A representative for former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr spoke with at least two teams in need of a passer to gauge their interest prior to free agency, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Katherine Terrell.
Though one league source deemed the contact as indirect, a Saints source said no permission was given in writing to Carr to speak to other teams, according to Fowler and Terrell. Another Saints source said the team was aware of Carr reaching out to other clubs but didn’t consider it a major issue, partly due to the belief that his longevity had earned him the right to evaluate his future, per Fowler and Terrell.
The discussions with other teams reportedly never became serious.
Carr announced his retirement last week after medical scans revealed he was dealing with a labral tear and significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. The 34-year-old and the franchise were weighing their options, including the possibility that Carr could miss the entire 2025 season, before the quarterback decided to retire.
