New Orleans Saints DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for the start of the 2025 season, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Carr is currently weighing his options, which includes possible surgery. This is big news, especially with the 2025 NFL draft right around the corner. However, even if Carr was completely healthy, it wouldn't have been much of a surprise if the Saints were considering using a draft pick on a young signal-caller this year with Carr's future with the team beyond this year uncertain. Now that he could miss the start of the 2025 campaign this fall, though, QB should be a bigger priority. Carr, 34, missed seven games with hand and oblique injuries last year and was underwhelming as a QB2 in fantasy before the injuries. If Carr is forced to miss the early portion of 2025, a rookie QB could compete with Spencer Rattler for starts under center.UPDATE: The Saints have been preparing for the upcoming draft knowing about Carr's recent shoulder issue, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks has inked a two-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, per Mike Garafolo. The 31-year-old returns to the team that drafted him. Cooks was plagued by a knee injury in 2024 -- an MCL sprain that evolved into an infection -- forcing him from seven games. Still, he was the team's clear No. 2 wideout ahead of Jalen Tolbert when healthy. Despite the time missed, he scored the third-most receiving touchdowns (three) of any Cowboys pass-catcher. Whether or not Cooks will make an impact in fantasy is unclear. However, he provides a valuable second option on the field alongside teammate Chris Olave, with Rashid Shaheed's (knee) status undetermined after a mid-season meniscus injury.

The New Orleans Saints reworked wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr.'s contract on Wednesday, cutting his 2025 base salary from $3.4 million to the minimum of $1.7 million, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. Wilson's new salary cap number is $1.67 million after he previously counted $3.4 million against this year's cap, but it still voids in 2026. If the 29-year-old wasn't willing to restructure his deal, Terrell got the sense the Saints were willing to move on after Wilson had only 20 catches on 27 targets for 211 yards and one touchdown in 15 games (four starts) in 2024 in his first year in New Orleans. The poor production even came with Chris Olave (head) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) missing time with injuries last year. The Saints will have a new offensive approach under head coach Kellen Moore, but Wilson is still unlikely to be fantasy relevant as receiver depth in the Big Easy in 2025.

The New Orleans Saints have signed free-agent wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. to a one-year deal. Jones is a former third-round pick of the Chicago Bears from 2022. He was never able to make much of an impact in Chicago and was waived by the team in October. Jones finished out last season with the Carolina Panthers, but he didn't see much of the field over there. He'll compete for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp and could serve as a depth option or kick returner if he's able to make the team.

Per Kevin Patra of NFL.com, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore is excited to team up with quarterback Derek Carr for the 2025 season. "I think we've been consistent through this whole process," Moore said. "We feel really good about Derek, and we're excited to team up with him...We want him here, and it'll be a good situation." The Saints' new head coach also noted he believes that the veteran can improve from last year's injury-plagued season. Carr and New Orleans started 2024 on fire, scoring 44+ points in each of their first two contests. However, it was all downhill from there, as the team imploded and the 33-year-old dealt with abdomen and hand injuries that forced him to miss seven games. If the Fresno State alum can stay healthy, he'll undoubtedly be more productive this upcoming season. The vote of confidence from his head coach is nice, but he projects as nothing more than a middling QB2 and potential streaming option regarding fantasy.