Quarterback Derek Carr has already noticed a difference in this season’s New Orleans Saints compared to how the 2023 team entered the campaign.
“Coming into this year, we were just trying to build off of what we had last year – the relationships, the bonds, the unity, the time we spend together,” Carr told Adam Schein in an interview on Mad Dog Sports Radio.
“I felt like coming into this offseason, compared to last offseason, we’re 10 times farther ahead of where we were. And I mean that as a team, as a group, as a unit.”
New Orleans narrowly missed out on a playoff berth last season, finishing with a 9-8 record and losing the tiebreaker to the NFC South division champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints’ postseason absence was a bitter result after they closed the regular season by winning four of their final five games.
Despite dealing with several injuries, Carr started all 17 games in his first campaign with the Saints and found some rhythm following nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders. Carr passed for 3,878 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 68.4% of his attempts in 2023.
Carr might feel the Saints made significant progress ahead of his second year with the franchise, but the team will have to learn new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s system.
New Orleans also has questions regarding offensive tackle. Trevor Penning enters his third season trying to lock down right tackle. Rookie Taliese Fuaga has shown flashes but left Thursday’s practice with a back injury. Running back Alvin Kamara is also dealing with back tightness.
The race for the NFC South division should again be contentious. The Atlanta Falcons have put their rivals on notice by acquiring veteran stars Kirk Cousins, Matthew Judon, and Justin Simmons. With the Carolina Panthers attempting to build around Bryce Young and the Bucs investing in Baker Mayfield, it could be an arduous task for New Orleans to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in four seasons.
