Derek Carr

Latest On Aaron Rodgers’ Timeframe; Jets To Aggressively Pursue Rodgers

February 12th, 2023 at 6:05pm CST by Rory Parks

6:05pm: In a move which comes as no surprise at all given previous reporting on the matter, Fowler tweets that the Jets have indeed “inquired” about Rodgers’ availability. The answer to that question will, of course, be dictated by his decision regarding his intention of playing in 2023, but if a trade becomes possible, the Jets will be the team to watch.

8:10am: For Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, all options remain on the table: he may return to the Packers in 2023, he may ask to be traded, or he may retire. The 39-year-old said during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this past week that he will contemplate his future during a four-day, four-night “darkness retreat,” which will commence after today’s Super Bowl (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).

Rodgers said he will retreat to a small house in an undisclosed location, and his only contact with the outside world will come when his meals are delivered. While recent reports have suggested that Rodgers will play in 2023 rather than walk away from an eye-popping amount of money, Rodgers told McAfee that retirement is a very real possibility.

“For sure; it’s a real thing, 100 percent,” Rodgers said. “That’s why it’s going to be important to get through this week and to take my isolation retreat and just to be able to contemplate all things my future and then be able to make a decision that I think is best for me moving forward and in the highest interest of my happiness and then move forward.”

The implication here is that Rodgers will alert the Packers of his decision shortly after his retreat, though team president Mark Murphy confirms that there is no deadline at this point (video link via ESPN’s Dianna Russini). Murphy acknowledged that the club would like an answer sooner rather than later, and he expects to have clarity on the matter no later than the opening of free agency on March 15.

Several Packers sources tell Connor Hughes of SNY.tv (video link) that they expect Rodgers to return to Green Bay. However, Hughes and the NFL.com duo of Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report that, no matter what the four-time MVP wants to do, the Packers will accommodate his wishes.

That means, of course, that if Rodgers decides he wants to play for another team — which may actually be Green Bay’s preference — the Packers will work with him to make that happen (though Rodgers would need to first agree to a reworked contract in order to allow a trade to be consummated). While Green Bay reportedly will not deal its franchise icon to an NFC club, there will nonetheless be multiple suitors.

The Jets and Raiders have already been linked to Rodgers in various reports, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says he is “more convinced than ever” that New York will aggressively pursue Rodgers (subscription required). The Jets believe that they are close to contention, and they have locked in on Rodgers as Plan A. Only if a Rodgers pursuit is unsuccessful will the team pivot to Derek Carr, whom Fowler says is Gang Green’s No. 2 choice.

Derek Carr Will Veto Potential Trades; QB Expected To Be Released

February 12th, 2023 at 3:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

As Derek Carr moves another day closer to finding out his future with the Raiders, he has reportedly sent a clear message to his current employer. The quarterback will not accept a trade to the Saints or any other interested team, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

As a result, Rapoport notes, the Raiders will be left with no other option but to release him in the coming days. Carr has over $40MM in guaranteed money set to vest this week, and with Vegas having moved on from him, a trade represented their only way of receiving compensation while relieving themselves of that financial obligation. Carr has a no-trade clause, however, which gave him control of the situation at all times in this process, something which he has clearly used.

The Raiders prevented the 31-year-old from negotiating with potential new teams until trade compensation had been agreed upon. That made it noteworthy when they allowed him to visit the Saints this past week, with a subsequent report indicating the two teams had an agreement in place. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero tweets that it was Carr’s contract which stood in the way of a deal being finalized to send him to the NFC South.

A report emerged over the weekend that Vegas’ asking price was a third-round pick. The Saints could have easily met that request, given their current allotment of selections in this year’s draft, but they find themselves in dire straights from a financial standpoint. New Orleans is more than $60MM over the cap at the moment, so acquiring Carr via trade would have added considerably to the salary cap gymnastics general manager Mickey Loomis has become known for in recent years.

