Derek Carr, Saints Quarterbacks' Training Camp Preview
The Saints football drought is about over. Training camp practices will kick off Wednesday, paving the way for a month of action to help piece together the final 53-man roster for New Orleans. We're almost finished up with our position outlooks ahead going into camp, with today's focus being on the quarterback position.
SAINTS TRAINING CAMP OUTLOOKS: Defensive End | Running Back | Safety | Cornerback | Linebacker | Tight End
Saints Training Camp Outlook: Quarterback
Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Depth Chart: Derek Carr, Jameis Winston, Jake Haener
The void left behind from Drew Brees retiring has been felt for the past couple of seasons. The Saints have tried to field their best, but it simply hasn't added up and equated to wins. That looks to be at its end with the team landing Derek Carr in free agency. There won't be any quarterback controversy this season, which will help things in training camp.
Here's some of the storylines at quarterback we're looking at over the next several weeks for the black and gold.
What's the Outlook for Carr?
There's varying opinions on what Derek Carr will do this year for the Saints. Most of them are not favorable, but some are starting to be a little more bullish on his outlook. Carr has made strong impressions from the very start, and he doesn't have to be some elite quarterback for New Orleans to succeed. He has a strong support cast around him, leaps and bounds better than anything the team has had over the past couple of seasons.
Carr will be given a good bit of control over the offense, and things will look a little reminiscent of what Drew Brees brought to the table. Nuances like making checks at the line of scrimmage and play calls will be some of the things we'll see going forward. Carr has a strong ceiling and outlook this season, and the visible reinvigoration should hopefully get him and the Saints back into the postseason.
For more on Carr, be sure to check out our Ultimate Fantasy Football Preview for the Saints.
Nov 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is congratulated by Jameis Winston (2) as he comes off the field in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
A Healthy Jameis Winston
There's been a few videos and photos out there showing off Winston's offseason work. To suggest that he isn't looking to be the best version of himself going into training camp is a major understatement. The injuries the past couple of seasons deprived us on what could have been for New Orleans. He enters camp as the definitive backup to Carr, being one of the best insurance policies out there.
We've floated an idea before that if Winston looks really good in camp and the preseason and there's a quarterback-needy team out there, then it wouldn't be out of the question to see him get traded for a better opportunity. Of course, some of that hinges on the development of the player behind Carr and Winston. It's not impossible, but a few things have to develop before it's even an option.
Rookie Confidence
The buzz surrounding Jake Haener is strong. He's shown a lot more confidence vs. someone like Ian Book did during his time with the team, and part of that could be attributed to the exposure he got early on from the Saints at the Senior Bowl. Haener likely won't play much of a role in as a rookie, but will be someone we're excited to see in camp and in the preseason. He has a good outlook, and now it's on him to take things to the next level.
Where Does Taysom Hill Come In?
You can't talk about the quarterback position without mentioning Taysom Hill. Although he will be heavily in the tight end room, he'll still get some work in at quarterback. The Saints offense should still have him in power and short-yardage situations, especially when it comes to the red zone. Hill went 13-of-19 last year for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns, so unless something catastrophic happens, a similar outlook for the multitalented weapon isn't out of the question.
Wednesday, July 26 officially kicks off practices for the Saints. Stay tuned to Saints News Network for all of the latest from camp.
