Report: Derek Carr Set to Make First Visit
The Indianapolis Colts are in the market for a new quarterback in 2023, and the most likely scenario is using their first-round draft pick to get a long-term fix.
But the Colts have been, and will continue to be, linked with veteran quarterbacks across the NFL including soon-to-be ex-Raiders man Derek Carr.
Carr is set to make a visit to the New Orleans Saints according to multiple reports including Ian Rapoport on NFL.com.
Previously the Raiders had said they would only grant permission for teams to talk with Carr if they had agreed on trade compensation in advance.
That any team would trade for Carr still seems far-fetched considering the Raiders are forced to move on from him in the next few weeks. Dan Graziano explained it well in a recent column on ESPN.
I still can't figure out a single good reason for Derek Carr, who has a no-trade clause, to agree to any deal. If he's still on the Raiders' roster three days after the Super Bowl, his $32.9 million 2023 salary becomes fully guaranteed, as does $7.5 million of his $41.9 million 2024 salary. Assuming Carr calls the Raiders' bluff and they release him before that money guarantees, he will be a free agent, eligible to sign with any team at any time -- he won't have to wait until the start of the league year March 15. Carr's résumé and the number of quarterback-needy teams should enable him to get at least $35 million a year on a free agent deal. -- Dan Graziano, ESPN
The Saints may feel desperate enough at the quarterback position to try and jump to the head of the queue for Carr.
The Colts shouldn't and likely won't feel the same way. The Colts have the No. 4 pick in April's NFL Draft and have been consistently linked with trading up to the No. 1 spot.
The Saints don't draft until the No. 30 pick after acquiring a well-traveled first-round pick from the Denver Broncos when they hired Sean Payton.
Carr will be on the move in the next few weeks, but it seems unlikely the Colts will be a player for his services.
