The rumors are heating up about Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr heading to New Orleans. Here are a few reasons why this move could work well for both him and the Saints:
Reason No. 1: Reunion Between Derek Carr & Dennis Allen
This is probably the most obvious selling point for both Carr and the Saints. Carr gets reunited with the coach that drafted him, and Allen gets a quarterback he can trust. On Carr’s side, he needs to be with a coach who knows him and wants to put him in a position to be successful. Allen provides that. While he personally may not have much to do with that side of the ball, it is worth noting that Carr had a great relationship with Allen’s offensive staff back in Oakland. For Allen’s part, he just needs a steady presence under center after a year of Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton.
Assuming last season was an aberration, Carr should be much less turnover-prone than that pair.
Reason No. 2: Derek Carr Finally Gets A Defense
This is probably the one thing that Carr has never had in his entire career. While it may not be elite, the Saints have a pretty good defense. It is certainly a far cry from what Carr has had with the Raiders. This could be the thing that pushes Carr over the top. Of course, the Raiders’ defense has certainly not been the only thing holding Carr back. Nevertheless, we have no idea how much of an impact this will have. At the very least, it will settle a lot of debates within Raider Nation.
Reason No. 3: Carr Becomes Top Dog As Saints QB In The NFC South
Heading into last season, there was a real debate as to whether or not Carr was the worst starting quarterback in the AFC West. Ultimately, Russell Wilson ran away with that crown. In the NFC South, the competition for the top spot will be much softer. If the season started tomorrow, the other starters would be as follows: Blaine Gabbert in Tampa Bay, Desmond Ridder in Atlanta, and Sam Darnold in Carolina. None of those guys are exactly in Patrick Mahomes territory. Even if one or more of those teams add a quarterback, it will likely be either a rookie or a journeyman veteran.
Unless Aaron Rodgers winds up down there, Carr would give New Orleans the best signal-caller in the NFC South heading into next season. That would be a much-needed confidence boost for Carr as he gets a fresh start.
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