Report: Raiders grant Derek Carr permission to visit Saints
The Las Vegas Raiders granted Derek Carr permission to meet with the New Orleans Saints, who recently invited the quarterback for a visit, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Carr, whose contract has a no-trade clause, will reportedly visit the Saints on Wednesday. The veteran signal-caller is doing due diligence, and no trade is imminent, Rapoport adds.
The Raiders and Carr are parting ways following a disappointing 2022 campaign in which the team compiled a 6-11 record despite making several high-profile acquisitions in the offseason. Carr has been the club's starting quarterback since 2014.
Last Friday, the Raiders reportedly granted Carr permission to speak with teams that already agreed to the compensation they're seeking in a potential trade involving the quarterback.
Las Vegas is expected to cut the veteran signal-caller or find a trade partner for him by Feb. 15, the deadline for when his $40.4 million in salary for the next two years becomes fully guaranteed. Carr said last week that he doesn't intend to push his contract deadline to help facilitate a deal.
Themes emerged from talks w/ teams on Derek Carr:
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 8, 2023
-Inquiring teams want to rework deal, which they believe Carr probably won't do
-Raiders' asking price modest. One NFL source said 3rd rd pick could get it done
-N.O. believed to be only team engaged to extent of visit as of now
If Carr joins the Saints, he'll reunite with head coach Dennis Allen, the Raiders' sideline boss when they drafted the quarterback in the second round in 2014.
The 31-year-old completed just 60.8% of his passes for 3,522 yards and 24 touchdowns against 14 interceptions this season while posting a 6-9 record as a starter. The Raiders benched him for their final two games of the campaign and permitted him to walk away from the team to avoid being a distraction.
The Saints started the 2022 campaign with Jameis Winston at quarterback but turned to Andy Dalton after Winston went down with multiple injuries. In 14 starts, Dalton posted a 66.7% completion rate with 2,871 yards and 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He's set to hit free agency this offseason.
New Orleans went 7-10 in 2022 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.