The NFL was dealt a shocking piece of news on Saturday when veteran quarterback Derek Carr announced his surprising retirement. Recent injuries were too much for the 11-year signal-caller to overcome, forcing him to walk away from the sport, leaving the New Orleans Saints without a starting QB in the process.
Saints QB Derek Carr is retiring after 11 seasons. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero, @mikegarafolo) pic.twitter.com/irJJ7PVV7V
— NFL (@NFL) May 10, 2025
Although Carr's shocking retirement doesn't necessarily affect the Houston Texans, the same can't be said for one of the franchise's former wide receivers who recently joined the Saints.
Former Texans WR Brandin Cooks Will Regret Joining Saints After Derek Carr's Retirement
Carr's retirement is a blow to all of the Saints' pass-catchers, including former Texans WR Brandin Cooks. The 31-year-old playmaker moved to New Orleans on a two-year, $13 million contract back in March, marking a return to the organization that drafted him 20th overall in 2014.
The return to the Saints was supposed to be a way for Cooks to prove to the league that he still has "it" after a disappointing Dallas Cowboys run. Injuries and age saw the ex-Oregon State WR's production drop in Dallas as Cooks only mustered 80 catches for 916 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 26 outings with the Cowboys.
If that wasn't bad enough, Cooks went from averaging a whopping 5.2 catches and 65.6 yards per game in his three seasons (2020-22) with the Texans to only 3.1 and 35.2, respectively, with the Cowboys.
With that in mind, it isn't hard to imagine why the former Houston wideout headed to New Orleans. Along with being the clear-cut WR3 behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Cooks would be united with Carr, who's produced a solid 6,023 passing yards, 40 TDs (to 13 interceptions), and a 98.8 passer rating in his first 27 starts with the Saints.
Now, Carr is gone, and Cooks will be forced to play alongside much lesser options under center. Second-year QB Spencer Rattler didn't come close to looking like an every-week starter last season, nor did former 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener in his lone start in Week 15.
The Saints used a 2025 second-round pick on former Louisville QB Tyler Shough, but there's a good chance the 26-year-old rookie will go through plenty of struggles as he adjusts to the NFL level. In other words, it could be a rough year for Cooks and the rest of New Orleans' playmakers.
It'll be interesting to see if Cooks can create chemistry with the Saints' eventual starting QB. If not and New Orleans struggles in Carr's absence, it wouldn't be surprising to see the ex-Texans WR shopped around before the 2025 season's trade deadline.