NY Jets won't be able to trade for Derek Carr after all

The NY Jets have been closely monitoring the market of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in recent weeks. There were rumors that the Jets, or any team, could look to trade for Carr, but those rumors were squashed on Sunday.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Carr has informed the Raiders that he won't accept a trade to the New Orleans Saints or any team. He is expected to be released ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

Carr met with the Saints last week and the two teams reportedly agreed to the framework of a potential trade, but Carr is opting to test his luck on the open market.

The Raiders will release Carr before Tuesday at 4 pm ET as that's when over $40 million of his contract becomes guaranteed. Carr's no-trade clause meant that he had leverage in the situation, and he utilized that leverage to avoid being traded.

Instead, Carr will hit the open market where he will be free to sign with a team of his choosing — and that team won't need to give up assets to add him. It's a win for everyone, well, except the Raiders.

Do the NY Jets have a realistic chance to sign Derek Carr?

Carr's market is expected to be robust with a number of teams looking for quarterback help this offseason. The Jets figure to be one of the teams that check in on Carr, but they might not be atop the list.

While NFL insider Adam Caplan did report on Sunday that the Jets are expected to be on Carr's "list of targets," the New Orleans Saints remain the favorites to sign Carr after he visited with the team last week.

The interest just might not be there from the Jets as they continue to heavily pursue Aaron Rodgers. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Sunday that the Jets have officially inquired about Rodgers' availability — a report that should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the NFL news cycle.

The Jets have made it abundantly clear that Rodgers is their preferred QB target, which could take them out of the running for Carr. There's a chance Carr is signed before Rodgers even decides what his plans for the 2023 season are.

The Jets will inquire about Carr. They'll do their due diligence and check in on one of the top names on the quarterback market. But right now, it feels unlikely that he ends up in New York.

Things can change in a hurry, though, especially in the unpredictable world of the NFL offseason. The Jets aren't out of the running for Derek Carr just yet.