The NFL’s offseason quarterback carousel took its first spin Monday when Derek Carr agreed to sign a four year pact with the New Orleans Saints, a nice jolt for Louisiana sports betting.
Carr has been connected to the Saints for quite some time, with New Orleans reportedly the only team that had worked out trade compensation with the Las Vegas Raiders before the quarterback forced Vegas into outright releasing him.
The signing ends a couple year search for the Saints to replace future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, as last year's combination of Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton did little to provide a spark to the New Orleans passing game.
With Carr now in place as the starter, LouisianaBets.com utilized Pro Football Reference to compile the statistics from last year's Saints passing offense and compare them with Carr’s statistics last year with the Raiders.
These stats will let you get a jump on NFL wagering on Louisiana sports betting apps next season.
What Can Derek Carr Bring To The Saints Offense?
What The Numbers Say
Carr’s passing stats in every single category come in as an upgrade from what the Saints put up on the board last year, something to keep in mind for prop bets at DraftKings Sportsbook Louisiana next season.
Carr had the enviable advantage of generational wide receiver Davante Adams in his arsenal in Vegas, but New Orleans has some strong pieces in the passing game that should see significant increases in production with a more efficient passer at the helm.
With Alvin Kamara in the backfield and a wide receiver corps led by sophomore Chris Olave, Carr will have no shortage of options to spread the ball to in the hopes of reviving this passing game.
Perhaps most notable of all the stats was New Orleans' inability to convert first downs via pass, with its mark of 10.6 first downs via pass ranking 22nd in the NFL. Carr converted almost a full first down more per game through the air last year, enough to rank just outside the top 10. He also significantly bested the Saints in passing yards and touchdowns per game.
Ahead of the upcoming season, check out our Saints playoff chances page.
Carr Represents Easy Upgrade
The Carr signing made a ton of sense for New Orleans. While he doesn’t have the pedigree to instantly transform the offense into a top unit, he has long shown the ability to move the ball in the right situation. He also reunites with Saints coach Dennis Allen, who had Carr as a rookie in Oakland in 2014.
Carr will look to build on his career totals of 35,222 passing yards and 217 touchdowns as he looks to keep the Saints in the conversation for the NFC South title. He also will likely have a chip on his shoulder after being passed over by Raiders coach Josh McDaniels at the end of last season.
The NFC South is ripe for the picking, and with Carr in the mix New Orleans is now a +150 favorite to win it over the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at DraftKings. The Saints are by no means a Super Bowl favorite, but with the division as wide open as it appears to be, they had no choice but to tab Carr as their quarterback to try to maximize their success.
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