Could the Saints Tank for Arch Manning? Derek Carr’s Retirement Opens Door to Bold Possibility

Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a shock, but Derek Carr’s sudden retirement from the NFL has sent seismic waves through the New Orleans Saints’ organization and beyond. While rumors had circulated regarding his health and performance, the finality of Carr’s decision — announced in a heartfelt statement citing family, faith, and physical challenges — leaves the Saints at a crossroads. Or, perhaps, at the start of something much bigger.

“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said in a statement shared by the team, referencing his wife. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience.”

Now, the Saints — fresh off a disastrous 5-12 season in 2024 with Carr starting 10 games — enter the 2025 season with no clear answer at quarterback and an aging roster that no longer resembles a playoff contender. What happens next? Some believe the answer is already taking shape in burnt orange, 500 miles away.

Enter: Arch Manning.

Yes, that Arch Manning — the University of Texas quarterback, grandson of Saints legend Archie Manning and nephew to Super Bowl-winning icons Peyton and Eli. Despite having thrown just 63 passes in his collegiate career thus far, the mere weight of his last name — paired with tantalizing flashes of potential — has already made him the most buzzed-about quarterback prospect in years.

And now, with the Saints potentially staring down a lost season, speculation is swirling: Could New Orleans tank in 2025 to draft Arch Manning in 2026?

It’s not just fantasy football chatter. This is what happens when football royalty and narrative collide. The idea of Arch returning to his hometown to revive the franchise his grandfather once gave everything to — often without help — is the kind of football story that feels too perfect to ignore.

Of course, a lot has to happen. Arch Manning would need to fulfill the hype with a breakout 2025 campaign at Texas and declare for the draft. The Saints, without Carr, would have to plummet to the bottom of the standings — something that’s suddenly not hard to envision. And even then, they’d have to land the No. 1 overall pick, or pay a steep price to get it.

But the stage is set.

The Saints haven’t had a long-term answer at quarterback since Drew Brees retired. Carr was supposed to bring stability, but inconsistency and injury plagued his brief tenure. Now, with his retirement, the franchise is left with a gaping hole — and a once-in-a-generation chance to write a new chapter rooted deeply in New Orleans history.

Archie Manning never had the team around him to succeed. His grandsons went on to achieve everything he couldn’t. Arch now has a chance to bring it full circle — to lead the same team his grandfather once carried through hard times, and give Saints fans something they’ve always longed for: a Manning in black and gold, finally with the tools to win.

Would the Saints intentionally tank to make that dream happen? No team will ever admit it. But with the stars aligning and Carr out of the picture, don’t be surprised if the whispers grow louder with every Saints loss in 2025.

And don’t be surprised if the Manning legacy somehow finds its way home.