The New York Jets are urgently searching for a quarterback following Justin Fields’ underwhelming performance last season, which saw him benched midway through the year. With Fields failing to establish himself as the team’s franchise quarterback, the Jets face mounting pressure to find a reliable signal-caller to lead their offense moving forward.
This offseason, the Jets are considering several options to address their quarterback needs, including selecting a prospect like Ty Simpson late in the first round or early in the second round of the NFL Draft. They are also exploring free agency targets such as Malik Willis. However, an increasingly talked-about possibility is that the Jets could pursue a trade for an established player like Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints or Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals to immediately upgrade their quarterback position.
Trade Buzz: Derek Carr Emerging as Top Target for New York
Matthew Berry of NBC Sports has highlighted that the New Orleans Saints may trade Derek Carr to the Jets if the veteran decides to come out of retirement, a scenario Berry predicts will unfold this offseason. According to insider conversations at the NFL Combine, the Saints foresee Carr returning in 2026 but expect to move him since they are satisfied with their current quarterback, Tyler Shough.
“Not surprisingly, the majority of conversations at the Combine revolved around quarterbacks. And the most interesting one I heard involved Derek Carr. Yes, the retired 34-year-old Derek Carr. From what I heard, the Saints expect him to un-retire and play in 2026. The Saints are very happy with Tyler Shough, so New Orleans expects Carr to un-retire and then they will trade him. To the New York Jets.” ?Matthew Berry, NFL Analyst
Why Derek Carr Could Stabilize the Jets’ Offense Immediately
Derek Carr’s retirement was influenced by injuries rather than a decline in skills, and sources say he is currently healthy and eager to return to the NFL. Carr’s interest in joining the Jets adds credibility to trade talks, making him a compelling candidate to bring much-needed veteran stability to New York’s struggling offense.
Though Carr may not transform the Jets into Super Bowl contenders right away, his experience would likely provide a steady presence under center, improving consistency and allowing younger receivers such as Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie to develop more effectively. With Carr taking charge, the Jets could realistically expect to win several more games than they would without an experienced quarterback.
The trade is anticipated to require only minimal draft compensation, creating a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for the Jets’ front office as they look to quickly resolve their quarterback dilemma.
