The New York Jets ultimately acquired Aaron Rodgers ahead of the 2023 NFL season, but it sounds like the team nearly signed a different veteran quarterback instead.
During a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, veteran quarterback Derek Carr revealed that he nearly signed with the New York Jets before ultimately signing with the New Orleans Saints.
“I could’ve [signed with the Jets],” Carr said on Pardon My Take podcast according to Joey Aliberti of gulflive.com. “It just wasn’t the right time for me. There was still like four or five teams I had to hear from.
“I remember sitting there with [Jets coach Robert Saleh], and he’s like, ‘Look, man, we’d love to have you. It’s up to you.’”
Carr knew that the Jets preferred Rodgers over him, but he also offered some perks that Rodgers did not.
“The thing which was different in that situation was like Aaron is a nine billion-time MVP, right? But you still have to trade for him, whereas I’m free, and you can still keep those picks,” Carr said. “I was not asking for as much money as whatever they say your market is. I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that, because wherever I go, man, I just want to win. So use the money. I don’t care.’”
Ultimately, Carr signed with New Orleans while Rodgers signed with the Jets.
