CBS Sports lists Derek Carr as a 'Tier 4' quarterback in NFL's middle class

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The New Orleans Saints brought in veteran quarterback Derek Carr, the move has had mixed reactions from across the league. Will Brinson of CBS Sports gave a nod to Carr towards the league’s middle class.

Brinson created tiers for the NFL quarterbacks and placed every projected starter in one. Those categories were:

Tier 1: The Big Three Tier 2: Could Join Them Next Year Tier 3: Intrigue with Question Marks Tier 4: You Can Win With Them Tier 5: Future Potential ‘Can Win With Them’ Guys Tier 6: No Clue, Man Tier 7: The Rookies
Carr was placed into Tier 4, “You Can Win With Them.” His peers in that list are Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Geno Smith, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill and Jimmy Garoppolo. Here’s how CBS Sports explained this tier, including Carr:

The best way to describe these guys? They can get you to the playoffs if everything about them breaks in their favor but you cannot envision a scenario where they take you on a deep playoff run or win you a Super Bowl without a really stout defense/run game combo or the stars simply aligning.
This makes sense for what Carr has been for his entire career, but there’s a reason he wanted to start something new and head to New Orleans. There’s a chance for him to raise his stock and maybe enter a new tier next season with a better group of players around him.

He’s the highest-rated quarterback in the NFC South with Baker Mayfield and Desmond Ridder in Tier 6 (“No Clue, Man”) and Bryce Young obviously in the Tier 7 “The Rookies” group. We’ll soon learn whether this was an accurate assessment of Carr’s abilities in the fall.




Carr has never had an opportunity with the support of a good defense much less a decent defense. I think he now has that opportunity. I think he can be a consistent winner but he'll have to prove it.