Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak says "the Derek Carr-Chris Olave connection has been one of the highlights of camp." He adds that the QB has credited Olave with performing in ways you wouldn't normally see from a second-year wideout. Olave looks like the Saints' lead wideout after an impressive rookie season. The biggest question might be whether he can get enough target volume to support an ADP that has hovered around the Round 2-3 turn. Olave's downfield ability does give him upside beyond where he sits in our WR rankings.
Saints QB Derek Carr obviously endured a rough final season with the Raiders. He got benched for the final two games and then released after the season. Before that, though, the veteran's performance declined significantly in multiple non-obvious categories. His 60.8% completion rate was his lowest since his rookie year (2014). Carr's 7.0 yards per pass attempt was his lowest mark since 2017, despite a career high in average depth of target. He posted his worst passer rating, Pro Football Focus passing grade and adjusted completion rate since 2014. And Carr's 2.8% INT rate was the worst of his career. The Saints obviously believe he can rebound, and Carr still finished 16th among QBs in total fantasy points; 20th in points per game. He's at least probably not a downgrade for New Orleans, but Carr sits just 26th in our QB rankings and isn't boosting the fantasy outlook for Chris Olave or any other Saints receiver.
QB Derek Carr and the Saints are working out a contract that could be done as soon as Monday afternoon, according to multiple reports. It's not a surprising turn for Carr, who had "lengthy" visit to New Orleans a month ago. His arrival will be good news for Saints second-year WR Chris Olave, who finished his rookie season 10th in yards per route run among all WRs with 30+ targets. WR Rashid Shaheed was among the nine players ahead of him (on far fewer targets), so that pair presents some big-play upside for Carr's stat line. That said, we can't upgrade the QB for leaving Davante Adams and Darren Waller. So the best hopes for Carr's ADP and fantasy football outlook are: 1) The Saints add more talent on offense; and 2) fantasy drafters don't boost him much from his current QB20 position. We'll see what else a cap-strapped New Orleans roster can add. And we'll see who teams such as the Jets and Panthers turn to at QB (after also courting Carr). WR Michael Thomas remains under contract with New Orleans as well. But he looks like a cut candidate that could help with the cap issues. Don't assume too strongly for now that he opens the year with the Saints.
Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Carr agreed to a four-year, $150 million deal, with $100 million in "total guarantees."
The Raiders officially released QB Derek Carr. Keeping him on the roster beyond 4 pm ET on Tuesday would have guaranteed Carr $40 million in 2023. Vegas was reportedly close to agreeing to a trade that would have sent Carr to New Orleans, but the QB opted to exercise his no-trade clause. He's now free to sign wherever he wants, with the Saints, Jets, Panthers and Titans considered his most likely suitors. Carr's efficiency and production sunk under HC Josh McDaniels last year -- and he ranked just 23rd among 31 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' passing grades. He turns 32 in March. We'll keep you updated on the Carr Sweepstakes. Vegas, meanwhile, is left with "Chase Garbers" as the only QB on the active roster. They'll obviously be active in the QB market over the next few months.
Raiders QB Derek Carr will exercise the no-trade clause in his contract and is expected to be released, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Raiders and Saints were seemingly close to agreeing to a trade that would send Carr to New Orleans, but he'll now have the chance to pick his new team. The Saints are still a strong candidate to sign Carr, but the Panthers, Jets and Titans are also possible landing spots. Stay tuned.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Raiders and Saints have "the framework of a Derek Carr trade in place," which was apparently a condition in Vegas allowing the QB to visit the team. Carr possesses a no-trade clause, which likely means the deal depends on his preference after a "lengthy" visit. New Orleans would be a solid landing spot for the veteran QB, with a clear need at QB. We'd bet that such a trade would mean the end of Jameis Winston's time with the Saints. If you're drafting best-ball teams right now, then you can cheaply stack Carr with WR Chris Olave or RB Alvin Kamara -- who can be had as late as Round 5 or 6 in early fantasy football drafts.
The Raiders are officially looking into trading QB Derek Carr, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Making the process even more official is a public goodbye letter the QB wrote to Raiders fans. This has been the obvious path since the team benched Carr in favor of QB Jarrett Stidham for the final 2 games. Rapoport says there's a "firm deadline of Feb. 15" to work something out. That's when Carr's $40.4 million salary for each of the next 2 seasons would become fully guaranteed. In a QB-hungry league, this motivated seller should be able to work something out. Carr does possess a no-trade clause, giving him power to choose the destination. We'll see how the whole situation plays out and who starts at QB for the 2023 Raiders (Tom Brady?).
The Raiders are expected to explore trade options for QB Derek Carr this offseason, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport adds that there are "scenarios" in which Carr remains with Vegas but believes he'll "almost certainly" be playing elsewhere in 2023. Carr's $32.9 million base salary for 2023 becomes fully guaranteed 3 days after the Super Bowl, so a move figures to happen by then. Carr never looked comfortable in HC Josh McDaniels' offense this season. His 60.8% completion rate is his worst since his 2014 rookie campaign; his 7.0 yards per attempt his worst since 2017. Carr turns 32 in March.
Raiders HC Josh McDaniels announced on Wednesday that the team will move forward with QB Jarrett Stidham as the starter. This news effectively ends QB Derek Carr's 2022 season. The short-term fantasy outlook of this move certainly lowers expectations for all Raiders players in Week 17 vs. the 49ers. From a broader perspective, Ari Meirov of PFF reports that Carr's contract has $40.4 million which becomes guaranteed if he's unable to pass a physical. The Raiders would save $29.25 million in cap space if they decided to trade or cut Carr from the roster within 3 days of the conclusion of Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023. Plainly speaking, we could see the veteran signal-caller suit up for a new team in 2023 and beyond. This will certainly be a massive storyline in the offseason. Stay tuned as the situation evolves in the coming months.
Raiders QB Derek Carr went just 16 of 30 passing for 174 yards in Saturday night's loss to the Steelers. He threw just 1 TD pass -- to WR Hunter Renfrow -- and 3 INTs while taking 3 sacks. WR Davante Adams managed only 2 receptions for 15 yards on a team-high 9 targets. TE Darren Waller led Vegas with 58 receiving yards on 4 catches. Renfrow matched him with 4 receptions for 42 yards. The Raiders head back home to face a difficult 49ers defense in Week 17.
Raiders QB Derek Carr threw for a modest 231 yards in Sunday's win over the Patriots but also tallied 3 TDs. He found WR Mack Hollins, TE Darren Waller and WR Keenan Cole for scores. Waller caught all 3 of his targets for 48 yards in his 1st game since Week 5. Hollins tied WR Davante Adams for the team lead with just 4 receptions. Adams (9) and Hollins (8) were the only 2 Raiders to draw more than 3 targets. Week 16 brings a matchup with Pittsburgh, which hit Sunday as a near-neutral scoring matchup for QBs.
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