Derek Carr's tenure as a New Orleans Saint was defined by the damage he took. He was an injury report mainstay in his first season, managing to start every week in 2023. He was less fortunate in 2024; his 10 games played were the fewest in a single season of his 11-year NFL career.
This all set the stage for his surprising offseason announcement. After more than a decade of damage, lingering pain and extensive surgery on the horizon, Carr opted to retire rather than go through rehab and play at a diminished rate. That's a win for the Saints, who'll save $30 million in salary cap space in 2026 for a quarterback who may not have been in their future plans.