UNBELIEVABLE: Saints fans in Shock as GM Mickey Loomis Solidify Derek Carr As Starting Quarterback With Contract Conversion up to $40million in Earnings

The New Orleans Saints have made it clear that they want quarterback Derek Carr as their quarterback for the 2025 season. On Saturday, the Saints converted most of Carr’s salary into a signing bonus, setting Carr up to make his full $40 million salary and freeing up cap space for the organization, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported.

The Saints indicated at the NFL combine that they planned to stick with Carr as their quarterback, and now have backed up that decision by converting his contract.

New Orleans could have looked in another direction at quarterback after Carr threw for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while missing seven games during the 2024 season. The Saints brought in a new head coach in Kellen Moore, but plan to keep Carr as quarterback as he enters the third year of the four-year, $150 million deal he signed in March 2023.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, there were other teams with their eye on this situation and could have potentially been interested in Carr if New Orleans didn’t bring him back.

Through two seasons with the Saints, Carr has put up a 14-13 record, including a 9-8 record for the team in 2024.

This move will reportedly save the Saints $30 million in cap space, per Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football Network. This is crucial for a Saints team that has built up the worst cap situation in the NFL, and had about -$44.9 million in cap space before making this move, per Over the Cap. The negative is that this restructure is set to make Carr’s cap hit $69 million in 2026, ESPN’s Katherine Terrell reports, but the Saints can at least ease their cap situation this season and address that hit next year.

CONFIRMED: Saints tender free agent linebacker Nephi Sewell to Bring him back for the 2025 season

The New Orleans Saints have made one of their first official free agency moves of the offseason, as they have tendered exclusive rights free agent Nephi Sewell, which was initially reported by John Hendrix of Athlon Sports. With the Saints heading into the offseason with 19 free agents, one has been cleared up prior to free agency, with Sewell being the only player on the team with the ERFA designation.

This designation is specifically for players with two or fewer seasons under their belt, however, a “season” by definition of the league factors in a few things. The player has to be on the active roster for six or more games and must report to their respective team’s training camp at the mandatory date each year, for the season to be official. The reason Sewell has not cleared two seasons yet, even after having been through three technically, is one of his years did not meet the threshold for one of those standards, presumably his rookie season as he only was active for four games.

So, the Saints will be able to retain the young linebacker at a relatively low valuation, as they did with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed in 2024 before signing him to an extension in July. The team typically tries to keep players around for a few years after drafting them or signing them as a UDFA just to see what they can bring to the table, and with the Saints having a new coaching staff, it is a testament to his skillset that he is being retained regardless.

CONGRATULATIONS: Former Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

Former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead has been inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. Armstead attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, playing for the UAPB Golden Lions football team from 2009 to 2012. He was named first-team All-SWAC from 2010-2012 and played in the 2013 Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL.

Congratulations to Terron Armstead on being inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame! Armstead played in the 2013 Senior Bowl. Terron spent 9 years with the New Orleans Saints and is currently the starting left tackle for the Miami Dolphins!! Congratulations, @T_Armstead72!! pic.twitter.com/6itG9VSzIK

— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) March 6, 2025

Armstead was drafted by the Saints in the third round (75th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Miami Dolphins in March 2022. Armstead was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2018 and has been selected to the Pro-Bowl five times (2018-2020, 2022 and 2023)

KEY POSITIONAL CHANGE: Drew Brees has found favor in the eyes of the New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson as She makes a bold move regarding key Position in the franchise

HEARTWARMING: Gayle Benson Sends heartfelt message as New Orleans Saints lose key piece to their organization who had been with them for over two Decades

The New Orleans Saints will have another make an adjustment this offseason that they have not had to think about for quite some time. The latest news is a notable shift for their organization going forward.

Saints trainer retires after 44 years

According to the organization, Saints assistant athletic trainer Kevin Mangum is retiring after 44 years with the team.

Mangum had been one of the longest tenured members of the Saints organization.

The entire organization held him in extremely high regard, and he played a key role in player health/development for over four decades in New Orleans.

“Kevin has been a nationally acclaimed athletic trainer, working quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes of our operations for four decades,”

“We are truly grateful for his professionalism and the dedication he showed throughout his legendary career. His hard work and selflessness have left a lasting impact, and he will always be welcome in our organization.

His influence extends far beyond the training room, shaping the culture of excellence and care that defines our team. As he steps into this well-deserved next chapter of his life, we sincerely wish Kevin the very best in retirement and thank him for the immeasurable contributions he made to our success.”
Saints’ owner Gayle Benson

It remains to be seen how the Saints will replace Mangum on their training staff.