Carr Joins Saints, Potentially Clearing Runway for Rodgers, Jets

Free-agent quarterback Derek Carr has picked the New Orleans Saints. Here’s what it means for the Packers and how one sportsbook reacted.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – All along, Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets seemed like a marriage made in heaven. You know, so long as Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers opt for an offseason divorce.

On Monday, free-agent quarterback Derek Carr, who had been courted by the Jets, signed with New Orleans Saints.

That potentially clears the runway for Rodgers. The Jets have openly said they want to get a veteran quarterback to add to an otherwise-strong roster. Rodgers would have Rookie of the Year receiver Garrett Wilson to catch passes, the support of a defense that ranked fourth in points allowed and a friendly face and scheme with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

At the Scouting Combine, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was noncommittal about Rodgers’ future. When asked if he would consider trading Rodgers even if Rodgers wishes to return to Green Bay for a 19th season, he said, “Until we have those conversations, I think that’s pretty hypothetical. But, like I said, everything is on the table.”

Speaking on Tuesday, Gutekunst said he hadn’t talked to Rodgers since the season-ending exit interviews. Now that he’s back from the Scouting Combine and Rodgers has left his darkness retreat, it’s possible those conversations are taking place – or will take place soon.

“My sense is there continues to be more and more signs about him leaving Green Bay,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said this weekend, according to WFAN.

“And I think in the end, my sense is ultimately it will come down to whether he wants to play elsewhere, which would be really the New York Jets, or whether he wants to retire. To me, those are the two most logical options and the two most likely scenarios here. But again, we have not heard from Aaron Rodgers himself.”

Rodgers’ next-team betting odds have been off the board at DraftKings and PointsBet for the last week. To open the day at SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline, Rodgers-Raiders remained the favorite at -200, with Rodgers-Jets at +140 and Rodgers-Titans at +900.

After the Carr signing, the odds moved to Rodgers-Raiders at -170, Rodgers-Jets at +100 and Rodgers-Titans at +950.

Without a king’s ransom in return, maybe Rodgers will return to Green Bay. That might be the expectation at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Packers opened at +2500 to win the Super Bowl. That lengthened to +3100 and then to +3500. On Monday morning, they were back to +2500.

The Raiders, whether it was general manager Dave Ziegler or coach Josh McDaniels, have said they preferred to find a long-term solution.

“Look, the goal for us eventually is to have somebody that's going to be here for a long time,” McDaniels said at the Combine. “You see the teams that are having success right now, in our league, I would say in our conference and, specifically, in our division. they're young players that were drafted by their clubs, and they're being developed there under the same continuity.”

Nonetheless, SportsBetting.ag and BetOnline continue to post Raiders as the betting favorite. In a bet to be Las Vegas’ Week 1 starter, Rodgers is -200, Raiders backup Jarrett Stidham is +275, free agent Jimmy Garoppolo is +600, free agent Lamar Jackson is +650, free agent Daniel Jones is +750, Baker Mayfield is +2500 and the four top draft picks are all +3300.

To open the day, Stidham was +340 and Jones was +600.

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