It’s officially silly season for the New York Giants, and it’s only January. As the team stares down a critical offseason, quarterback rumors are already flying—and not all of them make sense. Enter Derek Carr, a name that should make every Giants fan throw their arms in the air like it's another Evan Neal missed block.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants could explore the trade market for their next starting quarterback: "The trade avenue could also be an option. The future of Derek Carr in New Orleans is one that could come into question. Nothing should be ruled out."
Let’s just pause here to absorb the ridiculousness. Yes, the Derek Carr, who’s 0-1 in playoff games over an 11-year career, the one who was cut loose by the Las Vegas Raiders and sputtered his way through two seasons with the Saints, is apparently a name being floated for Big Blue. For the record, Daniel Jones has more playoff wins than Carr. Let that sink in for a hot second.
On paper, Carr’s numbers are serviceable. He’s thrown for over 41,000 yards and 250-plus touchdowns in his career, which is way better than the revolving door of quarterbacks the Giants trotted out last season. But let’s be honest—what exactly has he won? For a franchise that’s supposedly looking for a long-term solution at quarterback, trading for Carr feels like an awkward step back.
Trading for Derek Carr would be a (New York) Giant mistake
Derek Carr is under contract with the Saints for $150 million over four years, and he’s due $40 million in 2025 alone. Trading for him would not only cost the Giants draft capital but also saddle them with a contract that screams "nightmare."
Didn't they just get off Jones' albatross contract? Why would they do that again? Sure, New Orleans might want to move him to clean up their own trash cap situation, but why should the Giants be the ones to bail them out? Would New Orleans eat some of his contract? They'd have to.
There’s a reason Carr’s name is even in these rumors: the Saints’ front office is clearly desperate. They’re projected to be more than $50 million over the salary cap, and trading Carr ahead of June 1 would save them $11 million. For the Giants, though, it’s pretty much all downside. They’d be taking on an albatross of a contract for a quarterback who’s proven to be a bridge at best.
And let’s not forget the Giants already have the No. 3 pick in the draft. There are a decent amount of interesting QBs, with Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward expected to go early. Why give up assets and take on salary for a 33-year-old Carr when there are other veteran, cheaper QBs that will be available who could fill the mentor/bridge role? Heck, Cooper Rush, Carson Wentz, and Andy Dalton would all be just as useful.
Carr could be viewed as a lifeboat for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. This is an awful train of thought for a few reasons, but the most important one is covering up organizational deficiencies for the sake of treading water is franchise malpractice.
If Schoen and Daboll see Derek Carr as a way to tread water, it’s nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen. Both are already under intense scrutiny, and making a move like this to mask their past failures would only delay the inevitable. Carr might buy them time, but once the wheels inevitably fall off, Schoen and Daboll will be left fully exposed.
Moves like this don’t inspire hope—they scream desperation, and that’s the last thing the Giants need right now.
But let’s get to the core issue here: Carr doesn’t move the needle. Trading for him wouldn’t make the Giants playoff contenders, let alone Super Bowl hopefuls. If the plan is to reset and rebuild, Carr is the antithesis of that strategy. He’s the NFL equivalent of a bad Band-Aid—he’ll cover up some problems, but he won’t stop the bleeding.
If Schoen is serious about fixing this roster, he’ll look at every other option before even entertaining Carr. Go all-in on a rookie, bring in a cheaper veteran, or try your luck with a high-upside project. Anything but this. Trading for Derek Carr would be a desperate move for a team that needs smart, calculated decisions.
The Giants have made their fair share of head-scratching moves in recent years, but this one feels like it’s a bridge too far. Let’s hope Schoen doesn’t make the kind of call that sets the franchise back another decade. Giants fans deserve better—and they should demand it.