Raiders: Why Derek Carr to the Saints makes sense
Good defense that will only get better
One of the major factors that likely made the Saints an attractive destination for Carr was how good their defense has been. With no exaggeration, Derek Carr has literally never played with a defense that was even middle of the pack when it came to points allowed in Oakland or Las Vegas.
The best two defenses Carr has played with were in 2016 and 2017 where they finished 20th in the league in total points allowed.
Compare that to the Saints who had a top five defense in 2020 and 2021 and had the 9th best defense in points allowed in 2022 despite their issues at quarterback. Say what you will about Dennis Allen as a head coach, but he has proven over the years in New Orleans that he can build one heck of a defense.
This defense has stars at every level including Cameron Jordan, Pete Werner, Marshon Lattimore, and Tyrann Mathieu who all should be returning in 2023. This is the most talent that Carr has had on defense since 2016 which featured the likes of Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, and Reggie Nelson.
The Saints unit struggled to generate turnovers in 2022 but they allowed the second fewest passing yards and passing touchdowns to opposing QBs. Much of that had to do with their elite sack numbers as they finished third in the NFL in sacks with 48 despite being near the bottom of the league in pressure percentage.
Carr knows firsthand how dominant this unit can be as he and the Raiders offense couldn’t even get past midfield for much of the game last season. The veteran QB will be ecstatic at the prospect of playing with a defense that can cover up for some offensive deficiencies and maybe even win a few games on their own.