The New Orleans Saints are currently focused on finding a head coach. After the franchise completes that task, the organization will transition to the challenging process of roster building. The Saints not only have to get under the salary cap, but they must make several massive decisions on which players will enter the team’s next era.
The biggest roster decision will be at the quarterback position. Veteran Derek Carr is under contract to return next season with a cap hit just north of $51 million. While Carr’s tenure in New Orleans has been incredibly underwhelming, New Orleans doesn’t have many options at the quarterback position, so all signs pointed to year three with Carr as QB1.
However, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke with the media on Monday and alluded to that not necessarily being the case. The longtime general manager did express he has a ton of confidence in Carr, even making excuses for the veteran quarterback’s shortcomings.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis on his level of confidence in Derek Carr
— NOF (@nofnetwork) January 13, 2025
Full Interview⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3dRsXD0wkS
Despite that confidence, Loomis didn’t explicitly say Carr is the guy in New Orleans moving forward. When asked if he’d be comfortable going into the 2025 season with Carr’s cap hit remaining at $51 million, he said that’s yet to be determined. That doesn’t necessarily mean Carr won’t return, though. The veteran quarterback recently made it clear he won’t take a pay cut, but he is open to a contract restructure.
Beyond the financials, Loomis also said the next coach will play a big part in deciding the direction at quarterback. While coaches always have a say in who’s their quarterback, it’s not uncommon for a team to commit to a quarterback for a new regime. Loomis and the Saints aren’t doing that.
It was inadvertent, but Mickey Loomis started talking about Derek Carr in the past tense "he did some really good things here" before re-stating it in present tense.
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) January 13, 2025
Additionally, Jeff Nowak pointed out that Loomis slipped into talking about Carr in the past tense, as if he was no longer with the team. This could’ve been a Freudian slip or just an honest mistake. Either way, it’s no guarantee that Derek Carr will be the team’s starting quarterback when the Saints kickoff next season.