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It wouldn't be hard to make a case for the New Orleans Saints signing another quarterback. With Derek Carr on the mend again -- this time dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens to end his 2025 season before it begins -- the Saints depth chart includes Spencer Rattler (Year 2), Jake Haener (Year 3), and Ben DiNucci (Year 5, but with just one career start). They're likely picking a QB in the NFL draft, but the room could use more experience either way.
So who is available? If you want a quarterback who has been in the league and sat in on meetings with Saints coaches like Kellen Moore, Doug Nussmeier, and Scott Tolzien, then you won't find someone who has done that more often than DiNucci. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys back in 2020 and remained there with all those guys until 2022. But if you want a viable starter or a more-accomplished veteran who can push Rattler or a rookie? Then you'll be looking at the free agent market. And these are the best names still available.
Let's start with the big one. Rodgers, 41, looked washed up on the New York Jets. And he had it all. Young weapons like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Familiar friends like Davante Adams and Allen Lazard. A defense full of playmakers. And all he did was get his coach fired and end the year at 5-12, just like Derek Carr. Sure, he threw 28 touchdowns, but he also posted one of his worst turnover rates and struggled to hit league-average in a lot of efficiency metrics. The Saints should probably check in on him if they're still determined to chase nine or ten wins and an NFC South title this year, but it doesn't feel like Rodgers has a lot to offer at this stage in his career.
Now for a curve ball. Tannehill, who turns 37 in July, was content to sit out the 2024 season waiting for a perfect opportunity that never came. He's been out of football since being benched by the Tennessee Titans in 2023, in favor of Will Levis; a decision that got everyone involved fired. Tannehill's performance fell off as he was asked to shoulder more and more of the Tennessee offense in his later years, but he is a veteran quarterback who has won in the playoffs. There isn't anyone else who fits that description in New Orleans right now, including Carr. It's tough to believe the Saints would fit his criteria of a perfect situation to step into, but maybe he'd be up for it anyway.
Bridgewater, 32, led the Miami Northwestern High School team he was coaching to a state football championship and then returned to the Detroit Lions in time for their Super Bowl run, but it didn't come to pass. We're guessing he's busy coaching high schoolers again and wouldn't have much interest in a New Orleans comeback. But you never know. Bridgewater was good for the Saints and the community showed him a lot of love. He may not be a high-end option but he's someone fans would cheer for, at least at training camp.
Wentz, 32, has kind of faded to obscurity. He was on the Kansas City Chiefs last year, his fifth team in five years, but he hasn't thrown more than 30 passes in a season since 2022. His days as a regular presence in the huddle are behind him. But he's been on some really successful teams in recent years. He did come in off the bench and won a game with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and some of the Philadelphia Eagles coaches on staff in New Orleans might go to bat for him. He could at least offer a veteran presence in the film room.
Remember when Huntley, 27, was exciting fans of other teams and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl Games (incidentally, the same year Derek Carr also got in as an alternate)? He hasn't had a ton of success after leaving the Baltimore Ravens, but the Saints have worse quarterbacks on their roster right now. Huntley at least can make some fun plays with his legs and force the defense to guard him differently than a pure pocket passer. And he did go 2-3 last year on the Miami Dolphins. The Saints could do worse than choosing to give him a call.
Stick, 29, wasn't drafted by Kellen Moore on the Los Angeles Chargers but he did spend a lot of time on their roster as a backup. That included a four-game run as the starter when Justin Herbert was sidelined with an injury in 2023, all games Moore called. Results were mixed. The Chargers lost all four of those games but Stick did complete 111 of 174 passes (63.8%) for 1,129 yards, scoring three touchdowns as a passer and another as a runner; he also ran 27 times for 144 yards, a respectable rate of 5.3 yards per carry. But he also fumbled five times, losing four of them. Out of everyone on this list he feels likeliest to be brought in, if nothing else to help Moore install his playbook.
Ridder, 25, hasn't had an easy go of it in the pros. Despite having put together a productive college career at Cincinnati that got him drafted No. 74 overall in 2022 (by the Atlanta Falcons), he's bounced around the league the last few years while throwing just 588 passes with nearly as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (16), plus 18 fumbles (11 of them recovered by the defense). He's taken 50 sacks, too. It's a tough break but may just not be an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. That doesn't mean he can't stick around for a while. Guys like Chase Daniel found a way to use what talent they had to string together respectable careers as backups. Maybe Ridder can do that, too.
We already talked about Rodgers, so let's address the other big name that's kind of on the market. Unlike everyone else on this list, Cousins (36, if you're wondering) is still under contract with his current team. He also has a no-trade clause which he's indicated he won't waive until after the acquiring team has used their draft picks; he did get surprised by the Michael Penix Jr. pick last year, after all. Any team trading for Cousins would owe him his $27.5 million base salary, which could be restructured for cap purposes. That might be an option for the Saints. But would New Orleans really trade with their oldest rivals and swap one bad contract with Derek Carr for another bad contract with Kirk Cousins? That just doesn't feel like the best path forward, even if former Mickey Loomis protege Terry Fontenot would be on the other end of a hypothetical call with Atlanta. Don't hold your breath on this one.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Derek Carr injury: 8 quarterbacks for Saints in free agency or trades
Continue reading...
