Derek Carr Reveals What It Would Take to Return

Derek Carr missed the 2025 NFL season due to a shoulder injury but is ready to comeback and play for a contender.

Derek Carr Reveals What It Would Take to Return

Derek Carr (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Derek Carr is open to returning to the NFL if he is healthy and has a chance to win a Super Bowl.
  • He is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints but may seek a trade to another team.
  • Potential landing spots include the Raiders, Jets, Colts, and Vikings, with the Vikings seen as the best option for a Super Bowl run.

Derek Carr is back in the fold once again. The veteran quarterback is willing to return to the NFL, provided certain conditions are met.

With the free agent market set to open in a few weeks, Carr is itching for some action. Even though he missed a year of football, the 34-year-old might attract interest from teams that need an experienced signal caller under center.

While he was away, Carr soft-launched his media career by partnering with his older brother and former Texans QB David Carr. In a recent episode of their podcast titled “Home Grown,” the younger Carr touched upon his comeback rumors.

Would I come back? The answer, obviously, is yes.

Derek Carr declared

The reason Carr missed action in 2025 is because of a horrible shoulder injury that needed surgery. He retired from football to focus on rehab, but kept the door open for a comeback.

What NFL teams does Derek Carr want to start for?

Carr is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints. So a return to the NFC South club makes the most sense. That’s no longer possible, as the Saints found their starting quarterback last year.

Derek Carr Reveals What It Would Take to Return
Derek Carr (Image via IMAGO)

After playing Russian Roulette with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, the Saints settled on rookie signal-caller Tyler Shough. The Louisville graduate won the job toward the end of the last campaign. Shough completed 67% of his passes, throwing 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while also adding three scores on the ground.

With the doors at Death Valley more or less closed, Carr has to look for chances elsewhere. However, he aims to see himself in a similar situation to Sam Darnold.

Would I do it? Yes… Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not. I’d have to be healthy, and I’d want a chance to win a Super Bowl. And obviously, that’s a tough thing to find. That’s hard to do. That’s not easy. 

Derek Carr said

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, NFL teams must obtain permission from the Saints to speak with Carr, as he is still a part of the roster. Florio suggested,

Carr would find a team that is interested in acquiring his rights. Second, that team would contact the Saints to work something out. Third, if an agreement is reached, Carr would be traded.

Sure, it’s borderline tampering, but that shouldn’t bother the Saints because, at the end of the day, they will acquire a draft pick or two. If the Saints view Shough as “their guy” for the future, then it makes sense for the front office to let Carr leave.

Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints in 2023, after spending a decade with the Raiders (Oakland and Vegas). In his second year with the Saints, which might turn out to be his last if he is traded, Carr racked up 2145 yards (67.7%), 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions from 10 games.

Best landing spot for Derek Carr

There are plenty of teams in need of a quarterback. Among them is his former team, the Raiders, followed by the Jets, Colts, and even the Chiefs, whose starter, Patrick Mahomes, is doubtful to start in week one as he recovers from an ACL injury.

That said, the team that will provide the best chance to start and to challenge for the Super Bowl is the Vikings. JJ McCarthy proved last season that he’s not ready to start week in and week out for the Minnesota club. With Justin Jefferson leading the offense, paired with the third-best defense (as per FOX Sports), the Vikings are best equipped to push for a championship.

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