Carr has a scheduled cap hit of $34.9MM in 2023, and two more years on his existing contract with hits over $43MM. Given the absence of guarantees on the pact (at the moment), however, the Raiders would see more than $29MM in savings by releasing Carr in the immediate future. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would see that figure grow to $33MM weighed against comparably small dead cap charges.

Of course, this news in no way precludes the Saints from still ultimately landing Carr as a free agent. The four-time Pro Bowler will be free to sign anywhere immediately following his release, as opposed to players who can only negotiate prior to the start of the new league year in mid-March. New Orleans should be in the market for a new signal-caller after the production seen in 2022 from veterans Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. Carr will certainly have other suitors as well, however.

The former second-rounder had a down year this past season, the first with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler at the helm. Still, he will headline a QB market which may or may not see the likes of Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith be on the move through trades or free agent deals. The Jets are widely understood to be all-in on Rodgers, but they are reportedly prepared to target Carr as a secondary option.

The value of a deal Carr is able to land on the open market will no doubt be linked to the perceived availability of those other passers. Still, with his release imminent, it likely won’t be long until he has found his next NFL home.

Latest On Potential Derek Carr Trade

February 11th, 2023 at 3:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tomorrow’s Super Bowl has obviously been the league’s top storyline in recent days, but the future of Derek Carr has generated plenty of interest as well. The Raiders quarterback is close to having more than $40MM in guaranteed money vest, meaning clarity could emerge soon.

Vegas allowed Carr, 31, to visit the Saints this week, having previously prevented him from meeting with teams which had yet to agree on trade compensation. The fact that New Orleans hosted Carr meant that at least the framework of a deal has been agreed upon. More details have emerged on that front.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Raiders are seeking a third-round pick in exchange for Carr. Such a selection has been seen in plenty of high-profile QB trades in recent years, but Fowler is likely accurate in calling the ask a “modest” one. Of course, Carr has significant leverage in this situation by holding a no-trade clause and thus having the ability to force the Raiders to release him in the coming days and sign with the Saints (or any other potential suitor, of which there would be several) as a free agent.

New Orleans once again holds a first-round pick via the Sean Payton trade, but also the 41st and 72nd overall selections in this year’s draft. The latter would be headed Vegas’ way if previous reporting on terms being agreed upon holds true. The other complicating factor in this situation, though, is of course Carr’s contract and the Saints’ current financial situation.

New Orleans is more than $60MM over the 2023 salary cap ceiling, leaving them with more cost-cutting to do than any other team around the NFL before the new league year begins in mid-March. Carr has a scheduled cap hit of $34.9MM in 2023, and $7MM of his 2024 salary will become guaranteed this week barring a restructure. As Fowler and colleague Dan Graziano note, unsurprisingly, the Saints would be keenly interested in lowering Carr’s financial cost upon acquisition, but that the four-time Pro Bowler has no need (at least at this point) to agree to do so.

Carr would likely provide an upgrade under center to the Saints compared to their 2022 setup of Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. The Raiders, meanwhile, have made it clear they are prepared to move on to a new era at the position, leaving attention squarely placed on Carr himself as he weighs his options.

Saints Viewed As Derek Carr Frontrunners

February 9th, 2023 at 6:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:03pm: Carr concluded his visit, Sean Fazende of FOX 8 tweets. The ball remains in the 31-year-old quarterback’s court. If Carr is willing to waive his no-trade clause, the Raiders and Saints will have the green light to finalize trade terms. If not, free agency looks like the next step here.

5:33pm: Derek Carr remains in New Orleans for a second day of this Raiders-approved visit. After the Carr-Saints meeting wrapped at around 10:30pm Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football notes (via Twitter) the meeting has continued today.

Dennis Allen and Saints brass went to dinner with Carr on Wednesday night, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds New Orleans is viewed as the frontrunner to land the nine-year veteran (video link). The Raiders and Saints have not agreed completely on terms, but Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets the framework of an agreement is in place.

Initially, the Raiders were not prepared to allow Carr to speak with any team that had not agreed on trade terms. By broadening that baseline to suitors who are in the ballpark of Las Vegas’ preferred compensation, a visit came to pass. Carr wields a no-trade clause, giving him the ability to nix a Raiders-Saints agreement and move closer to free agency. No deal is expected to be finalized Thursday, Rapoport adds.

