5 questions with the enemy, Canal Street Chronicles
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 as both teams are just playing for pride at this point in the season. The player with the most on the line is former Raiders and current Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr, who has missed the last two games with an injury and could return to the lineup for his revenge game.
To preview the matchup for Raider Nation, in addition to providing a Carr update, Silver and Black Pride reached out to our friends at Canal Street Chronicles and Nic Jennings was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Saints.
Q: Is there any chance our old friend Derek Carr will be playing on Sunday? Also, what’s the fan base’s perception of Carr, and does it look like he’ll be back in New Orleans next season?
A: Interim HC Darren Rizzi has stated that both QB Derek Carr (fractured non-throwing hand) and star RB Alvin Kamara (groin) are working to return before the end of the season.
Carr wasn’t seen at practice on Thursday, but Rizzi expects him to test his functionality closer to game day to determine his status. With the Saints set to be missing two starters on the offensive line in star C Erik McCoy (elbow) and veteran LG Lucas Patrick (knee), he’ll need to be able to take hits and use that left hand to protect himself. There is definitely a chance Carr suits up on Sunday, but if he can’t, it’ll be Spencer Rattler at the helm.
In regard to Who Dat Nation’s perception of Carr, it’s not great.
There were quite a few accountability issues and questionable decisions in year one that rubbed fans the wrong way. Carr may give the team its best shot to win, but that’s not saying much given the current QB situation in New Orleans, and it’s clear he isn’t the guy to get the Saints over the hump. However, even though I’ve been very critical of Carr during his tenure in the black and gold, he was balling since returning from his oblique injury, and I’d like to see him get a shot at revenge this weekend.
As of now, I’d be shocked if the Saints and Derek Carr parted ways this offseason. It just wouldn’t make sense financially, though the long-term plans of the team’s next head coach could change everything.
Q: On a similar note, how is Foster Moreau doing after the Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis before signing with the Saints last season?
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
A: Foster has been one of the few bright spots toward the end of the season. He has slowly emerged as the Saints’ clear-cut TE1 following the season-ending injury to Taysom Hill and the lack of growth from Juwan Johnson.
He has 25 receptions on 33 targets for 335 receiving yards (13.4 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns. He’s served as a safety blanket for whoever is at quarterback and has made some jaw-dropping acrobatic catches in the process.
He was honestly the only positive takeaway from Monday night’s blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers, catching two of the three passes that came his way for a total of 33 yards (with a long of 21 and 10.5 yards after the catch per reception) and two first downs. He earned a 77.8 overall grade (81.6 receiving and 66.4 pass blocking) from Pro Football Focus, the highest among the Saints in Week 16. This season, he has games with a receiving grade of 87.9 (Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers), 90.7 (Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns), and 90.1 (Week 15 against the Washington Commanders).
So, it’s safe to say Foster Moreau kicked Hodgkin’s lymphoma’s tail and has begun feeling like himself again. He’s taken advantage of his opportunity and deserves to be more involved moving forward.
A: New Orleans has begun the last few offseasons in cap hell but Mickey Loomis has managed to dig them out of it every year while still signing free agents. However, the team has had mediocre results. Over The Cap has the Saints about $64 million in the red this spring, so do you think a rebuild is finally coming or more financial maneuvering from Loomis?
A: As long as Mickey Loomis is in charge, the way the Saints operate isn’t going to change. You can blame Loomis’ stubbornness for the hole the team is in, both financially and in terms of personnel, including a lack of youth, depth, and overall talent.
In terms of who deserves credit for the Saints’ cap maneuvering over the years, Assistant GM/VP of Football Operations Khai Harley is the mastermind behind it all. Harley will be a general manager in this league one day, and that is a guarantee.
In short, a complete rebuild is probably unlikely for New Orleans, barring additional input from the next head coach. Expect the Saints to continue finessing the cap while trying to win now.
Q: The Saints have seen Spencer Rattler make a handful of starts now. Has the club seen enough to think he’s the quarterback of the future, or will the most important position on the field be an offseason need?
A: Rattler has shown promise and has all the physical tools to be a starting quarterback in this league, but it’s unfair to thoroughly evaluate him given the supporting cast he’s been tasked with. However, whether you believe Rattler can be the long-term solution or not, the Saints need to keep taking chances on quarterbacks in the draft until they find the answer.
He’s a fifth-round pick, and it wouldn’t hurt to bring in a rookie to compete with him and Carr this offseason. You won’t find your franchise savior if you don’t take chances on raw talent. Molding promising prospects into players who best fit your scheme has proven to work in various cases, as New Orleans saw firsthand when Jordan Love and the Packers dropped 34 points on the Saints’ defense this past week.
I still think Rattler deserves a fair shot with a competent football team behind him, but taking a guy late in the draft could apply some much-needed pressure on the QB room—preferably one who fits the modern style of quarterback play and can extend plays with his legs. I’ve continuously stressed how underwhelming this upcoming draft class is at the QB position, but you never know who might have that hidden “IT” factor.
Q: Building on that, the Raiders and the Saints might be picking close to each other during the NFL Draft. So, what would you say the team’s biggest needs are?
A: Heading into 2025, New Orleans needs to focus on reinforcing the trenches on both sides of the ball if they plan to compete. While skill-position depth can be added through free agency or later rounds of the draft, pass protection and run defense have been two self-defeating weaknesses for the Saints this season that urgently need addressing.
The offensive line just hasn’t been able to stay healthy, with only two starters—RT Trevor Penning and rookie LT Taliese Fuaga—appearing in every game so far this season.
Right tackle and left guard should be top priorities on the O-line, especially with the pending retirement of All-Pro RT Ryan Ramczyk, Penning still being unproven, and the fact that the Saints didn’t even know Lucas Patrick—who has been solid but injury-prone—was going to be their starter until second-year guard Nick Saldiveri was sidelined in training camp with a calf injury. Although the current group plays well together when healthy, there is just too much uncertainty for comfort.
On the defensive line, getting younger and faster is key. The pass rush has shown improvement compared to last year’s pressure numbers, but the focus should now turn to finishing those plays.
Selecting a speed rusher goes against the Saints’ typical prototype for edge rushers, but it could significantly boost their fast-sack numbers and overall sack production. New Orleans also allows the second-most yards per carry at 4.9, and their 2,069 rushing yards allowed rank third-most in the league. Bringing back DE Chase Young for a second season in the Big Easy should also be high on the Saints’ list of offseason priorities.