Derek Carr Out, Rodgers In? Implications for the Steelers and Saints
Derek Carr is the talk of the NFL this morning after announcing his retirement due to a shoulder injury. To sum up what you’ve likely already read (but in case you haven’t):
Carr is walking away from a $30 million salary in 2025. In exchange, the Saints won’t pursue the $10 million they already gave him—or any portion of the nearly $30 million signing bonus he got in 2023.
What hasn’t been discussed (or maybe has, and I’m just out here living in Seattle Mike world) is what this means for Aaron Rodgers.
I don’t get the sense Rodgers is excited about Pittsburgh. If he were, he’d probably have signed already. Earlier this offseason, there were rumors that he wanted to go to Minnesota—a move the Vikings didn’t bite on. From that point on, the only team consistently linked to him has been the Steelers.
Here’s how the two quarterback rooms look right now:
Steelers:
Mason Rudolph (career backup)
Will Howard (unproven rookie)
Skylar Thompson (3rd-string talent)
Saints:
Tyler Shough (unproven rookie)
Spencer Rattler (second-year QB with limited rookie upside)
Jake Haener (who?)
Rodgers is coming off one of the worst years of his career—but to be fair, it was with the Jets, and still the best QB play they’ve had since Mark Sanchez.
So the question remains: What does Rodgers want?
A high-ranking Steelers exec reportedly said they’re in “very deep talks” with Rodgers and his camp. But it’s May. Camp is around the corner. And Rodgers still hasn’t signed.
It’s no secret he’s not a fan of offseason workouts. So maybe he’s waiting things out, letting OTAs and mini-camps roll by before making a move.
The risk? One or both of these teams might fall in love with their rookies. If Tyler Shough flashes in the Saints’ offseason program, they might decide to roll the dice on youth instead of bringing in Rodgers—who, let’s face it, doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being easy to work with.
My gut?
Rodgers still ends up a Steeler. Pittsburgh has a stronger roster and actual playoff aspirations. The Saints? They can afford to be patient. There are no real expectations this year. If they hit the reset button and ride with a rookie, nobody will blink.
But Rodgers is running out of landing spots—and time.