NFL free agency doesn’t open until March 15, but the New Orleans Saints are beating the rush by picking up their next quarterback early.

NFL Network and ESPN reported on Monday that the Saints were signing four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr to a four-year contract, and on his Twitter account, Carr posted: “Who Dat,” with a video of New Orleans safety Tyrann Mathieu leading the Who Dat cheer before a game at Caesars Superdome.

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The Saints could sign Carr because the Las Vegas Raiders released him on Feb. 14.

Last offseason, the Raiders signed Carr to a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension. But Las Vegas cut the quarterback the day before his $32.9 million salary for the 2023 season and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary of $41.9 million became guaranteed.

Carr had been the Raiders’ quarterback since joining the team in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

At that time, Saints coach Dennis Allen was the Raiders coach, and he put Carr right into the lineup, although four games into Carr’s rookie season, Allen was fired.

Carr visited the Saints last month when Las Vegas was seeking to get him to waive the no-trade clause in his contract, which he did not do.

The Raiders had sent Carr home for the final two weeks of the 2022 regular season, allowing former Auburn standout Jarrett Stidham to make his first two NFL starts.

Carr played on two winning teams with the Raiders – in 2016 and 2021. In 15 games in 2022, Carr completed 305-of-502 passes for 3,522 yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Former Hueytown High School star Jameis Winston has opened the past two seasons at quarterback in New Orleans’ post-Drew Brees era.

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Before a knee injury caused him to the miss the final 10 games in 2021, Winston had led the Saints to a 5-2 record and thrown 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions. New Orleans went 4-6 after Winston went down, and three other quarterbacks had 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions for the Saints in 2021.

After striking out in its pursuit of quarterback Deshaun Watson last offseason, New Orleans signed Winston to a two-year, $28 million contract.

In 2022, Winston started the first three games, but he battled through back and ankle injuries to play in the final two. Finally forced out of the lineup, Winston missed three games before returning to uniform. But for the final 11 games of the 2022 campaign, Winston served as Andy Dalton’s backup without playing.

Dalton was playing on a one-year contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 15.

The Saints could release Winston without owing him any money. But he still would use up $11.2 million – or 5 percent — of New Orleans’ salary cap for the 2023 season without being on the roster.

The Saints could reduce the amount of dead money for Winston on their 2023 salary cap to $2.8 million by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation. But Winston’s contract calls for $5.8 million of his 2023 salary to become guaranteed if he’s still on the New Orleans roster on March 17.

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Jake Luton, a practice-squad member, is the only other quarterback under contract with the Saints for the 2023 season.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1