Does Derek Carr want out of New Orleans, or is it the other way around? His sudden shoulder injury revelation has shifted attention from the Saints’ rebuild under new HC Kellen Moore to whispers of trade bait. Getting a QB in this draft wasn’t on the Saints’ to-do list. But with barely a week left before the draft, that may be changing. Carr’s injury has people split – some accusing the QB of faking it, others calling out the Saints for trying to manipulate the draft in their favor.

Last week, out of the blue, reports of Derek Carr’s concerning shoulder injury emerged. The QB did have an injury-riddled season, appearing in only 10 games in the 2024 season. Carr first dealt with an oblique injury, then fractured his hand and suffered a concussion. But what’s truly shocking is the Saints now suddenly claiming that Derek might not be able to play in the 2025 season. It’s not sitting well with fans, analysts, insiders, and especially those with hawk eyes.

And just as the injury drama is getting all the attention, things are getting messier for the Saints and Carr to clean up. A national reporter has now come forward with claims that shed light on what might be going on behind the scenes. Recently, The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini joined Colin Cowherd on his show. The reporter suggests that Derek’s feelings about the Saints might not be all that warm anymore. “I reached out to some people with the Saints when this all was happening. And they knew of it. Meaning, they knew something strange was boiling. Derek Carr was looking to possibly get out of New Orleans after Dennis Allen was fired.”

Dennis Allen was fired from the HC position twice while Carr was his QB. First in 2014 during QB’s rookie year in the Raiders, and again in November of last year. Allen was thought to be instrumental in bringing Carr to the Saints.

“The No. 1 quality that I look at at the quarterback position is intelligence, and he is one of the more intelligent people I have ever been around in terms of football knowledge, and I think that’s a critical aspect to the quarterback position and particularly the way we have played quarterback since 2006. I don’t want to compare him with Drew Brees, but that’s the style of player we think he can be,” Allen had said of Carr.

Unfortunately, in November last year, Allen was fired after a 7-game losing streak. The 34-year-old admitted that it hit hard. Interestingly, days after Allen’s firing, Carr had given a shoutout to the former coach after the Saints’ week 10 win against the Falcons. “Shoutout to DA because he helped us build this. Shoutout to DA because he helped pave the way for us,” Carr had said.  

According to Russini, the truth is pretty clear. Derek no longer wants to be in New Orleans. And now, the team might be using the injury story to soften the blow. And set the stage for his eventual exit. “They either got to get some marriage counseling or just part ways,” Russini added.

But now, with the Saints suddenly in the mix for a QB, at least according to prediction, who might they be turning to as a potential replacement for Derek?

Jaxson Dart emerging as Saints’ QB target

Ever since Derek Carr’s infamous injury revelation, many QBs’ names have been in the mix for his replacement. The QB’s possible absence opened up one more door for Aaron Rodgers. Because Colorado Buffalo’s young star, Shedeur Sanders, has continuously slipped down in drafts, his name also popped up.

And now, a new name is in the mix. New predictions say that Kellen Moore and the Saints might pick Jaxson Dart. The 21-year-old Ole Miss QB has slid over Sanders in the mock drafts. Dart racked up 4,279 yards and 29 TDs in the 2024 season. So if the Saints address their QB needs with their overall No. 9 pick, SI reporter Albert Breer predicts they will pick Dart, even if Shedeur is in the options. “If it is a quarterback, again, this could be another curveball. I’ve heard they’ve done a ton of work on Jaxson Dart, the Ole Miss quarterback.”

And anyway, Shedeur has shown more interest in the Steelers after the QB had a private workout session with them last week on Thursday. So with the draft just days away, Jaxson Dart’s rising stock and the Saints’ deep scouting work on him suggest he could be more than just a backup plan. The only question now is, will they pull the trigger for him at No. 9 or hope to get him with a later pick?