“Derek Carr faces more news about a possible return to the NFL.”

Derek Carr, the former quarterback who made his mark in the NFL, appears to be facing a bleak scenario in his attempt to return to American football. After hinting before the start of the new NFL year that he was in talks with “three or four serious teams” that showed interest in acquiring his rights from the New Orleans Saints, the reality now points to a very different situation.

Recently, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk revealed alarming information: “Up until the week of the scouting combine, the Saints had not received any contact from teams regarding a possible trade for Carr’s contractual rights.” And the situation has not improved, as during the first week of free agency, “the Saints still had not received inquiries.” This landscape raises serious questions about Carr’s future in the league.

The quarterback, who was on the Saints’ roster when he decided to retire last spring due to a significant shoulder injury, may see his return to competition fade away. Katherine Terrell, an ESPN reporter, suggested that the New Orleans team would be looking for a third or fifth-round pick in exchange for their signal-caller, who will turn 35 on March 28. However, teams such as the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Atlanta Falcons have already made decisions regarding their quarterback situations, with no connection to Carr.

Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which suggests that Carr’s future in the league is becoming increasingly uncertain. Even teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns do not seem interested in Carr at the start of free agency.

In February, Carr hinted at his intention to return only if he had “a chance to win a Super Bowl.” However, as March progresses, no obvious candidates need a QB1, and that situation is not expected to change anytime soon. Florio added: “There are no takers for Carr if he decides to come back. Injuries could change that; if a starter on a contender suffers a serious injury before the trade deadline, Carr could become a viable alternative for the next option on the depth chart.”

It remains to be seen if Carr would be willing to join a new team as an acquisition during the season. If the answer is no, his attempt at a return may be remembered as a brief and frustrating scenario of what could have been. For now, Derek Carr’s future in the NFL remains shrouded in uncertainty, awaiting a sign that could reverse this discouraging situation.