Superstar free agent QB Derek Carr is ‘leaning towards signing with the New York Jets’

Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr ‘slightly prefers’ joining the New York Jets over the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, according to reports.

Carr was released by the Raiders in February after he and the team agreed to part ways in the wake of a poor season, and he is now perhaps the most highly-coveted free agent in the quarterback market. 

The 31-year-old veteran has had meetings with all three of the clubs vying for his signature and is expected to decide on a new team before the start of free agency on March 15th.

Now, though, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that New York is the favorite, with Carr leaning towards heading to the east coast after they fell out of love with Zach Wilson.

It is believed the Jets are still attempting to wait for a decision from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on which team – if any – he wants to join. 

Derek Carr is said to be leaning towards signing with the New York Jets after meeting teams

The Jets are also said to be awaiting a decision from Aaron Rodgers on his future in the league

Rodgers recently returned from the ‘darkness retreat’ that he went on to think about his future. Most reports have stated that Rodgers seems equally open to either stepping away from the game altogether or joining a new team, but all signs point him being done playing for the Packers.

The Jets have taken steps to hire coaches that have a history with and have had success with both of their potential QBs of the future.

New York recently hired former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett to be offensive coordinator after he was fired midway through his first season in Denver.

Hackett had formed a strong relationship with Rodgers while the duo spent three years together in Green Bay while Hackett was OC and Rodgers had back-to-back MVP seasons.

Jets new passing game coordinator Todd Downing was once Carr’s position coach and OC 

The Jets also recently hired former Tennessee Titans offensives coordinator Todd Downing as their new passing game coordinator.

Downing spent several seasons as Carr’s coach with the Raiders. He served as Raiders quarterbacks coach in 2015 and 2016, before serving as Raiders offensive coordinator in 2017. Carr made the Pro Bowl in all three of those seasons.

Carr made his fourth Pro Bowl this season despite missing the final two games of the season. 

He threw 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Throughout his entire career he has thrown for 35,222 yards, 217 touchdowns and 99 interceptions.