Jets NFL Combine rumor points in the direction of retired quarterback

Everybody talks at the NFL Scouting Combine; it's arguably the worst place in the football world to keep a secret. Even the New York Jets, who, under Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, have been a fairly leak-free ship, could let something slip to someone.

If we're to put all our eggs in NBC Sports' Matthew Berry's basket, and believe he picked up some valuable intel in Indianapolis last week, he may just have an inkling of where the Jets are leaning in the search for a new quarterback.

Berry claims he heard the New Orleans Saints will be shipping their former trigger man, Derek Carr, to New York, teaming up with Glenn and new offensive coordinator Frank Reich.

Derek Carr could finally land with the Jets three years later

After passing on Carr in favor of Aaron Rodgers three years ago, Berry expects a trade between the Jets and Saints would finally bring the 34-year-old to New York.

"Not surprisingly, the majority of conversations at the Combine revolved around quarterbacks. And the most interesting one I heard involved Derek Carr. Yes, the retired 34-year-old Derek Carr. From what I heard, the Saints expect him to un-retire and play in 2026. The Saints are very happy with Tyler Shough, so New Orleans expects Carr to un-retire and then they will trade him. To the New York Jets."

Matthew Berry

Considering Berry isn't an insider, this isn't necessarily a report from one of the big NFL reporters. It's just something he heard while he was at the NFL Combine. In fact, you could take it with a grain of salt. Berry made it clear that all of his nuggets were "gossip," and even finished his nugget with "shrug emoji."

But that doesn't mean a potential Carr-Jets pairing doesn't make sense. New York is in dire need of a new quarterback, obviously, and the former Las Vegas Raider may be one of the more competent options available on the trade market.

His most recent season in New Orleans was a productive one. Before suffering a shoulder injury that caused him to step away from football, Carr completed 67.% of passes for 2,145 yards to go along with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He went 5-5 as a starter.

If the Jets are looking for a quarterback who can step in and run their offense at a league-average level, Carr could do that.

It also doesn't hurt that he may have a personal connection to the Jets' head coach. Glenn and Derek's brother, David Carr, were teammates on the inaugural iteration of the Houston Texans in 2002, and according to the Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, the 11-year-old Carr spent a lot of time at the Texans' facility while Glenn was still a player.

It feels important to note that Rosenblatt downplayed the possibility of Carr landing with the Jets, but the NFL offseason is fluid, and things can change on a day-to-day basis.

If the rest of the Jets' more optimal quarterback options dry up and no teams come knocking on Carr's door, they may have no choice but to send a Day 3 pick to New Orleans for his services.