The New Orleans Saints have a lot of business to take care of this summer, but convincing Derek Carr to take a pay cut is not on the agenda. This offseason, the New Orleans Saints have a lot of issues to fix. They must hire a new head coach while also deciding whether to keep or let go of respected veterans. Amidst these decisions, the franchise will face a common occurrence: a terrible cap predicament. That is not the most pleasant sense of familiarity, but it is a situation the Saints face every summer. This year, New Orleans is expected to go $66.8 million above the cap.
The franchise will not be convincing Derek Carr to take a wage cut. It has not been reported that New Orleans is interested in that, although Carr was asked about it after the regular season ended. Carr told ESPN’s Katherine Terrell that he wants to stay in New Orleans, but he has no plans to take a wage cut, noting his performance and the fact that he is putting his body on the line. However, the veteran quarterback is willing to modify his contract.
“I would not accept a pay cut. Yeah, I would not do it. Especially with what I recorded on tape. Will I restructure? Absolutely. I’ll always assist the team in this way. But there are some things you put out there that you deserve. Even in certain circumstances, it may be worse, but when I signed it, I was confident that it would provide the squad with the most flexibility at the moment. But there’s always a sense of respect as a quarterback, and you’re like, okay, we’re still in the respectful lane. ‘We’re good. Build the team. But I wouldn’t accept anything less to do this. It’s difficult enough putting our bodies through it. And you’re doing everything you can to provide for your family.
Derek Carr wants to stay in New Orleans and is willing to restructure his contract. Regardless of how fans view Carr as a player, he has every right to take this stand. The team committed to pay him, so as long as he is on the roster, he should expect to receive it. It is not Carr’s or any player’s responsibility to get the team out of the situation it created.
Carr enters the third year of a four-year, $150 million contract. In 2025, he is due $40 million next season and has a $51.45 million cap hit. There is a potential out clause in the contract this offseason, but releasing Carr would leave the team with more than $50 million in dead cap space and no quarterback. All signs point to Derek Carr returning for his third season with the Saints. In 2025, New Orleans was 5-5 when Carr started and 0-7 when he didn’t. The Saints haven’t been a terrific team with him on the field, but they’ve been especially dreadful without him. As a result, the team will most likely offer him a contract to stay.
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