BakoSaint

Carr lovers have been talking about how if we did need to move on from Carr, 2026 will likely be year, because we are $100 million or whatever under the salary cap. Well, so much for that.

When you follow this link and click over to 2026 it currently shows the Saints $24 million under the salary cap:

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/new-orleans-saints

But it does not reflect:

$17m/yr Chase Young
$10.5m/yr Justin Reid

While these numbers are averages, most contracts are structured so the first year is way below average and later years are above average, so when all the numbers are released and entered we will probably be at least $5 million over the 2026 before signing any more free agents or extensions or the results of any post-June-1 cuts that accelerate dead money to 2026.

So the Saints are likely already over the 2026 salary cap. And by the end of the 2025 season, they could be $50-100 million over with Loomis loomising himself some more eyeliner wearing boy toys.

Of course, the Saints will find a way to get under the cap in 2026. Restructures are basic middle school math and nothing complicated. But the need to get under the cap will be an excuse to extend Derek Carr again and backload more money, as well as retaining many mediocre vets like Shepherd, Saunders, Godchaux, Carr, Johnson, etc. 9-8 is the dream and Mickey Loomis is living for it.

SmashMouth

Yup... proverbial can kicked down the road.

It was revealed yesterday that KM took the gig knowing Carr was to remain QB1. So if we examine how they handled the latter years of Brees contract, they may handle Carr's latter contract years similarly. This likely means we have him for a couple of more years now. So 2026 or 2027 now becomes 2028. Will we copy what GB did with their QB situation? Meaning will the Bayou Rattler take over then? The challenge then will be that he won't be on a rookie contract anymore. Saints needs to find a QB to take over then that will be on a rookie contract for a few years to get back to a positive cap situation.

AsylumGuido

When it comes down to Carr as our QB it isn't a case of black and white. There are many shades of grey. It isn't simply haters and lovers. Oh, I know there are the outright haters. But, I for one definitely do not hate Carr as our QB. Nor do I necessarily love him in the position. What I do like is him there over any other option at this point. I believe he gives us the best chance of winning games now. I believe that Kellen Moore sees it the same way. I'm all for drafting a QB every year until we come across one that can be the real thing. Or at least an average NFL starter. Those are very rare and as it is there aren't 32 in the league today. Give me that 10-7 or 9-8 and the playoffs out of the NFC South until that time. You have to at least get in to win.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill