Saints' Carr unwilling to take pay cut

Saints quarterback Derek Carr has no interest in taking less money to stay in New Orleans.

"I wouldn't take a pay cut. ... Especially with what I put on tape," Carr told ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "Would I restructure? Absolutely. I'll always help the team that way. But there's some things that you put out there that you earned."

Carr signed a four-year, $150-million deal with the Saints in 2023. He's slated to count toward $50.1 million against the Saints' salary cap in 2025, according to Over the Cap. New Orleans is projected to exceed the salary cap by $66 million after a season in which the team finished 5-12.

"That's the life of a quarterback," Carr said. "Whenever the season doesn't end the way (you wanted), that's the person people look at. 'Well, what money can we free up to get this and do this.' ... I'm fully confident with what I put on tape."

Carr did say he's had "super positive" discussions with team leadership about his future with the club, but he added that he'll be fine no matter how things turn out.

"I'm super confident that whatever it is, I could get anywhere else to play," Carr said. "And so I'm not worried about that, but at the same time, I just want to win."

Carr played just 10 games this season due to various injuries, leading the Saints to a 5-5 record. He said he's focused on getting healthy this offseason despite the questions surrounding his future.

"I got to take care of myself, and then the rest after that is really out of my hands," he said.

Carr passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 67% of his passes and posting a 101 passer rating. Backups Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener went winless with Carr sidelined.

New Orleans is poised to restructure its staff after dismissing Dennis Allen midseason and promoting Darren Rizzi to interim head coach. The Saints own the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.