Derek Carr’s surprise shoulder injury could keep him out for next season, and the news has created some chaos for the New Orleans Saints. The 2025 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and the team may be in the rookie quarterback market.
Whether or not they draft a quarterback, the Saints will need a veteran signal-caller if Carr can’t play in 2025. One NFL analyst thinks the team could reunite with a fan-favorite.
Could Saints Bring Back Fan-Favorite QB If Derek Carr Can’t Play in 2025?
Carr’s injury couldn’t come at a worse time for New Orleans. They hold the ninth overall pick in the draft and are almost handcuffed into taking a quarterback early. With few veteran options available, other teams can play hardball if New Orleans wants to trade up.
The Saints saved $30 million by restructuring Carr’s contract, but they won’t be able to move on from the veteran without taking a massive dead money hit until next offseason. Carr’s second season in New Orleans was a mess. Multiple injuries limited him to 10 games, 2,145 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
The restructuring was seen as the team committing to Carr for 2025, but the injury news timing is suspect. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini called it “fishy” on a recent episode of her “Scoop City” podcast, and the Saints now have to scramble for a quarterback.
Saints writer Patrick McAvoy picked up a story by Sports Illustrated’s Tom Dierberger about seven potential 2025 replacements for Derek Carr. Dierberger brought up a New Orleans reunion with Teddy Bridgewater.
McAvoy quoted Dierberger: “Hey, Teddy! Hey, Teddy! Bridgewater did it all over the last calendar year, coaching Miami Northwestern High School to a Class 4A state championship in December before signing with the Detroit Lions just two weeks later…Bridgewater is already beloved in the Bayou, as he played for the Saints in 2018 and ’19. Why not run it back for one more year?”
McAvoy noted that Bridgewater spent 2018 and 2019 in New Orleans backing up Drew Brees. He went 5-1 as a starter over those two seasons before moving on to the Carolina Panthers.
Bridgewater retired after one year with the Lions in 2023 and was named head coach at his Miami-area high school. He came out of retirement late in 2024, re-signing with the Lions, and was elevated to the backup job for the team’s postseason run. The veteran has yet to announce his 2025 plans, so a reunion in New Orleans is possible.
He wouldn’t be seen as a long-term solution, but could stabilize New Orleans until Carr’s return or a rookie’s debut. Bridgewater made the playoffs as a starter once in 2015 with the Minnesota Vikings. His career was put on hold after a freak leg injury during 2016’s training camp.
He returned in 2017 and became a journeyman, playing for six teams over the next eight years. Bridgewater hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2021 with the Denver Broncos. He posted 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions that season. A New Orleans reunion could make sense, but the Saints don’t have many quality options.