One Vikings QB Theory Starts to Die
After a field of quarterback options for the Minnesota Vikings took shape initially this offseason, retired passer Derek Carr wiggled his way into the rumor mill, saying on a podcast that he would return to the NFL if he could start and potentially win a Super Bowl. Vikings fans took note because that sure sounded like a criterion for Minnesota’s offseason hunt. Fast forward to the week before free agency, and the Carr theory appears to be on life support.
The Carr buzz always felt real, but the league’s signals keep steering Minnesota toward a different QB path.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora explained this week that NFL fans and media are higher on the idea of Carr’s unretirement than general managers.
The Market Is Moving Away from Carr and Probably Was Never a Thing
You might be able to cross Carr off your Vikings list.
La Canfora: Carr Not Turning Heads among GMs
Carr as a legitimate candidate for the Vikings — or any team — might be a Philip Rivers-inspired pipe dream.
La Canfora noted Tuesday, “Although sections of the media continue to suggest that NFL teams would welcome a comeback from retired quarterback Derek Carr, it’s far harder to find any front-office executives who share that enthusiasm for a return.”
“Carr, whose tenure with the Saints was mostly dreadful with him signing a lucrative contract that team officials quickly regretted, has been threatening to come out of retirement to play for a contending team.”
Carr will turn 35 in three weeks, and in theory, should have a few seasons left in the tank.
La Canfora continued, “New Orleans retains his rights and conversations with multiple teams actually in the market for quarterback upgrades revealed no appetite for the veteran even despite this college draft being very short on quarterback options and despite the free-agent class being barren as well.”
“An agent for a top free agent quarterback said he does not view Carr as competition for his client’s services and in general there has been skepticism within the football world about Carr playing anywhere in 2026.”
Naturally, that reporting severely pumps the brakes for anyone who wants Carr to rekindle his career in the Twin Cities.
A Hassle to Trade for Him — and the Contract
Perhaps if Carr were a normal free agent, this process could be straightforward, and his next team could sign him and call it a day. Instead, the Vikings or any Carr-seeking team must jump through hoops via trade with the Saints to get him.
La Canfora quoted an anonymous NFL general manager saying, “I think you guys in the media are talking more about this than us. The Saints don’t have a market for him. That’s a really bad contract. He’s going to stay retired.”
La Canfora personally added, “Another NFL executive said, if he was going to experiment on a veteran quarterback who had been out of the game for a significant period of time he’d prefer to take a shot on Ryan Tannehill, especially if he was looking for someone to have to play more than just a week or two, like how Philip Rivers came out of retirement late last season to play a few games for the Colts.”
The idea of Carr triumphantly returning might’ve been overblown to start.
Carr’s Career to Date
Carr, of course, didn’t suit up in 2025 after stepping away from the game, but his typical production as a starter is easy to project across a 17-game season:
- 4,148 passing yards
- 26 passing touchdowns
- 11 interceptions
- 65.1% completion
Not bad.
Throughout his career, Carr has consistently demonstrated a willingness to throw deep and has proven to be a reliable starter, playing in nearly 170 NFL games. Although his teams amassed a 77–92 (.455) record, this figure is likely skewed by the challenging circumstances he faced during his long tenure with the Raiders.
Statistically, Carr closely resembles former Vikings signal-caller Kirk Cousins. Generally speaking, Carr provides consistency, avoiding the volatility that can plague other quarterbacks. He typically keeps the offense running smoothly and avoids catastrophic collapses.
Meanwhile, the Vikings face a pivotal question: Which direction do they want to take?
They could bring in a Carr type, a seasoned veteran adept at distributing the ball and managing the game. Or — they could opt for a youth movement, focusing on developing a youngster like J.J. McCarthy or exploring other options.
As of early March, it feels significantly more likely that Minnesota will sign a man like Kyler Murray for the league minimum — a 28-year-old — than to invest in a Carr trade. You know, a 35-year-old.
Perhaps the Final Contingency Plan?
That said, let’s pretend the New York Jets sign Murray, Malik Willis heads to the Miami Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the San Francisco 49ers won’t trade Mac Jones, and Geno Smith stays put in Las Vegas.
A doomsday scenario for the Vikings would arise, at which point Carr might seem attractive as the last resort.
Thankfully, Minnesota picked a wonderful offseason to pursue a secondary quarterback alongside McCarthy. There are about 30 contingency plans.
And according to La Canfora, Carr isn’t at the top of anybody’s list
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