Although the Cowboys are adamant that they want to re-sign Dak Prescott as the team’s franchise quarterback for the long term, he could leave in free agency the following offseason. If Prescott leaves, the Dallas Cowboys could have a number of options at quarterback. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback is about to enter the final year of his contract during the 2024 season.
Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints is one among the “possible” alternatives that K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire suggests being considered. Carr’s contract is good through the 2026 campaign, however after June 1st, he can be released in the 2025 offseason. In that case, New Orleans would save $30 million and take on a dead cap charge of $21.5 million.
As Drummond points out, Carr might serve as the Cowboys’ “bridge” option while they search for a long-term quarterback until they identify their new franchise quarterback.
The Saints selected Spencer Rattler, one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, even though they missed out on the best quarterbacks in 2024, according to Drummond. “The former Oklahoma quarterback didn’t perform well after transferring to South Carolina, but he didn’t have many options.” Derek Carr, the top-ranked prospect, will become available right away in 2025 if he performs well in his opportunity in New Orleans.
In his ten-year career, Derek Carr has yet to win a playoff game.
Since his 2014 debut season, quarterback Carr, 33, has been a starter. Carr has been a successful quarterback throughout his career; he has been a four-time Pro Bowler and has passed for at least 21 touchdowns in nine of the league’s seasons. However, he has struggled to consistently win games. Carr has actually only led his teams to two postseason appearances in his career and is just 72-87 as a starter. Moreover, he has no career postseason victories to his credit.
Carr displayed more of the same traits he has shown throughout his career in his debut season with the Saints. With 25 touchdowns against just eight interceptions and a passer rating of 97.7, which is the third-highest of his career, he had a respectable season. Still, he guided the Saints to a 9-8 record and a near-missed postseason campaign.
How the Cowboys’ Best Option Could Be Derek Carr
Carr would be a decent short-term option if the Cowboys do lose Prescott to free agency in the 2025 summer. There might be younger, better choices available, like Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. But if Tagovailoa is indeed signed to a new contract by the Dolphins, Carr might wind up being Dallas’ best quarterback choice for the 2025 campaign.
Carr has accumulated 39,100 passing yards, 242 touchdowns against 107 interceptions, and a 92.3 passer rating in his ten-year career. Since the 2014 season, Carr has actually accounted for the third-most passing yards and sixth-most passing touchdowns of any quarterback.