The Saints might attempt a big Patriots draft trade, but the $150 million quarterback deal is uncertain.

The New Orleans Saints find themselves at a crossroads as uncertainty looms over their quarterback situation—a predicament that may force them into uncharted territory during the NFL Draft. On one hand, the team inked veteran quarterback Derek Carr to a four‐year, $150 million deal in 2023, a blockbuster signing meant to secure the signal caller for years to come. On the other, mounting injury concerns and on-field struggles have cast doubt on whether Carr can deliver on that hefty price tag. With Carr’s throwing shoulder now reportedly in jeopardy—raising the possibility of surgery and a prolonged absence—the Saints’ front office may be compelled to re-evaluate its entire quarterback blueprint. In an audacious move, New Orleans might even pursue a blockbuster trade with the New England Patriots during the draft, an effort to secure an elite, long-term quarterback prospect that could redefine their future.

The High-Stakes $150 Million Deal and Its Discontents

Derek Carr’s signing was heralded as a turning point for the Saints when the deal was finalized. Intended to bring stability and veteran leadership, the agreement was designed to signal a new era for the franchise. Yet, as the 2025 season looms closer, Carr’s status has become increasingly uncertain. After spending only 10 games on the field last season due to a series of injuries—including problems with his oblique and hand—Carr now faces a new challenge: a shoulder injury that experts say “threatens his availability” for next season. According to reports from Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports, the injury’s severity might force him to consider surgery, a possibility that would effectively sideline him for 2025 (; ).

The implications of this scenario are significant. For a franchise that has relied heavily on Carr’s veteran leadership—and invested millions of dollars in his contract—the prospect of losing him for an entire season is nothing short of a crisis. Not only would this represent a massive setback on the field, but it also could represent a colossal misstep from a salary cap and asset management perspective. After all, paying tens of millions of dollars for a quarterback who may not play all season would force the Saints to reconfigure not just their roster but their entire approach to building a competitive team.

A Strategic Pivot: Rethinking the Quarterback Situation

Faced with such a dilemma, the Saints are now at a strategic crossroads. Traditionally, teams in this predicament have been forced to weigh two difficult options: hope for a swift recovery and push forward with the incumbent veteran, or pivot completely by finding a long-term replacement. In New Orleans’ case, the decision is further complicated by the substantial financial investment already made in Carr, as well as the expectation that his presence would be the cornerstone of the offense for several seasons. If Carr ultimately ends up on the sidelines—for instance, if surgery keeps him off the field for 2025—the value proposition of the $150 million deal dramatically diminishes.

The Saints’ potential fallback options on the quarterback depth chart include younger, less proven signal callers like Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener. However, neither has emerged as a clear franchise quarterback capable of delivering instant credibility. Faced with the stark reality that his elite-status veteran may be unavailable, head coach Kellen Moore and the front office could conclude that the only path to sustained success is to secure a dynamic, long-term quarterback prospect via the NFL Draft.

The Draft Trade: Linking Up with the Patriots

Enter the possibility of a blockbuster draft trade with the New England Patriots. While the Patriots are not typically viewed as aggressive trade partners, recent market chatter suggests that they are open to maneuvering with their draft capital—and that flexibility might align perfectly with what the Saints need. New Orleans currently holds the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a spot that, under normal circumstances, would be a valuable asset to select a top prospect. However, if the Saints are no longer confident in their quarterback situation with Carr and believe that a fresh, young quarterback could offer a better long-term solution, they might be willing to move that pick upward in exchange for additional draft capital from the Patriots.

Several trade scenarios have been floated by analysts over the past few weeks. One popular narrative suggests that the Saints could propose a deal in which they offer their No. 9 pick—and possibly additional future draft selections—in exchange for the Patriots’ higher pick. New England, on the other hand, could have limited need for an immediate quarterback upgrade given that their signal-calling duties are largely handled by rising star Drake Maye. But the Patriots are not without their own needs; bolstering other aspects of their roster using draft picks might be just as appealing. For instance, some experts speculate that New England would be amenable to packaging picks in a trade to move down in the first round if that allows them to address weaknesses on the offensive line or add depth at wide receiver ().

In one plausible scenario, the Saints might trade with New England to move from the No. 9 pick to a higher position—potentially in the top five—in order to select an elite quarterback prospect such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Sanders has been identified by numerous analysts as one of the top quarterbacks available in this draft class, praised for his accuracy, leadership, and potential to evolve into a franchise cornerstone. If the Patriots, who hold the No. 4 pick or are willing to trade down from that spot, agree to such a deal, the trade could involve a set of draft selections that benefit both franchises. For example, the Saints could receive a higher pick (say, the No. 4) while the Patriots secure multiple lower-round picks that can be used to address positional needs ().

Weighing the Trade-Offs

Every trade comes with inherent risks. For the Saints, trading up to secure a young quarterback in the draft is a high-stakes gamble—especially if there is even a glimmer of hope that Carr might recover and play. Should Carr return to form unexpectedly, New Orleans could end up regretting that decision, having squandered valuable draft capital on an unproven talent. Moreover, there is the question of market perception: The blockbuster nature of the proposed trade, involving high draft picks in exchange for a quarterback prospect, might be seen by some as an admission of desperation. That, in turn, could affect the Saints’ negotiating posture in future roster moves.

