The Atlanta Falcons‘ chances of winning the NFC South just went up slightly now that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons. Carr has been battling a shoulder injury that, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, would have required surgery.
“Surgery was deemed the only route back to 100 percent and that would mean up to 6 months recovery,” Garafolo explained. “Carr retires rather than staying on IR all year.”
Carr, 34, spent his first nine seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before getting traded to the Saints in 2023. The former second-round pick has passed for 41,245 yards, 257 touchdowns and 112 interceptions. New Orleans was planning to start Carr this season, but will have to go in a different direction.
The team drafted Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round, but he may not be ready to start as a rookie. Some Falcons fans feel Kirk Cousins would be the perfect candidate to start in New Orleans, but Atlanta likely wouldn’t trade the veteran QB to its most-hated division rival.
Falcons fans react to Derek Carr retiring from NFL
Kirk cousins for two firsts and adebo
— TerryCookedInThe25Draft (@FireTerryAtl) May 10, 2025
Kirko to the Saints makes a lotttt of sense
Just sayin 👀
— Rise Up Walker (@RiseUpReader) May 10, 2025
I doubt it. They just took a QB in the second round. I assume the future is now https://t.co/9qiq8VOXJQ
— Jarvis Davis (@JarvisD90) May 10, 2025
https://t.co/uVwP1uR4Zspic.twitter.com/J9Qf0K5CyN
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) May 10, 2025
Hate to see any player forced into retirement because of injury that sucks with that being said Derek Carr right up there with Kirk Cousins in getting paid for little results. $200 million career earnings for 77-92 record and 0-1 in playoffs. Salute https://t.co/33T798xw5xpic.twitter.com/sLZsxYKuM7
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) May 10, 2025
Following Derek Carr’s retirement and Ben DiNucci’s release, the Saints’ updated QB room:
Jake Haener (drafted in 2023)
Spencer Rattler (drafted in 2024)
Tyler Shough (drafted in 2025)Haener and Rattler combined to go 0-7 in starts for New Orleans in 2024.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) May 10, 2025
Wow. Huge turn of events in New Orleans. Awful for it to end this way for Carr. Not sure of the exact effect this would have on the #Saints cap situation but I wonder would they now be tempted to aggressively go after Kirk Cousins https://t.co/M4sV4ZSz0T
— James H Kellett (@jameshkellett) May 10, 2025
No way we move cousins within the division and help their season out. Cousins is better than Carr when healthy
— JazzyJeffRealTalk (@JazzyJeffRealT1) May 10, 2025
top-10 highest paid NFL players from 2014-2024:
1. $292M – Aaron Rodgers
2. $291M – Kirk Cousins
3. $287M – Matthew Stafford
4. $264M – Russell Wilson
5. $244M – Dak Prescott
6. $234M – Jared Goff
7. $222M – Matt Ryan
8. $198M – Tom Brady
9. $196M – Derek Carr
10. $179M -…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 10, 2025
Derek Carr to Jessie Bates III TD!
Thank you for this memory Carr! ✌🏼
pic.twitter.com/0We3ByYnps— Carrie (@carrielynnxox) May 10, 2025
The Jalon Walker effect https://t.co/rC5pjWAchl
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) May 10, 2025
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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons fans react to Saints QB Derek Carr retiring from NFL