Six days remain until Carr’s $40.4MM guarantee vests. The Raiders will not pay their longtime quarterback that money, which will lead to a trade or release. The Saints, whose Carr interest generated buzz at the Senior Bowl, are almost the de facto frontrunners here. No other team having been granted permission to speak with Carr. Raiders potential concerns about Carr’s agent using talks to gauge free agency interest helped lead to the narrow parameters on a visit. Even though Carr has only spoken with the Saints, other teams have looked into this early free agency sweepstakes.

The Commanders and Jets were mentioned as suitors late last month, and the Jets are examining Carr. The Commanders are taking a somewhat unexpected offseason course, at least compared to how they have proceeded in recent offseasons. Expected to shed $26MM-plus by releasing Carson Wentz, Washington is planning to give Sam Howell a long look as a potential starter. The team is still monitoring veterans, but not to the degree it did in 2022. Commanders connections to just about every potentially available vet sprang up last year, leading to the Wentz swap. Despite Howell being a fifth-round pick and making on appearance as a rookie, he appears to have a decent chance to be Washington’s 2023 starter.

Expected to dive far deeper into the veteran QB pool, the Jets will need to determine if they want to pursue Carr now or wait for the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo or another potentially available arm after this February Carr chase wraps up. The Raiders have also been connected to Garoppolo and Rodgers, raising the stakes for a Jets team that has been tied to vet QBs for weeks.

New Orleans has Jameis Winston under contract through 2023, but after benching Drew Brees‘ initial successor, the Saints should not be expected to retain him. Not when they are $60MM over the cap. As of mid-January, no Andy Dalton talks had occurred either. While the Saints did obtain a first-round pick from the Broncos in the Sean Payton trade, that pick sits at No. 29 overall. This draft’s top four QBs will likely be gone by that point, and a veteran would seem to complement the Saints’ experienced roster better anyway.

Saints To Meet With Raiders QB Derek Carr; Teams Have Agreed On Compensation

February 7th, 2023 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:55pm: Trade compensation is no longer believed to be an issue between the teams. The sides have agreed to that part of this deal, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets. The Raiders had prevented Carr from speaking with teams that had not agreed on trade terms. That part of this process being checked off puts the ball in Carr’s court.

5:44pm: The Derek Carr guarantee vests in eight days, and the Raiders will allow their outgoing quarterback to meet with a team ahead of that date. The Saints will host Carr on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Saints-Carr buzz has built for a bit now, but the nine-year Raiders starter holds a no-trade clause. Both Carr and QB-needy teams have been connected to waiting out this trade process and going into free agency. But the Saints are at least exploring a trade.

New Orleans has been looking into Carr for a while now, and Rapoport adds Carr is doing his due diligence on the NFC South team. The Saints do not have any question marks when it comes to their offensive staff, with the team retaining offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael for a 14th season. After Sean Payton‘s 2022 exit, Carmichael stepped back into the play-calling seat — one he occupied during Payton’s 2012 Bountygate ban.

A trade would require the Saints to pick up the $40.4MM guarantee due Feb. 15. While Mickey Loomis has earned justified praise for his cap navigation, this would be a new challenge for the veteran GM. Of course, they were ready to add Deshaun Watson last year. The Saints, per usual, rank at the bottom of the league for cap space; they are more than $60MM over the $224.8MM salary ceiling. Loomis’ abilities here should not be doubted, but Carr’s AAV will be far north of Drew Brees‘ run of deals. The sides can certainly renegotiate, however.

This meeting will bring a reunion as well. Dennis Allen resided as the Raiders’ HC when the team drafted Carr in the 2014 second round. That partnership did not last long, as the Raiders fired Allen early in his second season. But the Raiders rolled with their rookie quarterback to start that season. This familiarity could appeal to Carr, though he also could also nix any trade and take his chances in an early free agency run. Should the Raiders release Carr before the guarantee vests, he would be free to sign at any point as a street free agent. Unrestricted free agents cannot agree to terms with teams until the legal tampering period begins March 13.

