Derek Carr Contract News, Saints Considered Possible Raiders' Trade Partner

The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to trade Derek Carr and the $40.4 million on his contract that is about to become fully guaranteed. The team has to find a trade partner quickly before potentially releasing the quarterback, though the New Orleans Saints could reportedly end up making an offer.

Carr's contract stipulates that his $32.9 million salary for the 2023 season and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary will become fully guaranteed if he's on a roster on Feb. 15. If Las Vegas doesn't have a deal in place within the next two weeks, the Raiders must decide if they want to grant Carr his outright release.

Carr told The Associated Press that he doesn't plan to extend the Feb. 15 deadline because it wouldn't be best for him. The Raiders quarterback also has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can veto any potential deal that Las Vegas agrees upon.

Even if the Raiders find a taker for Carr by Feb. 15, the trade can't officially take place until March. It's possible that a team could agree to trade for Carr this month, then back out of the deal, leaving Las Vegas on the hook for Carr's 2023 salary.

By being traded, Carr would have at least $40 million coming his way over the next two seasons. Carr might make less money in free agency, but being released would give him more options for his next team.

"I'm just looking for teams that have made that decision consistently that they'll do whatever it takes to put a winning program out there," Carr told The AP. "So for me, that's just to win, win a championship. That's at the forefront of the mind. It's not money."

The Saints could be interested in acquiring Carr, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. New Orleans is viewed as a team to watch in a potential Carr trade because of their need at quarterback and the first and second-round draft picks that the Saints just received from the Denver Broncos in exchange for the rights to head coach Sean Payton.

Since Drew Brees retired at the end of the 2020 season, the Saints have gone two straight years without making the playoffs. Jameis Winston had four touchdown passes and five interceptions in three games before being benched for Andy Dalton in the 2022 season. Neither player is New Orleans' future answer at quarterback.

The Saints went 7-10 in the regular season. The Raiders had a 6-11 record and failed to make a second straight playoff appearance.

Carr was added to the Pro Bowl roster as a late injury replacement. Although it was his fourth Pro Bowl selection, Carr is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career.

The Raiders benched Carr for the final two games, and Carr said goodbye to Raiders fans shortly afterward. Carr is the Raiders' all-time leading passer with 35,222 yards in nine seasons.