Picture the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback situation like a Mardi Gras parade: colorful, chaotic, and full of unexpected twists. Just as the beads fly and the drums roll, Derek Carr’s future in the Big Easy now hangs in the balance. A shoulder injury—one the Saints saw coming—has thrown his 2025 season into doubt.

And with a $20.4 million cap hit looming, the franchise faces a high-stakes gamble. Is this the end of Carr’s tenure, or just another act in New Orleans’ never-ending quarterback drama? The news broke Friday like a halftime Hail Mary. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Carr’s shoulder injury could sideline him for 2025, with surgery on the table.

The Saints restructured his contract earlier this offseason, locking in a $20.4 million cap hit. But Carr’s health woes are piling up. He missed seven games in 2024 with a fractured hand and oblique strain, finishing 5-5 as a starter. Backup QBs Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener went 0-7 in relief. “There are many around the league wondering if there is more to this story,” tweeted The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Cue the voodoo drumbeats. Carr’s contract?

His four-year, $150 million deal in 2023 now feels heavier than a gumbo pot. His cap hit balloons to $69.2 million in 2026, with void years stretching to 2029. The Saints hold the No. 9 draft pick—their highest since 2008—and four top-100 selections. Historically, their QB draft picks (Rattler, Haener, Ian Book) are 0-8 as starters. Hence, they’re overdue for a home run. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, projected as their target, could inject swagger reminiscent of his Hall-of-Fame dad. Coach Prime himself must have his eyes out for the eventual outcome 👀.

Derek Carr’s story in New Orleans feels like a blues song—full of soul but tinged with sorrow. His grit is undeniable, but his body betrays him. His 2024 stats (2,145 yards, 15 TDs) weren’t awful, but his durability issues mirror Drew Brees’ final years—without the Super Bowl payoff. If Carr can’t suit up, the Saints’ QB room resembles a jazz band missing its trumpet player: all rhythm, no melody. Meanwhile, new head coach Kellen Moore isn’t just picking a playbook—he’s picking a path.

Kellen Moore’s QB conundrum amid Carr’s injury concerns

The Saints hosted Louisville QB Tyler Shough for a top-30 visit Friday, adding spice to the pre-draft gumbo. Shough, a 25-year-old with seven college seasons under his belt, threw for 3,195 yards at Louisville in 2024. “Someone who has a lot of buzz building around here,” tweeted Nick Underhill. An NFL coach told Russini, “Shough will become the best QB in this class.” Bold words for a prospect once buried in Oregon’s depth chart. Besides, New Orleans’ No. 9 pick could reshape the draft.

Teams eyeing Shedeur Sanders might leapfrog the Saints, fearing their desperation. New Orleans could trade up, targeting Sanders. Or they could sit back and take Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Either way, Carr’s injury cranks up the pressure. “That 9th pick gonna be all kinds of interesting,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick tweeted. Understatement of the year. Meanwhile, free agency offers slim pickings.

Kirk Cousins? He’s 36 and stuck in Atlanta. Aaron Rodgers? Let’s not add another team to his impending waiting list. Besides, the Saints need a franchise QB, not a temp. And there you have Shough—a project with a high ceiling or a career backup? His college injuries (collarbone, shoulder, leg) raise red flags, but his arm talent and 6’5” frame intrigue scouts. However, the Saints stand at a crossroads.

Stick with a fading veteran or gamble on a rookie? As philosopher Albert Camus wrote, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” Can the Saints find their summer under Kellen Moore, or will Carr’s cap hit freeze their future? One question lingers like Bourbon Street at dawn: If not now, when?