The New Orleans Saints are hoping that Derek Carr can fill the quarterback void that has existed since Drew Brees’ retirement, and he made a great first impression on Sunday afternoon.
Carr played one series in the Saints’ preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, completing six of eight passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
After being released by the Raiders this offseason, Carr signed a lucrative multi-year deal with the Saints that included $100M in guarantees and could be worth up to $150M with incentives.
Carr is a fascinating signing for the Saints because when he is at his best he can be a top half of the league quarterback. He is not a superstar or one of the league’s elites, but he is a clear upgrade over what the Saints have been working with.
While his 2022 performance was a disappointment, especially as it related to turnovers, he has a proven track record of being a strong starter. If he can rediscover that level of play in New Orleans it could be significant for the Saints given how weak the division is overall.
The NFC South was won with a losing 8-9 record a year ago and the Saints were just one game off that pace. Better quarterback play could significantly flip that division. Even though Carolina has the No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young on its roster he is still completely unproven. Atlanta and Tampa Bay also have unsettled situations.
Carr is almost certainly the best quarterback in the division entering the season. Anytime you have that advantage you almost always have a realistic shot at winning the division. It is only one preseason series but the Saints have to like where they are after Sunday’s showing.