Derek Carr leaves Las Vegas.
At this point it is not a question of if. Only when and how. The nine-year-old Raiders quarterback said goodbye Thursday after the franchise that drafted him in 2014 benched him for the final two games of the season to avoid injuries that will see him earn a $33million salary next season dollars would guarantee.
The decision signaled the end of his tenure with the franchise, and reports suggest the Raiders have moved to testing trade waters for a potential suitor. A trade might be hard to come by. Carr has a no-trade clause in his contract, and the $121 million he’s owed over three years over the life of the deal is more than he’d likely ask for on the open market.
In the event he is not traded, the Raiders intend to cut Carr before Feb. 15, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. The move would precede a deadline that would fully guarantee his deal next season if he remains on the Raiders roster. One way or another, Carr will be playing for another team next season. So which team will that be?
There are many NFL teams that need a quarterback. Carr fits certain requirements. At 31, he is who he is as a player. There is no burgeoning potential waiting to be unlocked by a new team. He’s a solid veteran with a Pro Bowl past who’s popular and respected in the league, bringing stability and leadership to a locker room. It’s an attractive if unexciting profile for a team that has the potential to win now but lacks said stability in the most important position of the game.
For a minute this season, the Jets looked ahead of schedule with a 6-2 start, sparking talk of an unexpected playoff run. Six straight losses to end the season doused those hopes with a cold dose of reality. Zach Wilson, 2021 first-round pick, isn’t the answer to quarterback.
The Jets have a strong, young base on defense anchored by rookie All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and 25-year All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. They have untapped playmaker potential on offense with receivers Elijah Moore, Corey Davis and Garrett Wilson, the latter of whom posted negative reviews of his midseason quarterback. Zach Wilson is a young quarterback who failed to live up to expectations, seemingly losing the dressing room in the process when he refused to take responsibility for his mistakes.
The story goes on
Carr reviews many upgrade boxes in New York and could help the franchise end its 12-season playoff drought.
Derek Carr in a Jets uniform would make a lot of sense. (Rich Grässle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In Indianapolis, which has just started the season with playoff hopes and seven losses in a row, a lot is going wrong. But there is also reason for new hope for 2023 if the Colts make the right moves in the offseason. You need to hire a competent head coach. They need to get their draft pick (#4) right. And they need to find a quarterback.
The latter two could be resolved in one fell swoop if the Colts choose to draft a rookie quarterback. See Bryce Young, CJ Stroud or Will Levis. But there are enough seasoned talents on this team where bringing in Carr could prove a more attractive option. Defense should return stronger next season with a healthy Darius Leonard and a developing Kwity Paye alongside stalwarts like Stephon Gilmore, DeForest Buckner and Yannick Ngakoue.
The offense has playmakers in rising receiver Parris Campbell and 2021 rushing champion Jonathan Taylor, who saw his 2022 derailed by injuries. But it has glaring needs on the offensive line and on the wide receiver depth map. Carr’s acquisition could offer stability in a position that has angered the franchise since Andrew Luck’s retirement, while allowing it to meet other needs with premium draft positioning.
The Carson-Wentz experiment should be complete. It’s time to move on. Does this mean a perpetually dysfunctional franchise will make the right decision? It doesn’t. But if they do, commanders have a number of options as quarterback.
Give 2022 rookie Sam Howell a shot after an impressive NFL debut in the season finale in Washington. Return to Taylor Heinicke after head coach Ron Rivera lost confidence towards the end of the season. Check out the draft where the premium options are knocked off the board in 16th place. Or look at a veteran like Carr.
Giving Howell a chance makes a lot of sense, but the Commanders risk another quarterback dilemma if he doesn’t win the job. Going after Carr instead would bring quarterback stability to a team with talent on both sides of the ball that narrowly missed the playoffs 8-8-1.
The Panthers somehow emerged as late-season playoff contenders after a 5-1 start that saw them fire head coach Matt Rhule and trade franchise player Christian McCaffrey midseason. They didn’t make it into the postseason, but a 5-3 score under interim coach Steve Wilks salvaged a 7-10 season and set a promise for next season, prompting Carolina to hire Wilks full-time.
Like the other teams on this list, the quarterback has not been a position of strength. The Panthers traded from Baker Mayfield to PJ Walker and back to Mayfield before settling on Sam Darnold to finish the season. Has Darnold done enough to get another shot after a 4-2 equalizer in his six games as a starter? His five-year NFL resume suggests he hasn’t.
The Panthers would be better off with an upgrade at the position, and Carr could be enough to keep them competitive on the projects for another season of mediocre NFC South football.
This is the most intriguing option on the list. It would mean Tom Brady has gone elsewhere — maybe even to Carr’s soon-to-be former Raiders. Whether it’s the Raiders, retirement or elsewhere, Brady’s departure would leave a clear gap at quarterback in Tampa Bay that could prove good for Carr.
The Bucs have one of the best receiving tandems in football in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, whose ability to stretch the field is a big reason Tampa Bay is in the playoffs. While the rest of the roster wasn’t what it was when the Bucs won the Super Bowl two seasons ago, there’s enough here for Tampa Bay to stave off a rebuild should Brady leave, including a top 10 defense. Especially in a weak NFC south that will be up for grabs.
Carr’s profile doesn’t fit a team like the Houston Texans. The Texans definitely need a quarterback. But they are far from competitive and have the No. 2 draft pick. Drafting Young or Stroud – which offer enticing benefits and a long-term horizon – is the only game that makes sense.
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