It didn’t take Derek Carr long to find a new team following his release from the Las Vegas Raiders.
After nine years with the organization, Carr was released by the Raiders — just a year after agreeing to a three-year contract extension. Soon after he was cut, Carr joined the New Orleans Saints on a four-year deal worth $150 million.
Per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Carr stated after practice on Thursday that he holds “no hard feelings” towards his former team:
“But I have no hard feelings toward any of my guys. I want them to succeed because I know when you don’t succeed, it’s tough. It’s hard and it’s hard on your family. It’s hard on everyone, and I don’t want that for my friends.
“I really do wish the Raiders the best. Those are my friends. I hope they win and do great, but I’m in New Orleans now and I’m going to give them everything I have with a new energy that I’m excited to bring.”
The now-32-year-old Carr struggled to get his hands on the offense of new head coach Josh McDaniels, completing just 60.8 percent of pass attempts (the second-lowest single-season mark of his career) for 3,522 yards and 24 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.
After releasing Carr, the Raiders signed ex-San Francisco 49ers’ starter Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal. Garoppolo spent three and a half seasons with McDaniels together in New England (2014 to 2017) before the latter was traded to San Francisco ahead of the 2017 deadline.
The Saints passed on the opportunity to rebuild and instead decided to try and win now, hence the mammoth four-year deal handed to Carr. The signing reunites Carr with Dennis Allen, who coached him in Oakland for four games in 2014 before he was fired and replaced by Tony Sparano.
Carr and the Saints will open their 2023 season with a home contest against the Tennessee Titans at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 10.