Steelers Could Be Showing Interest In Unpopular QB Option Derek Carr

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still going through a tough transition at the quarterback position as the organization searches for its next franchise signal-caller. It doesn't seem like that player will be found any time soon as the draft is not full of promising quarterback prospects, so that means Pittsburgh will likely have to move forward for another season with patching the position together with veteran quarterback play. Aaron Rodgers played QB well for the Steelers in 2025, and it remains unknown whether or not he will be returning for the 2026 season. The Steelers have said they would welcome him back, but the quarterback's recent comments make the situation sound complicated.

Rodgers could retire, or he could play for another team as he is scheduled to hit free agency. Pittsburgh needs to be sure that it has a backup plan just in case things do not work out with the four-time league MVP, and that plan can be through free agency, via trade, or the 2026 NFL Draft. 

One option that is on the table is Derek Carr, who is under contract with the New Orleans Saints after announcing his retirement prior to the start of the 2025. He recently made it clear that he would come back to play in the right situation, and he mentioned on the podcast 3 & Out that teams have shown interest.

"I think it would just take the right wave of coach, team, offense, all that stuff, for it to go the way that I think, that I would say, for sure," Carr said. "I'd want to be on a team that can win. A team that can actually have a chance to go to the playoffs, win a championship, do those things. Would I do it? Absolutely, I would do it. There's been, I'd say, probably three or four teams that have been serious, you know, a couple others that were just like, feeling it out. They're kind of going through that process. I've been training the whole time, physically. Throwing, now, I ramped that up, and I've been feeling great doing that."

The last time Carr played was during the 2024 season when he was the starter for the Saints. He suffered a handful of injuries during the year as he broke his hand and sustained a concussion later on in the season. That pair of injuries ended his 2024 campaign. He decided to retire during the 2025 offseason, but he has made it clear he will come back if the situation is right.

Carr wants to play for the right coach, in the right situation, with a chance to win the Super Bowl. The bad news for Carr is that there isn't a team in the world that is a "Carr away" from being a legitimate contender. With that being said, his career has been rather underrated, and maybe he still has something left in the tank for some team around the NFL. It could be the Steelers, as he mentioned several teams have shown significant interest in acquiring him.

The veteran quarterback is a four-time Pro Bowler and a former MVP finalist. His career deserves some respect, but it is also fair to have some doubts about how he would perform after taking a year off from the game. It is also important to note that the right situation for Carr might be Pittsburgh. The roster has some talent, the team made the postseason in 2025, and he has led a West Coast offense before, which is what Mike McCarthy runs.

Steelers Acquiring Derek Carr Would Be Somewhat Complicated

Carr signed a four-year deal with the Saints back during the 2023 offseason, and he only played under two years of that deal. He is not going to play for the Saints, but the organization owns his rights. He would need to be traded to any team that is willing to sign him, assuming he would agree to a reworked contract. 

His current cap hit for the 2026 season would not reflect a 34 year old signal-caller who just took more than a year off from the game.

What do you think about possibly going after Carr? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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