While the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers are all set at quarterback heading into the 2025 season, the Saints suddenly may not be. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday afternoon that New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that may threaten his availability for the upcoming season.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Derek Carr and C Erik McCoy – Photo by: USA Today

Carr is weighing his options, Rapoport said, one of which might be surgery. As it stands right now, the Saints’ quarterback room includes Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener and Ben DiNucci. Of course, the team has dealt with injuries to Carr over the last couple of years, so its depth has been tested plenty as it is.

New Orleans also holds the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 Draft. Team leadership could’ve already been interested in a quarterback, but this news might ramp that interest up. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is a name that has been linked to the Saints, and expect that scuttlebutt to ramp up as the draft gets closer.

In two seasons with New Orleans, Carr has completed 68.2% of his passes for 6,023 yards and 40 touchdowns to 13 interceptions over 27 games. He has a 14-13 record over that span and the Saints have failed to make the playoffs. He certainly has his detractors and some Saints fans are among them, but the four-time Pro Bowler is still the best option New Orleans has, especially considering the dire state of the team’s roster.

If the Saints went with a quarterback in the first round it would represent a youth movement among the Bucs’ division rivals. Carolina’s Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is entering his third season in the league. Atlanta spent a first-round pick on Michael Pennix Jr. last year and he’s expected to start this season as the Falcons contemplate trading away aging veteran Kirk Cousins, who was the starter last year after signing in free agency.

Bucs Are Plenty Familiar With Saints’ Primary Backup QB

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If Derek Carr does indeed miss time — or the entire season — in 2025, it’ll be no different than what the Bucs dealt with when playing the Saints last year. Carr missed both meetings with Tampa Bay, which led then-rookie Spencer Rattler to start both games.

In the first, a 51-27 Bucs win at the Superdome, Rattler finished 22-of-40 for 243 yards and a touchdown to two interceptions. In a Week 18 rematch in Tampa, the Bucs won again, 27-19, as Rattler finished 26-of-42 for 240 yards and a touchdown.

Carr did play in both games against the Bucs two seasons ago when the two teams split. Both road teams won those matchups as Carr went 23-of-37 for 127 yards in the loss and threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-32 passing in the win.