This is a defining chapter for the New Orleans Saints. Just like us, they are approaching things from an entirely logical standpoint as they head into the 2025 NFL season. With the ninth pick in the upcoming draft and approximately $27 million in available cap space, the team must weigh its options between free agency and drafting a new signal-caller. The recent restructuring of Derek Carr’s contract has tied the Saints to him for the immediate future, leaving them exploring alternatives for long-term solutions.
The Saints’ options become even more difficult with the market of experienced, available quarterbacks being sometimes shallow. Carson Wentz had spent the last season in the QB3 slot with those Kansas City Chiefs. He’s the answer as a full-time primary starter, not having been one since 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts. Now at 32, he has one of the best resumes. In 2017, Wentz played the best season of his career, guiding the Philadelphia Eagles to an 11-2 starting record and tossing 33 touchdown passes before tearing his ACL in week 14.
The Wentz Factor
Carson Wentz’s NFL career has been a roller coaster ride. His height of success was in 2017, when he was essential to the success of the Eagles. Unfortunately, a late-season injury sidelined him, allowing the team’s backup Nick Foles to step in and lead the team to a Super Bowl championship. Since then, Wentz hasn’t been able to stick anywhere, going from starter to backup on three different teams.
During his last season with the Colts, he appeared in 17 games. He amassed a staggering 3,563 yards, throwing for 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Despite his investment in the position, he was never able to find a long-term solution as the team’s starter. That’s why he signed with the Chiefs, but he still didn’t see significant snaps there. As he approaches free agency, the Saints must consider whether Wentz could provide a viable option or if his best days are behind him.
Wentz’s physical attributes—he stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 221 pounds—combined with his long stride, make him an imposing figure on the field. Yet his erratic and inconsistent play makes you wonder if he can be the answer a franchise seeks to get them back to the playoffs.
The Current Landscape of Quarterbacks
With Derek Carr’s contract restructure in early March fully guaranteeing his base salary of $40 million and a $10 million roster bonus, it has limited the Saints’ flexibility. Leading up to this amendment, Carr had been eager to see the market tested. Now, he is definitely the team’s starter going into at least next season.
This unique contract situation has really left the Saints in a tough spot at the quarterback position. Outside of Wentz, only a few experienced starting quarterbacks are left on the market. The urgency to backup or emergency grab a new starter is even more real, considering Carr’s recent play.
With a little luck and an astute draft, that glimmer of hope could be just around the corner. And some of the top prospects, like J.J. Dart at Mississippi and Shedeur Sanders at Colorado, give tantalizing potential from first glance. Dart completed an impressive 69.3% of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in 2024, showcasing his potential as a future NFL star.
Meanwhile, Sanders broke Colorado’s single-season records with 4,134 passing yards and 37 TDs. His record-setting performance makes him the best realistic option available to any team looking to jumpstart their quarterback depth chart. As noted by ESPN analyst Adam Schefter, “It certainly feels like his range… is three to 21, and I don’t like the chances of him going nine,” suggesting that Dart may be off the board by the time the Saints make their pick.
Future Implications for the Saints
The Saints have difficult decisions to make this offseason that could largely define their trajectory for the next few years. Carr is secure as their starting QB moving forward. More importantly, they need to put an emphasis on red-shirting prospects and creating depth. The looming question remains: Will they take a chance on Wentz or gamble on one of the promising young quarterbacks available in the draft?
Schefter provided further insight into another potential candidate by stating, “I don’t believe the Saints are taking Sanders,” which raises additional questions about their draft strategy. Between slim pickings and a lot on the line, the Saints are looking at a major and sometimes convoluted line of decisions ahead.
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