Derek Carr coming back to the NFL always felt like a tale of fantasy. The interest was real from Carr, but the former New Orleans Saints quarterback returning to the field was more than a one way street. Unfortunately for Carr and the Saints hopes of getting trade compensation, it appears a one way street is exactly what it is right now.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported this weekend that the Saints still hadn't received any calls for Carr as of the NFL Scouting Combine. For all of the talk of a market, it doesn't seem like Carr has one. Many teams are already filling up vacancies. And maybe Carr hurt his market by narrowing it to Super Bowl contenders.
Florio pointed to two options. The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals aren't contenders, and the Steelers are still waiting on Aaron Rodgers' decision. They also could select Ty Simpson.
Kyler Murray signing with the Vikings was the nail in the coffin
The problem for Carr is he was never going to be the top option on the market. We can have discussions on whether or not he was above this quarterback or that quarterback. There was never a world, though, where Derek Carr was the top option in the field, especially once Kyler Murray entered the fray.
Obviously, each team has a different board, so it's hard to say Carr wasn't the top option anywhere. It's just that Carr wanted to come back to play for Super Bowl contender, and it's hard to see teams in that position preferring Carr over Murray.
The Vikings were the team Carr was clearly angling for. They have the makings of a contender, and J.J. McCarthy is young enough to sitting him for a stopgap would be an option. It'd abnormal at best but, technically, possible. The Vikings went after and secured Murray. It was a move that made the most sense for a team looking to maximize their window.