When Derek Carr made the surprising decision to retire midway through the 2025 offseason, it was met with more than reasonable skepticism.
Carr had a shoulder injury and opted for retirement over surgery, but the buzz began immediately that me could potentially return down the line if and when the injury improved. It sounds like that has happened, according to a report from the NFL Network, and so the buzz about an NFL comeback has returned as well.
Carr has been rehabbing and throwing in workouts, according to the report. The 34-year-old hasn't said outright that he intends to play again, but also hasn't ruled it out when pressed on the subject. It's clear that there is still a market for veteran QBs who can operate an offense, just look at the Colts' experiment with 44-year-old Phillip Rivers this past season. The NFL Network reported that there were calls to Carr's camp midway through last season from QB-needy teams gauging his availability.
The Carr experiment in New Orleans did include the lone winning season since Sean Payton retired, but it was injury-plagued and largely unsuccessful. The veteran was anything but a fan-favorite and was booed often within the Caesars Superdome, even in games that turned into Saints victories. He finished the two-year stint with a fractured wrist and an overall record of 14-13 as a starter while completing 68.2% of his passes for 6,023 yards and 40 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.
If Carr did opt to return to the NFL, it's the Saints that would most directly benefit. New Orleans still holds his rights, so any time that wanted Carr's services would have to trade for him. The return would not be high, but considering the Saints have already gotten cap relief with the retirement and appear to have landed the correct replacement in Tyler Shough, any additional draft compensation would be a bonus.
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When asked shortly after the season Saints GM Mickey Loomis said he hadn't had any discussions with Carr regarding a return, but noted that he was still on the Saints' retired list.
Some teams that could potentially be in need of a veteran or bridge QB include the Raiders, Colts, Falcons, Jets, Browns and Dolphins. Carr played the first 11 years of his career with the Raiders between Oakland and Las Vegas, and a reunion alongside his former OC in Klint Kubiak as the new Vegas head coach could make sense. The Raiders, though, own the No. 1 overall pick and are presumed to take Fernando Mendoza, so Carr would be likely relegated to a short-term bridge, if that scenario did unfold.