The numbers are in on Derek Carr’s contract with the Saints. And as per usual, there’s the numbers initially reported (from the agents to through the media) and the *actual* numbers.
In this case, Carr signs a four-year, $150 million deal in New Orleans with $100 million in guarantees. But a closer look shows it’s really something closer to a two or three-year deal with $60 million fully guaranteed.
Presumably, this means Derek Carr gets $60 million over the first two years (plus $10 million guaranteed in Year 3) from the Saints. He was set to make $75 million in 2023-24 on his Raiders’ deal—which is good context on why Vegas couldn’t trade him.
(*Corrected.) https://t.co/f1ECeu6CEq
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 6, 2023
Derek Carr deal (without the fluff nonguaranteed last two years):
Two years, $60 million.
Probably another $10 million but after what happened last year, you never know.— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 6, 2023
So, Carr gets between $30 million and $35 million per season over two seasons in New Orleans and then we’ll see. But safe to say, he will never see the fourth year of this contract.
Overall, this is a good deal for both Carr and the Saints.
The Saints didn’t have to trade any assets to acquire him because Carr didn’t void his no-trade clause, forcing the Raiders to cut him.
And in return, Carr gets the same money the Saints were initially reportedly offering, but with more guaranteed money overall ($60 million vs $40 million in his previous contract) and Saints — who are considerably cap strapped — get to spread out the cap hit from Carr over multiple years on the four-year deal.
Oh, and he got him another no-trade clause.
Derek Carr received a no-trade clause from the #Saints as part of his new contract, source says. Same as he had with the #Raiders, which allowed him to control his future and his free-agent process.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 6, 2023