For the New York Jets, the 2024 NFL season was a disaster from the start. After an offseason filled with aspirations of competing in the postseason, things unraveled quickly.
Five games into the year, head coach Robert Saleh was fired following a 2-3 start, marking the end of an era that had produced back-to-back 7-10 finishes and little progress. Unfortunately, interim leadership did little to stop the bleeding, as the Jets stumbled to a 5-12 record and now hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With Aaron Rodgers’ time in New York coming to an unceremonious end, the Jets find themselves in search of stability at quarterback once again. While some believe they could draft a young QB, others suggest they may go the veteran route instead. And according to recent speculation, that veteran could be Derek Carr.
Could Derek Carr Be the Answer in New York?
ESPN’s Seth Walder recently floated the idea that the Jets could make a move for Carr if the New Orleans Saints decide to cut ties with him.
The logic? New head coach Aaron Glenn watched the Detroit Lions revive Jared Goff’s career. Carr may not have the upside that Goff has, but he could still significantly help the Jets.
“In this scenario, the Jets pick Carr up off the Saints’ discard pile. It’s hard to know what the new Jets regime will be looking for after moving on from Aaron Rodgers, but new coach Aaron Glenn saw the Lions win with an unwanted Jared Goff.
“Carr doesn’t have Goff’s upside, but he would raise the Jets’ floor. And as poorly as recent seasons have gone, New York has pieces to launch a quicker turnaround than one might think.”
Carr, who has one of the NFL’s most expensive contracts, has long been considered an average starting quarterback capable of winning with the right supporting cast. But is he a real upgrade over what the Jets had in Rodgers last year?
Carr vs. Rodgers: A Tale of 2 Seasons
Despite the Saints’ struggles, Carr played some of the best football of his career in 2024. According to PFSN’s QB+ metric, he finished the season with an 83.3 rating (B), ranking 11th in the NFL. He was ninth in touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.0), sixth in net yards per attempt (7.5), and performed admirably under pressure.
The Saints were 5-5 in games Carr played in and 0-7 in games he didn’t — a super intriguing stat that highlights his value as a leader.
Meanwhile, Rodgers — who was supposed to be the Jets’ missing piece — had a forgettable year. He finished the season with a 72.2 QB+ rating (C-), ranking 21st in the league. His efficiency plummeted, finishing 27th in EPA per dropback (-0.02), 36th from a clean pocket (0.07 EPA/DB), and converted just 33.5% of third downs (29th overall).
Statistically, Carr was the far superior quarterback in 2024 despite playing seven fewer games. But does that make him the right move for the Jets?
Is Carr the Right Fit for the Jets?
New York has pieces in place to be competitive, but their decision at quarterback will define Glenn’s era. Carr could stabilize the position, but at what cost?
The Jets will have to determine whether he’s the missing piece or just another expensive stopgap in their never-ending search for a franchise QB.
If you are a sports writer… look for another career fast. The NFL, currently exist in decades of the QB. Carr Ben around long enough to prove he’ll never win a Superbowl. Goff wins and so did Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson, but not the big pressure games. NY Jets go young… Old QB’s have proven they are the sum total of what they produce in their early QB Years.
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