Conversely, if Carr’s injury forces him out for the entirety of the season, the risk of not upgrading at quarterback becomes even more acute. In that case, the potential upside of acquiring a high-caliber rookie like Sanders would far outweigh the cost of relinquishing valuable future picks. Additionally, from a cap-management standpoint, freeing up the massive salary associated with Carr (if he remains on the bench) could allow New Orleans to reallocate resources to other critical parts of the roster.

From the Patriots’ perspective, the trade is equally intriguing. New England has been active in recent free agency and draft maneuvers, and while they have established a strong foundation around Drake Maye, there remain significant areas for improvement. The prospect of acquiring extra draft capital—notably picks that can be used to bolster their offensive line or add depth at key positions—could be very attractive. In recent NFL seasons, teams have increasingly used draft trades as a tool to accelerate rebuilding efforts without incurring excessive salary cap hits, and the Patriots might see this as an opportunity to do just that.

Market Reactions and Expert Opinions

Throughout the league, analysts are divided on what the optimal path forward for the Saints might be. Some argue that even with Carr’s injury setback, his proven track record and veteran savvy should earn him another chance in 2025. Others maintain that the uncertainty surrounding his health, compounded by a disappointing performance from his backups last season, means that the team cannot afford to risk a down year. “If Carr is out for the season, you have to imagine the front office will be scrambling to find a solution,” said one insider from CBS Sports (). “Trading picks with the Patriots to move up and select a guy like Shedeur Sanders might be the most logical move in such a scenario.”

Further commentary from Reuters underscores the precarious nature of these high-value deals. Trades in which teams swap high draft selections are inherently volatile, often setting the stage for dramatic turnarounds or long-term rebuilds. In the current market, where quarterbacks are among the most sought-after assets, any trade involving such picks would undoubtedly have ripple effects across the league ().

The Long-Term Implications

For the Saints, this potential blockbuster trade is more than just a short-term fix. It represents a fundamental question about the direction of the franchise. With Carr’s $150 million contract hanging over them, the organization must decide whether to double down on a veteran presence with a proven—but now uncertain—quarterback, or to pivot toward a new era led by a young, dynamic signal-caller with the potential to become a franchise cornerstone. The decision will reverberate throughout the team’s culture, roster construction, and long-term strategic planning.

If the Saints opt for the trade, they are essentially signaling a commitment to a long-term rebuild at the quarterback position. This move could set the stage for a complete reimagining of the offensive scheme under head coach Kellen Moore, who has already indicated a willingness to explore unconventional solutions if it means maximizing the team’s potential. A successful transition to a new, homegrown quarterback could rejuvenate the fan base and redefine the identity of the organization for years to come.

On the flip side, if Carr miraculously recovers and reclaims his starting role, the draft trade could be seen as a costly miscalculation—one that not only wasted premium draft capital but also disrupted the team’s established chemistry. In either scenario, the fallout from this decision will likely influence New Orleans’ decision-making in subsequent offseason cycles, and its effects could be felt for many seasons.

Draft Day: A Crucial Juncture

With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, all eyes will be on whether the Saints will make a bold move and target a long-term quarterback solution through a draft trade. The draft room will become a high-pressure environment, with every pick having far-reaching consequences. The Saints’ willingness to part with valuable assets in exchange for a potential franchise quarterback will be scrutinized by fans, analysts, and league executives alike.

For the Patriots, the trade could also serve as a catalyst for a broader strategy of accumulating additional assets to fill their own roster gaps. As evidenced by recent trends in NFL free agency and draft capital management, teams that are able to make smart, aggressive moves in the draft often find themselves better positioned for sustained success. New England’s openness to trading down or packaging picks could enable them to address multiple needs without radically altering the core of their team.

Conclusion

The situation facing the New Orleans Saints is emblematic of the high-risk, high-reward nature of modern NFL roster management. The uncertainty surrounding Derek Carr’s $150 million deal—and whether he will be able to lead the team in the 2025 season—has forced the Saints into a position where drastic measures may be necessary. A potential blockbuster draft trade with the Patriots, aimed at acquiring a top quarterback prospect like Shedeur Sanders, offers a tantalizing solution that could define the franchise’s future for years to come.

The trade, however, is not without its risks. Sacrificing proven assets in favor of a young, unproven talent is a gamble that might pay off handsomely in the long run or backfire disastrously if circumstances change. As draft day approaches, the Saints’ front office will be under intense pressure to weigh these options carefully, balancing immediate roster needs against long-term aspirations.

In a league where the quarterback is arguably the most important position on the field, the decision to pivot from a veteran star with a massive contract to a potential future franchise quarterback could have sweeping implications. Whether the Saints ultimately decide to trade up with the Patriots or explore other avenues, one thing is clear: the coming months will be critical in determining the future trajectory of the franchise. For a team with championship aspirations, there is no room for indecision, and every move will be scrutinized as they strive to build a sustainable winning formula in an ever-evolving NFL landscape.

As fans and analysts alike brace for draft day, the story of the Saints’ quarterback conundrum—and the potential blockbuster trade that could redefine it—remains one of the most compelling narratives heading into the 2025 season (; ). The decision made in the next few weeks will not only impact the Saints’ on-field performance but could very well determine the long-term fortunes of one of the league’s storied franchises.