Saints' Carr In The 'No Excuse Zone' This Season

NFL analysts on Sirius XM NFL Radio says that the New Orleans quarterback is in the "No Excuse Zone" for the 2023-24 season.

Friday's Opening Drive co-hosts Solomon Wilcots and Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold listed four NFL quarterbacks flying in the "No Excuse Zone" for the upcoming season. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (Bucs), Deshaun Watson (Browns), Kirk Cousins (Vikings), and Derek Carr (Saints) are the four signal-callers they believe must produce for their teams in 2023-24.

Wilcots was clear, saying, "Derek Carr chose New Orleans." Several teams met and recruited the veteran quarterback after the Raiders granted him his release. Ultimately, his relationship with Dennis Allen and some influential words of wisdom from Drew Brees helped tilt the balance in the Saints' favor to land Carr.

Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) during passing drills during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

"I get excited talking about him because you know he's going to do everything the right way," Alec Ingold said of his former teammate Derek Carr. "And you go to a new organization and get a wide-open NFC South. You got the Saints, and he's got Foster Moreau as a tight end, my guy and another Raider going over there with him. You get Alvin Kamara in the backfield. It just seems like you're giving that dude a lot of tools to be successful, and it's exciting to see. What a fresh start will do for him...There's pieces on that offseason where he's going to be systematically good."

Ingold also shared with Wilcots that Carr will bring his "blueprint for success" following "going through the wringer" with the Raiders organization last season.

As the co-hosts said to open the segment, it's a "No Excuse Zone" for the New Orleans leader. Should Michael Thomas return healthy, with second-year wideouts Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed stretching the field, Derek Carr will have the dynamic weapons at his disposal to soar well above the 4,000-yard and 25+ touchdown threshold. By adding TE Juwan Johnson, RB Jamaal Williams, RB Kendre Miller, and the multi-talented Taysom Hill to the mix, there would be no reason for Carr not to be considered an elite NFL quarterback and lead the Saints to the postseason.

There are no excuses, right?

We shall see.