Unpacking the Saints’ Decision to Retain Derek Carr: How a Shoulder Injury Influences Team Strategy

When quarterback Derek Carr faced a hand injury at the end of the season, the New Orleans Saints found themselves in a tricky situation. It turns out that it might have been his shoulder that limited their options more than his hand.

Carr’s contract for 2025 was quite hefty at $40 million. Of that, $10 million was fully guaranteed. Another $30 million was guaranteed only if he passed a physical before the third day of the league year in March; after that, it would become fully guaranteed. If Carr couldn’t pass the physical, the Saints would have been stuck paying that $30 million if they cut him.

In the end, the Saints decided not to cut him. Reports indicate that Carr’s hand had healed before the deadline, but now there’s concern about his shoulder. He’s contemplating surgery, which suggests the injury is serious.

The timeline of the shoulder injury is unclear, but it’s widely believed that it happened during the 2024 season. If Carr couldn’t pass a physical due to this shoulder issue before the guarantee kicked in, releasing him would have been impossible.

In response to the situation, the Saints took action. They managed to convert most of Carr’s pay into guarantees, freeing up over $30 million in cap space for 2025. This move will carry financial implications into the future.

The shoulder injury brings some tension between Carr and the team. The timing of the injury’s news, surfacing just 13 days before the NFL draft, raises eyebrows. This leak likely came from Carr, not the Saints, which complicates their plans to potentially draft quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Now that everyone knows the Saints are in the market for a quarterback, it will be more challenging for them to secure the talent they want.

Adding to their difficulties, a trade of Carr after June 1 is off the table due to the injury. The Saints may end up needing to release him next March, which would lead to a significant dead-money charge in 2026 and an even larger cap hit in 2027.

This situation highlights a broader trend in the NFL concerning player contracts. Teams are often left juggling hefty contracts and injuries, putting pressure on their salary caps and long-term plans. According to a recent report from the NFL Players Association, over $1 billion in salary cap space was affected by injury guarantees in the past season alone.

The Saints’ predicament underlines the delicate balance teams must maintain between player injuries and financial decisions. In a league where every penny counts, especially with rising salary caps, the road ahead for the Saints looks complex.

As they navigate their future, the key will be how they handle Carr’s situation and their quarterback strategy moving forward.



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