As the 2023 NFL season winds down, the New Orleans Saints are faced with one of their most pressing questions: Who will be their starting quarterback in 2024? This isn’t a new issue for the franchise, but the uncertainty surrounding their quarterback room has reached a new level. The Saints, who have long enjoyed stability under Drew Brees, are now navigating the choppy waters of a post-Brees era, and the quarterback position remains the focal point of the franchise’s future. Offseason moves—both in terms of free agency, trades, and the NFL Draft—could drastically alter the landscape of the Saints’ quarterback room.
In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the current state of the Saints’ quarterback situation, assess their options for the offseason, and explore how a few key moves could shape the team’s direction moving forward.
### The Current State of the Saints’ Quarterback Room
When Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season, the Saints entered a new era at quarterback. While the transition away from one of the best to ever play the position was inevitable, the team’s approach since Brees’ departure has been somewhat disjointed. The Saints have cycled through several quarterbacks over the past few years, trying to find the right fit to lead the team.
In 2021, the Saints relied on Jameis Winston, who had shown flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency and turnovers. Winston was off to a solid start that season before suffering a torn ACL midway through the year. The Saints then turned to Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill, neither of whom fully solidified the position.
Fast forward to 2023, and the quarterback room in New Orleans remains a mystery. Winston has largely been relegated to a backup role, and Hill, despite his versatility, hasn’t been the long-term solution at quarterback. The Saints’ starting QB in 2023 has been **Derek Carr**, a free-agent acquisition from the Las Vegas Raiders, who was expected to be the stabilizing force the team needed. However, despite his long-term pedigree as a starting quarterback, Carr has shown both flashes of competency and stretches of inconsistency, which have caused some Saints fans to question whether he’s the right leader for the franchise.
Carr’s first season in New Orleans has been underwhelming, as he’s struggled to find chemistry with his receivers and has yet to truly elevate the offense to the level it was under Brees. While Carr has shown the potential to be a competent starter, his performance hasn’t been consistently elite, and the Saints’ offense has been up and down.
### The Saints’ Offseason Outlook
Heading into the 2024 offseason, the Saints face a crossroads. The team is not in full rebuilding mode, but they need to make significant decisions regarding the quarterback position. With a talented roster, particularly on defense, the Saints are in a win-now window, meaning the right QB could be the difference between continuing as a playoff contender or falling behind in a competitive NFC South.
Let’s break down the Saints’ options for the offseason and how they could reshape their quarterback room:
### 1. **Derek Carr: A Contender or a Stopgap?**
The first and most pressing question is whether the Saints should stick with **Derek Carr** as their starting quarterback. When the team signed Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract, they believed they were securing a steady, veteran presence at the position. Carr had been a consistent performer in Las Vegas, but his transition to New Orleans has been rocky at times.
If Carr’s struggles persist into the offseason, the Saints may have to consider whether he is truly the long-term answer. While his contract complicates the situation, the Saints could opt to either cut ties with Carr or restructure his deal, potentially freeing up cap space for other acquisitions while moving in a different direction at quarterback. However, the Saints would have to ask themselves whether cutting bait on Carr is worth it, given the lack of clear replacements on the market. Carr has shown he can win games, but he’s also been inconsistent in critical moments, which could push the team to explore alternatives.
If the Saints decide to retain Carr, they will likely invest in improving the offensive line, upgrading the receiving corps, or finding ways to give him more support in 2024. The front office would need to make moves to ensure Carr has a better environment to succeed. However, if his inconsistency continues, the Saints may look to cut ties with the veteran signal-caller after just one season.
### 2. **Jameis Winston: The Forgotten Backup?**
**Jameis Winston**’s time as a starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints has been turbulent. After joining the team in 2020 as a backup to Drew Brees, Winston earned the starting role in 2021 after Brees’ retirement. While Winston showed flashes of his old potential, including a 5-2 record as a starter, his season was cut short due to a torn ACL, and he hasn’t reclaimed the starting job since.
In 2023, Winston has found himself in a backup role behind Carr, with very little chance to start. However, Winston still possesses intriguing physical tools. His arm strength, deep-ball accuracy, and playmaking ability could make him an attractive option if the Saints decide to go in a different direction. The question is whether Winston has matured enough to become a reliable starter in the NFL, as his past with turnovers and decision-making has been a significant issue.
If the Saints decide to part ways with Carr or choose to bring in a new quarterback, Winston could be in the mix again. A coaching staff that believes in his upside could decide to give him another shot as a starting quarterback, especially if they don’t find a top-tier replacement in free agency or the draft. However, Winston’s future with the team seems to depend largely on how the front office views his development and whether they believe his mistakes are correctable.
### 3. **The NFL Draft: A New Hope?**
One of the most intriguing possibilities for the Saints’ quarterback situation is using the 2024 NFL Draft to find their quarterback of the future. The 2024 draft class may not have a clear-cut top-tier QB like previous years, but there are some exciting prospects who could provide a fresh start for New Orleans. If the Saints aren’t satisfied with Carr or Winston, they could look to move up in the draft to secure a young QB who could lead the franchise for years to come.
Quarterbacks like **Caleb Williams** from USC or **Drake Maye** from North Carolina could potentially be on the board, though the Saints would have to make a significant trade or improve their draft positioning to land one of these top talents. More realistically, the Saints could target a mid-tier QB like **Bo Nix** from Oregon or **Michael Penix Jr.** from Washington, both of whom have shown promise in their college careers and could be ready to contribute sooner than expected.
Selecting a quarterback in the draft would signal a commitment to building for the future, and it could provide a long-term solution at the most important position. However, such a move could also set the Saints back in terms of short-term success, as rookies typically need time to adjust to the NFL. Still, this is a route the Saints could pursue if they want to revitalize the position and start a new era at quarterback.
### 4. **Free Agency: Adding a Veteran**
If the Saints are not sold on Carr or want to bolster their depth behind him, they could look at the free-agent market for a veteran quarterback. The 2024 free-agent class is expected to feature a mix of proven quarterbacks and intriguing reclamation projects. Names like **Ryan Tannehill** (if the Titans decide to move on), **Jimmy Garoppolo**, or even **Baker Mayfield** could be available for teams looking for veteran leadership at the position.
Signing a veteran free agent would give the Saints the opportunity to either improve the quarterback room with a more established presence or create a true competition for the starting job. However, a move like this would likely be seen as a temporary fix, rather than a long-term solution.
### Conclusion: What’s Next for the Saints?
The New Orleans Saints find themselves at a critical juncture in their franchise’s history. With a talented roster, especially on defense, the quarterback position is the key to unlocking the team’s full potential. Whether the Saints continue with Derek Carr, turn back to Jameis Winston, or make a bold move in the draft or free agency, the decisions made this offseason will set the course for the franchise’s future.
With so many potential avenues to explore, the coming months will be pivotal in determining whether the Saints have their quarterback for the long haul or if they need to go back to the drawing board. The uncertainty surrounding the quarterback room means that New Orleans will be a fascinating team to watch in the 2024 offseason as they work to secure stability at the most important position in football.