Allen and then-GM Reggie McKenzie gave the Raiders the longest-tenured QB1 in franchise history; Carr has missed just three career starts (counting a 2016 wild-card game) due to injury. But the Silver and Black’s new regime signaled a change was coming when it benched Carr ahead of Week 17. Carr left the Raiders at that point. His $40MM-per-year contract runs through 2025, but the Raiders building an escape hatch has become relevant.

The Raiders would be tagged with less than $6MM in dead money by jettisoning Carr, whose completion percentage fell by nearly eight points last season. Carr did complete 68% of his throws during his final year in Jon Gruden‘s offense, helping the Raiders to the 2021 playoffs despite Henry Ruggs‘ release and Darren Waller‘s midseason injury.

Increased buzz about a Saints-Carr union emerged at the Senior Bowl last week. That came after a report indicated the Saints were one of the teams doing homework on Carr. The Commanders and Jets were among that contingent, too, and any team that pursues Carr must also consider this early strike will effectively prevent a pursuit of Jimmy Garoppolo or Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers is traded, it will almost definitely be to an AFC destination. That opens a Carr-to-NFC door now, and the Saints make sense as a suitor. They have not found a steady option at quarterback since Brees’ 2021 retirement.

After missing out on Watson, Saints re-signed Jameis Winston in March 2022. They gave their initial Brees successor a two-year, $28MM deal. But the team quickly decided to go with Andy Dalton, not giving Winston his job back after he returned from injury. Dalton started New Orleans’ final 14 games and did rank ninth in passer rating. The longtime Cincinnati starter finished 21st in QBR, however. The Saints signed Dalton to a one-year, $3.5MM deal in 2022. Should the team be interested in bringing him back to compete for the starting job, a raise would be in order. No known negotiations have taken place. At 35, Dalton is more than three years older than Carr, who turns 32 in March.

Last week, Carr confirmed reports the Raiders were not allowing him to speak with teams. But a subsequent report clarified the Raiders would allow Carr and his agent to talk with teams — but only suitors who had met the Raiders’ asking price. The Saints being granted permission to speak with Carr points to the parameters of a trade being worked out. Even if that is the case, Carr still holds the keys here. A major QB domino could hinge on Wednesday’s meeting.

Regarding trade capital, the Saints obtained a first-round pick from the Broncos for Payton. But that is not expected to be in play here. After Round 1, New Orleans holds the Nos. 40 and 71 overall picks.

Saints Emerging As Potential Derek Carr Suitor?

February 4th, 2023 at 9:10am CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have yet to grant Derek Carr permission to speak to other teams about a trade, but one potential suitor may be emerging. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes that a Carr-Saints pairing “was buzzing a bit” this week during the Senior Bowl.

There’s a handful of reasons why the Saints could make sense. For starters, it seems clear that the Saints are seeking some more reliability at the quarterback position heading into next season. The organization has turned to five different starting QBs over the past two years, with 35-year-old Andy Dalton garnering 14 starts for the Saints this past year. Jameis Winston is the only experienced QB under contract heading into the offseason, but the Saints could easily cut him without leaving behind a debilitating dead cap number. The Saints are also rostering QB Jake Luton via a reserve/futures contract.

Further, the Saints now have some extra draft assets thanks to the Sean Payton trade with Denver. New Orleans got an extra first- and second-round pick in the trade, and while it’s unknown what the Raiders are seeking in a Carr trade, the extra selections could make it easier to part with their desired compensation. For what it’s worth, the Raiders slightly pushed back at Carr’s notion that the organization hasn’t allowed him to speak to potential suitors. Rather, the Raiders claim they have granted Carr permission to speak to other teams…but only teams that have shown a willingness to pony up the picks that the Raiders are seeking.

Finally, Saints head coach Dennis Allen has some experience working alongside Carr; Allen was the Raiders’ head coach during the QB’s rookie season in Oakland. Since then, Allen has worked in New Orleans, including a seven-year stint as their defensive coordinator.

