While the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for the Super Bowl, the home team, the New Orleans Saints, are already mapping out their future. The franchise is currently deciding on a head coach, with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the favorite. After he takes care of business on Sunday, he’ll likely be hired by New Orleans, and immediately focus on building a staff and reshaping the roster.
The biggest roster decision the Saints will have to make this offseason is at the quarterback position. Derek Carr is still under contract for two more years, but between his massive cap hits, and lack of success in New Orleans, the team could decide to go a different way. Moore, who is an offensive coach, will certainly have a say in the QB position if he’s ultimately hired.
If the team wants to move on, trading him would be an option, but Carr would have to sign off on the destination, as he has a no-trade clause. It’s still not even the offseason for the league yet, so no team has shown their hands. However, one team has already been named as a potential trade destination for Carr.
In a recent Bleacher Report piece, Gary Davenport named six trade ideas that could reshape the NFL in 2025. One of the trades were New Orleans sending Derek Carr to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2026 conditional pick.
Bleacher Report proposes Saints trade Derek Carr to Steelers
Davenport explained that moving Carr could be tough since he has a no-trade clause and a massive contract, but argues he may be willing to work with the team if he could go to a contender like Pittsburgh.
"Carr's willingness to restructure (and waive his no-trade clause) could be swayed by the opportunity to play for a contender. And as the Steelers showed in 2024, they don't need an elite quarterback to be one... The Steelers will be expected to be in the AFC North mix again next year. Carr could be the best veteran option whom they can reasonably get their hands on. And if the Saints can get some cap relief and jump-start their rebuild, general manager Mickey Loomis should be willing to deal Carr."Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report)
This isn’t the first time a Carr-to-Steelers trade idea has been proposed. ESPN’s Ben Solak also laid out a scenario where New Orleans could end up sending the veteran quarterback to Pittsburgh. NFL teams are always desperate for quarterbacks, so it wouldn’t be shocking if teams want to acquire Carr.
It would, however, be surprising if teams were to take on all of his contract. If that's on the table, New Orleans should quickly accept a deal. Even if the Saints are only asked to pay out a little of the deal, they should move Carr and start the process of finding a long-term solution at quarterback.