So who is available? If you want a quarterback who has been in the league and sat in on meetings with Saints coaches like Kellen Moore, Doug Nussmeier, and Scott Tolzien, then you won't find someone who has done that more often than DiNucci. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys back in 2020 and remained there with all those guys until 2022. But if you want a viable starter or a more-accomplished veteran who can push Rattler or a rookie? Then you'll be looking at the free agent market. And these are the best names still available.
Aaron Rodgers
Let's start with the big one. Rodgers, 41, looked washed up on the New York Jets. And he had it all. Young weapons like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Familiar friends like Davante Adams and Allen Lazard. A defense full of playmakers. And all he did was get his coach fired and end the year at 5-12, just like Derek Carr. Sure, he threw 28 touchdowns, but he also posted one of his worst turnover rates and struggled to hit league-average in a lot of efficiency metrics. The Saints should probably check in on him if they're still determined to chase nine or ten wins and an NFC South title this year, but it doesn't feel like Rodgers has a lot to offer at this stage in his career.
Ryan Tannehill
Now for a curve ball. Tannehill, who turns 37 in July, was content to sit out the 2024 season waiting for a perfect opportunity that never came. He's been out of football since being benched by the Tennessee Titans in 2023, in favor of Will Levis; a decision that got everyone involved fired. Tannehill's performance fell off as he was asked to shoulder more and more of the Tennessee offense in his later years, but he is a veteran quarterback who has won in the playoffs. There isn't anyone else who fits that description in New Orleans right now, including Carr. It's tough to believe the Saints would fit his criteria of a perfect situation to step into, but maybe he'd be up for it anyway.
Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater, 32, led the Miami Northwestern High School team he was coaching to a state football championship and then returned to the Detroit Lions in time for their Super Bowl run, but it didn't come to pass. We're guessing he's busy coaching high schoolers again and wouldn't have much interest in a New Orleans comeback. But you never know. Bridgewater was good for the Saints and the community showed him a lot of love. He may not be a high-end option but he's someone fans would cheer for, at least at training camp.
Carson Wentz
Wentz, 32, has kind of faded to obscurity. He was on the Kansas City Chiefs last year, his fifth team in five years, but he hasn't thrown more than 30 passes in a season since 2022. His days as a regular presence in the huddle are behind him. But he's been on some really successful teams in recent years. He did come in off the bench and won a game with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, and some of the Philadelphia Eagles coaches on staff in New Orleans might go to bat for him. He could at least offer a veteran presence in the film room.
Tyler Huntley
Remember when Huntley, 27, was exciting fans of other teams and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl Games (incidentally, the same year Derek Carr also got in as an alternate)? He hasn't had a ton of success after leaving the Baltimore Ravens, but the Saints have worse quarterbacks on their roster right now. Huntley at least can make some fun plays with his legs and force the defense to guard him differently than a pure pocket passer. And he did go 2-3 last year on the Miami Dolphins. The Saints could do worse than choosing to give him a call.
Easton Stick
Stick, 29, wasn't drafted by Kellen Moore on the Los Angeles Chargers but he did spend a lot of time on their roster as a backup. That included a four-game run as the starter when Justin Herbert was sidelined with an injury in 2023, all games Moore called. Results were mixed. The Chargers lost all four of those games but Stick did complete 111 of 174 passes (63.8%) for 1,129 yards, scoring three touchdowns as a passer and another as a runner; he also ran 27 times for 144 yards, a respectable rate of 5.3 yards per carry. But he also fumbled five times, losing four of them. Out of everyone on this list he feels likeliest to be brought in, if nothing else to help Moore install his playbook.
Desmond Ridder
Ridder, 25, hasn't had an easy go of it in the pros. Despite having put together a productive college career at Cincinnati that got him drafted No. 74 overall in 2022 (by the Atlanta Falcons), he's bounced around the league the last few years while throwing just 588 passes with nearly as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (16), plus 18 fumbles (11 of them recovered by the defense). He's taken 50 sacks, too. It's a tough break but may just not be an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. That doesn't mean he can't stick around for a while. Guys like Chase Daniel found a way to use what talent they had to string together respectable careers as backups. Maybe Ridder can do that, too.
And what about Kirk Cousins?
We already talked about Rodgers, so let's address the other big name that's kind of on the market. Unlike everyone else on this list, Cousins (36, if you're wondering) is still under contract with his current team. He also has a no-trade clause which he's indicated he won't waive until after the acquiring team has used their draft picks; he did get surprised by the Michael Penix Jr. pick last year, after all. Any team trading for Cousins would owe him his $27.5 million base salary, which could be restructured for cap purposes. That might be an option for the Saints. But would New Orleans really trade with their oldest rivals and swap one bad contract with Derek Carr for another bad contract with Kirk Cousins? That just doesn't feel like the best path forward, even if former Mickey Loomis protege Terry Fontenot would be on the other end of a hypothetical call with Atlanta. Don't hold your breath on this one.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Derek Carr injury: 8 quarterbacks for Saints in free agency or trades
Continue reading...