The Raiders would owe Carr $40.4MM on Feb. 15, and with a dead-money charge of just $5.6MM due with a release, they can save $29MM-plus by moving on over the next week. As a result, teams are expecting the organization to ultimately release the veteran quarterback. Carr confirmed this week that he won’t restructure his contract to facilitate a trade, and it’s worth noting that his deal also contains a no-trade clause.

QB-Needy Teams Expecting Raiders To Release Derek Carr

February 3rd, 2023 at 4:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:05pm: Although Carr said Thursday night the Raiders have not granted he and his agent permission to speak to trade partners, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes (via Twitter) the team has done so — but only for suitors who have agreed to the team’s desired compensation. It is unclear if any team has offered sufficient compensation, but the Raiders are attempting to follow the Texans’ Deshaun Watson path. Vic Tafur of The Athletic points to no conversations having yet occurred (Twitter link).

Houston only let Watson meet with teams that met the trade price; four finalists emerged. The Carr process will unfold much differently. The Raiders will not land anything close to what the Texans did — three first-round picks and change — in the March 2022 sweepstakes, but they will let Carr discuss a fit with franchises that are willing to pay up.

10:54am: From what has become an alternate-heavy Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas, Derek Carr addressed his unusual situation with the Raiders. The nine-year veteran confirmed he has not been given permission to speak with other teams about a trade.

Rumored to be concerned Carr’s agent will use that permission to negotiate with teams about his client’s potential free agency rather than talking trade fits, the Raiders are attempting to maintain control of this process. But teams look to be willing to wait out Las Vegas here.

As of now, quarterback-needy teams are expecting the Raiders to release Carr, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Teams are recognizing the Raiders’ limited leverage here. The team made no secret of wanting to move on, having benched Carr for its final two games in an effort to prevent an injury affecting his contract. The Raiders would owe Carr $40.4MM on Feb. 15, and with a dead-money charge of just $5.6MM due with a release, they can save $29MM-plus by moving on.

Carr confirmed he will not adjust the uniquely structured contract to move the vesting date back, indicating (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) “I don’t think that would be best for me.” The longest-tenured QB1 in Raiders history could be less than two weeks from hitting the open market a month before the rest of this year’s lot of free agent passers. Teams are already doing work on Carr, with the Jets, Saints and Commanders three known suitors.

“That’s for [the Raiders] to talk about,” Carr said when asked about the Raiders’ refusal to permit talks with other teams. “I’m just obeying the rules. If it gets to the date [and I get released], then I’ll be able to talk to all my friends.”

Carr, 31, holds a no-trade clause, further limiting the Las Vegas’ options. Still, second-year Raiders GM Dave Ziegler said during a SiriusXM Radio interview (via NFL.com) he expects teams to begin contacting him on a Carr trade. A few prospective Carr suitors — the Buccaneers, Commanders and Titans — have yet to hire an offensive coordinator, adding another complication to these slow-moving midwinter trade sweepstakes.

Aaron Rodgers‘ status figures to also affect certain teams’ Carr pursuits. With Rodgers a candidate to be traded well after Carr, teams that believe they can acquire the future Hall of Famer may be willing to wait. The Jets come to mind here, but the Packers’ disinterest in sending Rodgers to an NFC team would make that conference’s QB-needy franchises more likely Carr fits. Tom Brady‘s second retirement, which he chose over coming back to the Bucs for a fourth season, would stand to make Tampa Bay an interested party. Ditto Washington, New Orleans and possibly Atlanta. The Commanders attempted to engage the Raiders in Carr trade talks last year, and they are open to adding a veteran yet again.

It appears one of these teams will add a starting quarterback early, following the likes of the Rams in 2021 (Matthew Stafford) or Washington in 2018 (Alex Smith). Will said team end up acquiring Carr in free agency?

Raiders Yet To Grant Derek Carr Permission To Speak With Teams

January 30th, 2023 at 7:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

A few factors look to be holding up Derek Carr trade talks. While the Raiders are set to explore dealing their nine-year starting quarterback, they are not letting Carr control the process at this point.

