Saints rework Derek Carr’s deal, save $23M vs. cap, sources say

The New Orleans Saints are restructuring quarterback Derek Carr’s contract in a move that is expected to give the team around $23 million in salary cap relief, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Friday.

Carr was due $30 million in base salary for the 2024 season, so converting a large portion of that into a signing bonus can help the Saints, who likely need to free up roughly $80 million via restructures.

This was one of several contract moves the Saints are set to make, along with reworking the deals of center Erik McCoy, guard Cesar Ruiz and defensive end Cam Jordan, sources said.

Carr, 32, played his first season in New Orleans in 2023, throwing for 3,878 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But the 9-8 Saints lost the NFC South tiebreaker to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to extend their playoff drought to three straight seasons.

He remains under contract through the 2026 season on the four-year deal he signed with the Saints in March 2023 that could be worth as much as $150 million.