In 2019, the Los Angeles Rams committed $134 million to Jared Goff, believing they had secured long-term stability at quarterback. Two years later, they absorbed more than $22 million in dead money to offload the contract. Goff’s performance had regressed, the offense stagnated, and the cost of maintaining the illusion of progress became too high. Four years later, the New Orleans Saints appear to be walking a similarly precarious path with Derek Carr. One that’s looking eerily familiar to those Rams fans still shaking their heads over Goff. There’s a twist this time, though.

In March, the Saints restructured Derek Carr’s contract in a familiar bid for cap relief. It bought them flexibility in the short term, but the move came with an obvious cost: Carr’s cap hit for 2026 now sits at $69.2 million, one of the largest single-year figures for any player in league history. Weeks later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the player is dealing with a shoulder injury that may or may not require shoulder surgery.

The restructuring, once a necessary solution, now looks like a decision the Saints might not have made if they’d known what was coming. But given that the news of his injury came from Carr’s camp and not from sources within the Saints’ organization, there seems to be something else brewing underneath.

Ari Meirov from NFL Spotlight echoed a similar tune on his YouTube video: “Let me just say this now, we have not heard the end of this, and something feels very, very fishy here. I’ll say this now, I don’t think Derek Carr wanted to stay with the Saints anymore at the start of the off season, whether that was a trade or a cut, I think he wanted to be done over there.” The question is, is he wrong?

In his first season with New Orleans, Carr missed seven games due to his injury, and his performance when healthy didn’t exactly inspire confidence: he posted a 62.5% completion rate, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Still, the Saints went all in. And it just got messier.

Derek Carr’s camp reportedly leaked news of his injury right after the restructure. Coincidence? Maybe. But it sure feels like a power play.

The Saints converting $28.7 million of his $30 million base salary into a signing bonus, reportedly, happened without his approval. It’s possible he’s frustrated with how things have unfolded this offseason and is using the disclosure of his injury as a way to push back against the team.

Meirov mentioned, “This injury that is popping up now it does stem from that AC joint from a couple of years ago but after weeks of everyone staying quiet all offseason long at the beginning of the off season the team eventually just restructured his contract on March 8th right before free agency… but I don’t think Derek Carr wanted the Saints to do that. I think Derek Carr, at the start of this off season, he and his agent, I believe they wanted to get out of New Orleans and start fresh somewhere else.”

The Saints have the number 9 overall pick in the draft, and it is possible that they might look to take up a QB, given Carr’s injury news, whether true or not. This could leave them saddled with Carr, in case he turns up healthy once the season gets underway and poses a major dilemma. Notably, Meirov isn’t the first reporter to question the circumstances of Carr’s injury report.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini talked about the situation on the “Scoop City” podcast and held a similar view to Meirov. “I use the word fishy. I’ve spent the last few days digging on the story to try to figure out what’s happening here. From what I can gather, the information got out from Carr’s side of it. That was put out by them. I’ve had some conversations with people in New Orleans who were aware of it, but they weren’t looking to put it on blast,” she said. Russini then mentioned what she thinks is the thought process behind this move.

“Maybe this is Derek Carr looking at the situation and going, ‘I don’t want the Kirk Cousins treatment. I don’t want to be your quarterback while you draft a young guy coming in here, and it’s basically when is he going to play?'” she explained.

Meanwhile, Carr posted a recent YouTube video where he looked perfectly healthy, reviewing veggie choppers and luxury cars. No sling, no mention of injury, just Carr and his brother talking horsepower while fans wondered why he wasn’t at offseason workouts.

The Saints, meanwhile, look like they’ve been played. They wanted to save cap space, but now they’re stuck with a quarterback who might not even suit up—and a contract that could haunt them for years. So, what is their way out?

Kellen Moore’s draft: Which QB will be the answer?

With Derek Carr’s future increasingly uncertain, the Saints are quietly preparing for life beyond their veteran quarterback. New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has a clear mandate: revitalize an offense that faltered under Carr in 2024. Moore, known for developing young quarterbacks, has little reason to rely on a 34-year-old passer dealing with shoulder concerns.

The Saints have zeroed in on one prospect: Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. While the last name alone fuels intrigue, Sanders’ arm talent and poise under pressure fit Moore’s pass-first system. Deion Sanders’ Pro Day comments, where he wore black and gold, fueled speculation about the Saints’ interest, though Kellen Moore himself wasn’t present. Instead, quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien and passing game coordinator Keith Williams were in attendance, signaling serious consideration.

However, Sanders’ draft stock is volatile. Some view him as a top-five pick, while others question his ability to adapt to NFL speed. Meanwhile, the Saints are also looking at other prospects, including Miami’s Cam Ward, who offers a more dynamic skill set. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, once a top prospect, also visited New Orleans, though his stock has dipped after an inconsistent season.

The Saints, holding the No. 9 pick, have the capital to move up if necessary, mirroring the Chiefs’ 2017 trade-up for Patrick Mahomes. Whether they land a quarterback in this draft or not, the Carr dilemma looms: the team is on the hook for over $30 million in guaranteed salary for 2025, whether Carr plays or not. But the Saints’ actions this offseason suggest they’re ready to pivot, preparing for a future without Carr under center.

With their draft picks, the Saints have the ammo to get creative if the board doesn’t fall their way. Drafting Shedeur (or another top QB) won’t magically fix everything. And hey, crazier things have happened. Remember when the Chiefs traded up for Patrick Mahomes? Or when the Eagles took a flier on Jalen Hurts? Sometimes you’ve gotta take a big swing to change your luck. If Kellen Moore and Mickey Loomis can land their guy—maybe Shedeur Sanders, maybe someone else—they just might turn this disaster into a comeback story. What do you think?