Will The Derek Carr “Ripple Effect” Reach Tampa? – JoeBucsFan.com

Yes, the slimy Saints now have three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr leading their offense, and it’s silly to think that won’t matter to the owners and general managers of the other NFC South teams.

The Falcons and Panthers pick No. 8 and No. 9 in the 2023 NFL Draft, respectively. That means there’s no guarantee either team will get a shot to draft a top-shelf QB prospect.

So how will Carolina and Atlanta react to the news of Carr landing in New Orleans, quickly making the the Saints the favorite to win the weak NFC South?

Joe can’t answer that, but the ripple effect of the Carr signing could have Atlanta and/or Carolina diving right into the Jimmy Garoppolo market, or chasing another free agent quarterback.

Joe sees Atlanta as a good fit for Jimmy G. Not only does Atlanta have salary cap room, but they employ a run-first offense. That’s what Garoppolo probably needs to thrive, and it’s what he was accustomed to in San Francisco.

Carolina? They’re a wild card if they can’t swing a March deal to trade up in the draft.

And that brings Joe to the Bucs. What if Atlanta indeed signs Garoppolo to go with their bruising run game, beastly tight end and stud receiver? Would the Bucs feel any pressure to look harder at spending on a veteran quarterback?

Joe wonders how the Bucs would feel about Matt Ryan (not how Joe feels, how the Bucs feel).

Ryan likely will be released by the Colts next week to clear salary cap room. The Colts still owe him $12 million guaranteed for 2023, and he has “offsets” in his contract, which typically would mean the Colts don’t have to pay the entire $12 million if another team is paying a chunk.

Ryan says he wants to keep playing. Would the Bucs go there if Ryan cost them, say, $2 million plus giant incentives while Indianapolis paid the remainder of the $12 million due him? That’s kind of how the Bucs got Logan Ryan on the cheap last season after he was cut by the Giants.

Ryan turns 38 in May and is no longer a special quarterback. But the Bucs might see him as fantastic competition for Kyle Trask and wonderful mentor if he loses the battle.