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Alex Smith reflects on the new rookie QB landscape<\/p>\n
Alex Smith says the current college quarterback landscape has made rookie QBs’ transition to the NFL easier than 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
Sports Seriously<\/p>\n
It shouldn’t have come as a shock given the developments of recent weeks, but New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr\u2019s decision to retire from the NFL<\/a> on Saturday morning still landed as at least something of a surprise given its finality along with the finally revealed physical limitations which the 34-year-old passer has been coping with lately.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I\u2019ve decided to retire from the National Football League,\u201d Carr said in a statement distributed by the Saints<\/a> while referencing his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cFor more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It\u2019s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.\u201d<\/p>\n While wishing Carr the best as his post-football journey perhaps prematurely begins, it must also be acknowledged that his departure will have ramifications that range more broadly than New Orleans.<\/p>\n Your winners and losers from Carr\u2019s retirement:<\/p>\n WINNERSTyler Shough<\/p>\n The Saints\u2019 second-round pick last month, the rookie quarterback seemed to have the inside track to start in 2025 given what were already apparent doubts about Carr\u2019s availability for the upcoming season. Now \u2013 barring a disastrous offseason or unexpected surge from Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler \u2013 Shough, 25, seems almost certain to attain QB1 status quickly in the Big Easy. He enters the NFL following a seven-year college career often interrupted by injuries but started a personal best 12 games for Louisville in 2024. He\u2019s smart, mature and has a big arm, traits that should give him a shot to stick \u2013 especially given how Rattler and Haener have struggled early on in their own NFL careers.<\/p>\n 2025 NFL DRAFT GRADES: Report cards for all 32 teams<\/a><\/p>\n Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers<\/p>\n The NFC South has long been ruled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the Super Bowl following the 2020 season and have finished atop the division every year since. But led by promising young coaches and quarterbacks, Atlanta and Carolina now see their chances to compete for the divisional throne \u2013 or maybe even qualify as surprise wild cards in 2025 \u2013 increase given the Saints, who have averaged 7.5 wins per season since QB Drew Brees retired four years ago, have suddenly been thrust into something of a shotgun rebuild.<\/p>\n Arch Manning?<\/p>\n Just sayin\u2019. Speculation had already been running amok as it pertained to NFL teams potentially jockeying for draft position to enlist the presumed University of Texas star<\/a>, who\u2019s still only thrown 63 passes for the Longhorns. But this is what happens to football royalty when you\u2019re the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, who combined to win four Super Bowls during their illustrious NFL careers. However there\u2019s an added layer of intrigue if the Saints absolutely crater in 2025, which seemed entirely possible before Carr\u2019s announcement given the aftermath of a 5-12 season in 2024 when he started 10 games. Now, just imagine if they secure the No. 1 pick in 2026, Arch Manning has the type of season<\/a> in Austin everyone seems to expect and has the option to go home to his native New Orleans and revive the team his grandfather, Archie Manning, played so bravely but futilely for in the 1970s.<\/p>\n 2026 NFL MOCK DRAFT: What if Manning stays at Texas?<\/a><\/p>\n Aaron Rodgers?<\/p>\n Hey, look who might have an alternative job option in 2025!<\/p>\n LOSERSAaron Rodgers<\/p>\n But much as you could argue that New Orleans’ offense might have more upward potential than the Steelers\u2019<\/a> \u2013 not to mention the Superdome\u2019s ideal playing conditions \u2013 little expectation Rodgers or the Saints would join forces just so they could go back to winning eight or nine games.<\/p>\n Saints veterans<\/p>\n Even since Brees left and former coach Sean Payton \u201cretired,\u201d longtime GM Mickey Loomis has continued to operate as if the Saints were just a move or two from reclaiming their former perch atop the NFC South. But not only has that failed to happen, this roster is jammed with aging veterans like DL Cam Jordan, LB Demario Davis, S Tyrann Mathieu, WR Brandin Cooks and RB Alvin Kamara. It\u2019s worth wondering if Loomis might look to trade any of them \u2013 and maybe some will ask out \u2013 given this finally appears to be the time to collect future draft capital and tidy up a salary cap already loaded with dead money given the way this organization conducts business. Carr’s exit provides immediate relief given he was set to collect $40 million<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n Kellen Moore<\/p>\n A few months ago, he earned a Super Bowl ring<\/a> \u2013 in New Orleans \u2013 as the Philadelphia Eagles\u2019 offensive coordinator. Now Moore can openly face what will definitively be daunting conditions during his maiden gig as a head coach. Maybe having the certainty from Carr\u2019s decision more appropriately sets expectations for him and the fan base. But even if better days lie ahead in 2026 and beyond, there’s obvious potential for short-term pain for one of the league\u2019s better young play-callers \u2013 whose most important job for now might be holding this team together amid the inevitable doubt that will surround it.<\/p>\n Derek Carr<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the way any proud football player \u2013 especially a four-time Pro Bowler who was the face of the Raiders<\/a> for nearly a decade before trying to reignite the Saints \u2013 wants to leave. There’s also been rampant speculation about Carr\u2019s motives in recent weeks given the odd timing of when his injury suddenly came to light before the draft. The Saints disclosed that after Carr experienced shoulder pain as he began his preparations for next season that \u201cmedical scans determined objectively that Derek sustained a labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff. \u2026 Surgery was an option, jeopardizing the entire 2025 season, yet there was no guarantee Derek would return to the level of strength, function and performance of play to which he was accustomed.\u201d<\/p>\n Derek Carr has announced his retirement.<\/p>\n In late March, while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, Derek experienced pain in his right shoulder. It was his first time throwing a football at significant volume since recovering from both a concussion and left hand\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/SrcJEzDDnU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Which is to say, major bummer \u2013 to put it lightly \u2013 for Carr. A Round 2 pick of the then-Oakland Raiders in 2014, he played exceedingly well on a lot of bad Silver and Black squads and helped ease the franchise\u2019s transition to Las Vegas in 2020. He retires as owner of most of the Raiders\u2019 significant passing records, though only played in one playoff game \u2013 a loss at Cincinnati three years ago. Still, a commendable career, if one Carr doubtless would have chose to end under vastly different circumstances.<\/p>\n All NFL news on and off the field.\u00a0Sign up<\/a>\u00a0for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.<\/p>\n