Are Saints already looking for a Derek Carr replacement in NFL Draft?

Derek Carr is probably going to be the Saints' QB in 2024. He's only one season into his four-year, $150 million contract that New Orleans signed him to, and while there are a number of ways that the perpetually cap-tight Saints can get out of that contract before he technically becomes a free agent in 2027, it's unrealistic to think any of that will happen before next season. He also didn't play terribly in '23, statistically speaking: he ended the year with the lowest amount of interceptions (8) since 2019 and had 25 touchdown passes for the first time since 2020; his touchdown percentage was 13th best in the NFL, while his his interception percentage was 4th.

But still, Carr is 32, and with backup QB Jameis Winston's future in New Orleans far from certain, the Saints' front office is probably starting to look at what their future options at QB may look like. Saints fans got something of a sneak peek on Tuesday, when VP/Assistant GM Jeff Ireland spoke to reporters about QB options in the draft:

"Michael's really smart and very accurate," he said. "I would pretty much call him more of a pocket passer than a dual-threat guy. But he does have legs, to move around and improvise and do some nice things. We have a nice grade on him. He's a great kid ... looking forward to him competing against the other quarterbacks in this game, and see how he bounces out with that group."

Pratt was a four-year starter at Tulane, setting more than a couple Green Wave records during his 46 games in New Orleans. The Superdome is only a 10-minute, three mile drive from Yulman Stadium, where he played in college, so in theory, the Saints should know him well. Most draft analysis has Pratt projected to be a Day 2-3 pick, which could be tricky for the Saints, who only have one pick in rounds 2, 3, and 4 combined.