Veteran QBs Pitched as Trade Option for Kellen Moore After Derek Carr Announced Retirement

“You talk about the swag. What about the ice? Every time we see Jaxson Dart, man, he’s iced up like he got diamonds all over the place,” NFL Network’s Steve Wyche quipped, painting the Giants’ rookie QB as a walking jewelry store. But behind the bling lies a high-stakes chess match. With Derek Carr’s sudden retirement sending shockwaves through the league, the Saints’ new head coach, Kellen Moore, finds himself in a QB conundrum

And the Giants’ crowded QB room (Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston) might hold the answer. “Doesn’t it sound like one of those veteran players could end up being traded should Jaxson Dart show that he’s ready to be the backup?” quipped Wyche, It’s a plot twist even Moneyball’s Billy Beane would nod at: ‘Adapt or die,’ but in cleats.

In light of the news of Derek Carr’s retirement in New Orleans, here is something I mentioned on The Insiders Friday about a former popular Saints QB who now finds himself in a crowded position group . pic.twitter.com/PrlI3J6ljx

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 10, 2025

Enter the Giants’ QB surplus. Russell Wilson, the 10-time Pro Bowler with a Super Bowl ring, and Jameis Winston, the unpredictable mixed-bag who once threw 30 TDs and 30 INTs in a season, are, in the Giants’ ideal situation, luxury backups behind Dart’s diamond-studded rise. “We’ve insulated ourselves,” Wyche noted, highlighting New York’s flexibility. A mid-season trade could turn Winston into a Saints savior or Wilson into a mentor—all while netting the Giants draft capital. It’s the NFL’s version of Ocean’s Eleven: steal a QB, save the season, look cool doing it.

The Giants are sitting on a goldmine of vet QBs. “Also having a player that could also bring them back some assets in terms of trade value, be it Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson.” Wyche mused, hinting at Wilson or Winston as movable pieces. For Moore, it’s less about finding a QB and more about finding the QB—someone who can turn ‘rebuilding’ into ‘reloaded.’

Moore’s playbook: Legacy, cap sheets, and the art of letting go

When Derek Carr hung up his helmet, he didn’t just walk away from 41,245 career yards and 257 TDs—he closed a chapter that felt ripped from a Kubrick film: raw, relentless, but cut short by an uncooperative shoulder. “Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League. For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience,” Carr said, his voice steady but his right arm betraying him.

The Saints now face a future where their most seasoned QB is Tyler Shough, a 2025 second-rounder with 17 college starts. It’s like replacing a Ferrari with that car your boss’ son’s startup launched—you hope the engine purrs, but you keep the mechanic on speed dial.

Carr’s exit wasn’t just a farewell—it was a financial grenade. His retirement gifted New Orleans $30 M in cap relief, ballooning their space to $53 M, but left behind a $13.2 M dead-cap hangover. Now, Moore’s staring at a QB depth chart thinner than a rookie’s playbook: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener.

Moore, ever the strategist, isn’t panicking. ‘Faith, family, and football,’ channeling the calm of The Godfather’s Vito Corleone. His playbook? Blend Shough’s legs, Rattler’s arm, and maybe a vet’s IQ. Speed is dangerous, but so is inexperience. With $53 M to burn, the Saints could swing a deal faster than Winston uncorks a 70-yard bomb. Carr’s gone, but his shadow lingers—a reminder that in the NFL, endings are just prologues in pads.

For Moore, the path forward is clear: draft a plan, trade for insurance, or bet on a rookie’s swag. Whatever he chooses, the stakes are higher than a ‘Hail Mary.’ Because in New Orleans, redemption isn’t just a play—it’s poetry.

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