Latest On Derek Carr
5. MARCH: While New Orleans remains one of the top teams on the Carr frontline, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that “at least” two others have inquired about the four-time Pro Bowler. The Jets and Panthers are obviously in a different situation than the Saints, but this trio could see increased competition in the coming days as more teams join the fray.
4TH OF MARCH: The 2023 quarterback class in the upcoming draft is getting a lot of attention in the NFL right now. However, the top Veteran Passer currently on the market is certainly also the subject of significant speculation and reporting. 
Derek Carr has been linked with a number of teams since being fired by the Raiders. That includes the Jets, who see him as their backup plan Aaron Rodgers, and the Saints, who are reportedly ready to negotiate a deal with Carr at any time. The Panthers could also be in the market for a veteran signal-caller, although they are positioned as a contender for one of the top rookie QBs this year as well.
Carolina met Carr in person at the combine earlier this week. This signaled their interest in at least doing their due diligence on the position, although it didn’t last long either after the team were reportedly unwilling to fulfill the $35m-a-year contract the 31-year-old is said to be aiming for. That wasn’t the only contact between the Panthers and Carr.
The two parties spoke by phone before the combine and will do so again this Monday, as detailed by ESPN’s David Newton. Speaking on the subject of a possible Carr deal, head coach France stated that despite his age, he would view the four-time Pro Bowler as a long-term investment (especially compared to the possibility of drafting a signal caller in the first round of the April draft). The latter approach is still believed to be the Panthers’ preference, reports NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (Video shortcut).
That could point Carr towards the Saints as his free-agent process continues to take shape. At this point. Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Advocate tweets that Carr could sign with his new team before free agency begins, perhaps as early as this coming week. This sentiment is shared by Wolfe’s colleague Ian Rapoport (video shortcut).
The Saints still have a long way to go to achieve cap compliance, let alone make enough room for Carr to afford a market-value deal. However, like the Panthers, they need an upgrade under Center at least in the medium term, so their interest is unlikely to wane in the coming days. In that timeline, a final decision could be made by Carr that would mark the first major development in the quarterback market of 2023.