Let’s rewind for a second and take it back to the 2014 NFL Draft. That was a memorable one for the then Oakland Raiders. They would draft two guys that would eventually become cornerstones of the franchise. Khalil Mack was the first guy they drafted, and he became their biggest defensive name since Charles Woodson. He became one of the best defensive players in the league and was named the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. The other draft pick was a Quarterback named Derek Carr. The franchise was hoping this would fix their Quarterback issue as they hadn’t had a consistent signal caller since the Rich Gannon days. After a down season for the Raiders in 2022, he lost the starting job and the team announced they would release him at the conclusion of the season. Today, the news broke that the veteran Quarterback will start his next chapter in New Orleans with the Saints. They agreed to a four-year deal worth $150 million.
The first thing I’ve always appreciated about Derek is his leadership. He’s extremely vocal on the field and on the sidelines rallying his troops. I found myself pointing out his leadership back in 2021 after all the drama the Raiders endured with Jon Gruden and Henry Ruggs. He put that team on his back and helped lead Las Vegas to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. On the field, Derek is an extremely accurate Quarterback that stays in a rhythm when he’s completing pass after pass. It’s an effortless release of the ball when it leaves his hands and last year, I referred to his throwing motion as “shooters touch” meaning it’s a flick of the wrist. When it comes to throwing the deep pass, he’s amongst one of the best in the business and he puts so much touch and zip on the ball. Derek can deliver a strike down the field perfectly from the pocket and the ball falls right into the breadbasket. He’s a field stretcher and playing with a guy such as that creates opportunities for everyone in the offense. Derek can also move the pocket and create with his feet to make a throw on the run. He does all he can to help lead his team to victory. His peers have referred to him as the ultimate competitor that loves this game.
What a signing this is for the Saints. Since Drew Brees retired in 2021, they haven’t had the stability at the position. Jameis Winston was tabbed as Drew’s heir apparent, and the Saints were off to a strong start before he tore his ACL that season. Taysom Hill isn’t the long-term answer, but still helps them with his versatility. The NFC South has the most questions entering next year. Tampa Bay is figuring out what they’ll do after Tom Brady, Carolina has a new Head Coach in Frank Reich, and the Falcons are still rebuilding. This move makes the Saints the favorite to win the NFC South.
