NFL QB Hangs It Up

There's now one less weapon in the NFC South that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to worry about next season. Announced earlier this morning, Saints quarterback Derek Carr has announced his retirement from the NFL, after eleven seasons in the league.

According to the reports, as first reported by ESPN, New Orleans said that Carr had a labral tear and degenerative rotator cuff damage to his throwing shoulder that was discovered in late March. This was found after he had ramped up throwing to prepare for the season. Carr had not thrown significantly since he fractured his non-throwing hand during a game against the New York Giants in December, the team said.

This was the statement that Carr made in regards to retirement: "Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with [wife] Heather, I've decided to retire from the National Football League. 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 teammates, 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 began his career as a second round pick, 36th overall, by the Raiders in 2014. He played with the team in Oakland and Las Vegas from 2014 through 2022. Then he spent the last two years in New Orlans with the Saints. He twice guided the Raiders to the playoffs, going 12-3 in 2016 before getting hurt, and then again going 1`0-7 in 2021. Both were quick playoff exits. Carr still had two years left on a four year deal with $150 Million that he signed with New Orleans in 2023. In his two seasons with the Saints, Carr threw for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 27 games. During his time with the Raiders, Carr had solid numbers. He threw for 35,222 yards, 257 TDs and 112 INTs, while being named to four Pro Bowls and finishing third in MVP voting during the 2016 season. He threw for over 4,000 yards four times during his NFL career, reaching a career-high of 4,804 in 2021, and finished just under the 4,000-yard mark two additional times.

It does suck to see Carr career end the way that it did, but health is more important than anything.

Now I know what you're thinking. How does this affect the Bucs? Well it means that there's one less threatening weapon to deal with out of the NFC South. Heading into camp this summer, the only QB's listed on the Saints depth charts are Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler. Sure, the Saints do still have weapons at the skill positions, but if they don't have a capable QB under center to get those weapons the ball, then what is it going to matter. Sure the Saints could be decent, but they will be down near Carolina at the bottom of the NFC this year. Atlanta still remans a major threat to the Bucs for the NFC south crown.