The Raiders have not given Carr’s agent permission to speak with other teams about a deal, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. Carr holds a no-trade clause and will not be on Las Vegas’ roster by mid-February; his $40.4MM guarantee vests Feb. 15. But the Raiders might be leery of letting Carr’s agent discuss potential landing spots for his client in free agency.

With Carr having the power to shoot down any trade, Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes the team could be aiming to maintain control of this process out of concern negotiations for a Feb. 16 free agency agreement would take place rather than trade talks. Carr moving the guarantee vesting date back could improve his chances of landing elsewhere via trade, but Tafur notes he has no plans to do so. Carr and the Raiders are still on decent terms, however, per Breer. This process is not guaranteed to end with a trade, but with the Raiders prepared to move on anyway, Carr having the chance to both pick his new team and sign another contract could be in the cards.

This year’s Senior Bowl will take place Feb. 4, and teams are arriving in Mobile, Ala., for the run of practices that double as a meeting ground. But this year’s slow-moving head coaching carousel may well be affecting Carr talks. Four teams have not hired a head coach. Perhaps more importantly in Carr’s case, others — including the Commanders, Buccaneers and Titans — have not hired an offensive coordinator. The 31-year-old passer will undoubtedly want to discuss his potential fit with teams before agreeing to a trade, and with some potentially interested parties not having their ducks in a row yet, relevant information has not yet emerged.

Another robust QB market is also likely affecting Carr’s pre-free agency sweepstakes. Daniel Jones, Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson are technically on track for free agency, but those QBs’ teams are unlikely (or dead-set against, in Baltimore’s case) to let them hit the market. Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo certainly appear open to changing teams, and teams will be interested in them once the market opens in mid-March. Aaron Rodgers trade winds are blowing again, and these look like stiffer gusts compared to the 2021 and ’22 offseasons. Teams interested in Carr would need to make this commitment early, thus removing themselves from adding other available arms.

The Commanders, Jets and Saints have been linked as early Carr pursuers, though the Jets are now understandably — given the Nathaniel Hackett component — being tied to Rodgers. But Gang Green is still looking into Carr. The Commanders discussed Carr with the Raiders last year and make sense as a suitor this year as well, even if they are interested in further evaluating Sam Howell. It will be interesting to see what teams are willing to send the Raiders assets now for Carr and which prefer to weigh their options once the market opens. It will also be worth monitoring if teams will be prepared to pay that $40.4MM or if a Carr trade will be contingent on a new deal or a restructure. For now, the Raiders are sitting tight and hoping for clarity.

Latest On Jets’ QB Pursuit

January 29th, 2023 at 7:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Since the Jets’ 2022 season crashed to a halt amidst their quarterback struggles, they are widely expected to be active in pursuing a veteran addition at the position. The team has been very public about doing so, and clarity could be emerging with respect to the names they are targeting.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports that New York is “evaluating” Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr. While he adds that the process is in its early stages, meaning more names will no doubt be added to that list, it comes as little surprise that those three are included in it. Rodgers was mentioned as a trade candidate for the Jets even before Nathaniel Hackett became the team’s new offensive coordinator, but increasingly so due to their connection with one another dating back to the latter’s time with the Packers.

Garoppolo was widely thought to be on his way out of San Francisco last offseason with the team turning its offense over to Trey Lance, but he ultimately remained on a re-worked contract. Now a pending free agent, he would not require trade compensation (as would be the case with Rodgers). His play after taking over for Lance appeared to help his value on the open market, but the 31-year-old then suffered what was initially believed to be a season-ending ankle injury. He may have been able to return in time for the Super Bowl, though the result of today’s NFC title game now makes that a moot point.

As for Carr, his days in Vegas are thought to be numbered, as the three-time Pro Bowler personally alluded to recently. He has begun doing “homework” on potential landing spots in a trade (since he has a no-trade clause), though the possibility remains that he get released and chooses his next team as a free agent.

