The New Orleans Saints could be in the market for a veteran quarterback ahead of the 2025 NFL season, following the shock news that Derek Carr is to retire from football with immediate effect.

Originally drafted by the then Oakland Raiders back in round two of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr played for 11 seasons, the last of which came in New Orleans. The two-time Mountain West Conference all-star, fuelled by his performances under center for the Fresno State Bulldogs, helped the Raiders to the 2016 playoffs — the beleaguered franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2002 — and repeated the feat in 2021, but lost his starting role the following year. He left the Raiders as the franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and pass completions, and appeared set for a rejuvenation at the helm of the Saints.

However, while ramping up his recovery from injury ahead of the 2025 season, Carr experienced pain in his right shoulder during a first major throwing workout since suffering both a concussion and left hand injury against the New York Giants last December. Despite immediately contacting the Saints medical team, subsequent exploratory scans determined objectively that he had sustained a labral tear and also showed significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. Although surgery was an option — albeit one that would jeopardise Carr’s entire 2025 season — there was no guarantee that the QB would return to the level of strength, function and performance of play to which he was accustomed.

Consequently, upon consultation with his wife, Carr has decided it is in the best interests of both his family and the Saints organisation to retire from the game.

“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr confirmed in a statement issued by the Saints. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the team-mates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”

Carr’s exit leaves the Saints with a QB room comprising Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and this year’s second-round draft selection Tyler Shough, an relatively inexperienced group that could prompt ownership and new head coach Kellen Moore to explore the veteran options still available as free agents, including a certain Aaron Rodgers, who has yet to sign with any club since leaving the New York Jets in January.