talent but he keeps dealing with injuries. I worry about his long-term health with each future injury. I’m not sure how he’ll hold up into his 30s and that concerns me.
Running QB’s just can’t last in a league where the D is just as fast and a lot bigger……
The cold weather argument is flawed because I’m sure if Carr practiced and played in cold weather with a good team, he would be fine. No one plays great in cold weather
If the Jets want to keep drafting high, then sure.
They’re not even drafting very high this year, and they had a QB who couldn’t even complete flare passes reliably.
If they had Derek Carr last year, they would have been in the playoffs. 4th best defense (in terms of points allowed) and 29th best offense. Even an upgrade to a mediocre QB would put them in the playoffs.
I don’t think you’ve seen the QB history of the Jets
As a Jets fan, I still think I’d prefer this to gambling multiple first rounders and a boatload of money on Rodgers. Even just a solid point guard of a QB who can get the ball to Wilson, Moore, and Hall effectively would be a monumental step up from Wilson, and they could really use that first rounder to bring in another tackle or fill in one of the gaps on defense.
Oooof, you always have solid, level-headed takes. I agree with this one whole-heartedly. It just makes too much sense to solidify the QB position long-term and build around a guy who is youthful enough to last quite awhile longer. Plus, he only costs money rather than draft picks, as you mentioned, so the org can continue to put those toward improving a roster that is already trending upward.
Also, if it goes south it doesn’t set the team back nearly as much as a Rodgers collapse would between the cap and the picks. As a Jets fan, I can’t help but anticipate the worst.
And thank you.
Carr should consider a one-way ticket to Thailand.
Why? Somebody is going to pay him, whether you agree with the decision or not…
Want to be more specific than somebody.
Raiders gave Carr a competitive supporting cast and he couldn’t make it work. There’s plenty of washed up QBs choose from at a lower price.
Maybe the problem wasn’t Carr but the OL and the coaching.
And the Jets OL and coaching is better?
Carr’s HC was Josh McDaniels, who is a disaster. Also the Raiders had one of the worst defenses in the league.
They were 12th in points scored, despite Waller and Renfrow both being out or hobbled all year. I take it your idea of a supporting cast doesn’t include a defense? Because theirs was bottom five.
Which available washed QBs do you think are nearly as good as Carr?
Lamar Jackson perhaps.
Carr had to play for a coach in Vegas who was out-coached by Jeff Saturday. He played on a team with a shaky O-line and abysmal defense. Two of his best offensive weapons missed significant time. And to top it all off, the first step the Raiders took to try to remedy any of it was getting rid of a good QB to create another hole.
Carr isn’t washed up. He’s just been surrounded by ineptitude and dysfunction for his entire career.
I am a Raiders fan, and honestly, I am glad to see Carr go. It’s been 10 years of excuses. It’s the O-line, the D-Line, the Secondary, There’s a new Pope, Cold weather, Hot weather, It’s a Sunday, a cat sneezed. Enough already.
To the fans of whatever team takes this dude… you’ll soon feel Raider Nation’s frustration. You have our sympathy
The Silver and Black get to host the J-E-T-S next fall. Strong potential for Monday Night Football, a split network in the late game of a doubleheader, or a 4:05 special with a good-size network.
Kindly pass that blunt to the African American on the left.
What did they have, 6 head coaches over his 10 years? Despite that he put up pretty good numbers. If you think Carr was your problem wait until you see what next year holds for you without him
Those “excuses” are all valid. As someone who is a fan of an org that continuously put out bad rosters for the past 10 seasons, it’s pretty obvious you should be just as able to recognize a bad team. The Raiders have had AWFUL rosters for the past 10 seasons, have one of the most inept owners in football (at least one of the 5 worst for sure), and went through what…6 head coaches an 8 offensive coordinators during Carr’s time? That’s pathetic.
The Raiders will be significantly worse off without Carr and McDaniels is destined to be another Raiders head coach thrown on to the scrap heap. And deservedly so– he sucks. Doesn’t know how to coach in the second half to save his life. Raiders will likely be a top 10 pick next season. Back to what we’re all used to!
I don’t think you understand the definition of the word “excuse”. You mentioned a bunch of facts.
I’m no longer a Raider fan. I washed my hands of that team when they benched Carr. That team will be 3-14 next year. DBH, you have my sympathy.
Nobody seems to think any of this draft year’s QBs are going to go too high – thus the Jets should follow the Cardinals path with Josh Rosen and simply jettison Wilson and move up a touch to take another QB in the draft.
Jettison Wilson so they can draft another Christian Hackenberg? They’ve realized they have no skill for developing prospects which is why they’re pursuing an established veteran.
This years QB draft leaves a lot to be desired….top are developmental RPO players, and the throwers are all very blah at best……best option for the Jets is to get hitched to either Carr, Jimmy G, or wait for it…Rodgers……
I remember everyone saying the Steelers should wait on a QB until this draft. I’d take Pickett over anyone coming out this year.
Even Young? I’d definitely take Young and Stroud over him. Maybe Levis too. Richardson is his own can of worms.
The 5’11 kid who played on an All Star team?
No thanks.
He’s really good. And I’m more impressed by his college play than the guy who wasn’t really good in the ACC until his fifth college season.
I would let another team try to beat the odds by having a tiny QB succeed in the NFL.
It happens on occasion.
Not enough for me to roll those dice, though.
I’m sure you’re far from the only one. He’s my favorite QB prospect in the past couple years (post Lawrence).
very under rated… a good arm, decent mobility and does not panic in the pocket. everybody QB needs decent receivers… look at what he did in 2021..
Carr —> Colts
Lamar Jackson —> D.C. or Tampa
Garroppolo —> Jets
Rodgers —> Raiders
The Colts have to finally draft one again.
Jets make a ton of sense, for both sides. I’ve never been the biggest Carr fan, however last season said far more about LV’s dysfunctional coaching staff than Carr’s abilities. He’s a mid tier QB. which is good enough to win with the weapons available on the Jets roster.
Jets may be best suited with Garroppolo. Carr is going to cost them, and I’m sure he’s looking for his last big contract that the Jets may not be willing to shell out considering they still have interest in building up Wilson. Rodgers is a narcissist who will only make Wilson’s ego pop even more, despite the opportunity to learn from a great and the timeline fits well. Giving up draft compensation is not the way to go, though.
Jim G, though not at the top of the list, is consistent. He’s familiar with the coach and is good when provided with talent around him, as demonstrated by SF. He’s shown he can win and his demands will not be as much as Rodgers or Carr. I think the Jets would be best served pursuing him and picking up a couple of offensive lineman in the top order of the draft to once and for all solidify the front and let the offense go.
If you can’t get Jackson or Rodgers, settling for Jimmy G or Tannehill is fine. Giving Carr a long term deal and paying him over 40M a year is a NO.. also you don’t know if the Chargers will be able to pay Herbert. The Spanos family is fighting over the family trust. You need to have all of the money available that you are paying him. I wouldn’t want to be tied to a Carr if Herbert somehow would wind up on the trade market in the 2024 off season .