That trio of passers is also one which Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network lists as targets for the Jets. New York showed signs of being a playoff contender in 2022 with a strong defense in particular, and a number of encouraging performances with a healthy Mike White at the helm of their offense. Interestingly, Pauline notes that “several” Jets players implored general manager Joe Douglas during their exit interviews to move on from Zach Wilson as their starting QB, in addition to firing offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

The latter move has already taken place, with Hackett now set to play a role in identifying the team’s top options to provide stability at the position relative to Wilson’s inconsistencies (although Pauline also notes that owner Woody Johnson still sees the 2021 No. 2 pick as salvageable). As the QB market takes shape, the Jets are sure to be key players in the case of several veteran passers.

QB Rumors: Packers, Carr, Burrow, Colts

January 22nd, 2023 at 9:45am CST by Rory Parks

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to play in 2023, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link). Fowler cites the ~$60MM balloon payment that Rodgers is due between March and the start of the 2023 regular season as a motivating factor for the four-time MVP, and assuming he does want to suit up, Green Bay will have to decide if it wants him back or wants to seek a trade.

The club’s top power brokers, GM Brian Gutekunst and HC Matt LaFleur, have publicly indicated they want Rodgers back in Wisconsin, which could — in Fowler’s estimation — force Jordan Love to request a trade. The 2020 first-rounder believes he is ready to become a QB1, and as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal, now would be a good time for him to get that chance.

Here are more QB rumors from around the league:

In the same piece linked above, Fowler says that the Derek Carr sweepstakes will start to heat up as we get closer to the Super Bowl. Carr, whose contract with the Raiders includes a no-trade clause, is beginning to do his homework on possible landing spots, and Fowler hears (unsurprisingly) that the Jets, Saints, and Commanders are expected to have interest. Several clubs have already reached out to Las Vegas to lay the groundwork for trade talks.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be eligible for an extension when Cincinnati’s season comes to an end, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the club wants to get a new deal done this offseason. A Burrow extension will be hugely expensive, and owner Mike Brown and Burrow himself acknowledged the challenges that such a deal creates for roster construction (via Ben Baby of ESPN.com). Of course, the Bengals will have to operate within the same salary cap confines as every other team in the league, but as Rapoport observes, the small-market franchise does have more cash on hand these days thanks in large part to the success that the team has enjoyed with Burrow under center.
In a comprehensive piece that is well-worth a read for Colts fans, a piece that details owner Jim Irsay‘s increasingly impulsive decision-making and the ensuing fallout, Zak Keefer of The Athletic (subscription required) says that Irsay wanted to draft and develop a rookie QB in the 2021 draft. However, then-head coach Frank Reich convinced Irsay that he could resuscitate Carson Wentz‘s career. When that experiment went awry, Irsay began to lose faith in Reich, who apologized to his boss for his misstep. The team again opted for an established passer last offseason when it engineered the Matt Ryan trade, and in light of that failure, Adam Jahns of The Athletic (subscription required) believes Indianapolis is finally going to eschew the veteran QB route. The Colts, armed with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, are in prime position to select a top collegiate signal-caller and could trade up to land the player of their choice.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier recently confirmed reports that Tua Tagovailoa will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2023, as Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald writes. Grier says the medical professionals he has consulted have told him that the concussions Tagovailoa suffered this season will not make him more prone to concussions going forward. He also said “everything’s on the table for us” when asked if the team would exercise Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option for 2024 and/or engage in extension talks.
The Jets may keep 2021 first-rounder Zach Wilson on the roster in 2023, but the team is widely expected to pursue a veteran like Carr or Rodgers to upgrade the quarterback position. Apparently, that will be a welcome development for some of Wilson’s teammates and coaches, who “rejoiced” when Wilson was benched in favor of Mike White in November and who were disappointed when Wilson was reinserted into the lineup following White’s rib injuries (via Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required)). Regardless of whether Wilson’s apologies to his teammates in the wake of his failure to accept much blame for his poor performance in New York’s Week 11 loss to the Patriots helped him regain the respect of the locker room, the consensus seems to be that he is not the passer who will guide the Jets back to the playoffs.

Load More Posts