It’s been no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders were moving on at the quarterback position this off-season. They made that official on Tuesday when they released veteran starter, Derek Carr.
as Vegas Raiders quarterback, Derek Carr, playing against the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021. Photo Credit: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite nine sometimes spectacular seasons with the team, the 2014 second-round pick never won a single playoff game and often mixed flashes of brilliance with inconsistent play.
He was benched late this season, and that’s when the rumors began to swirl that he wouldn’t be returning to Sin City in 2023.
Derek Carr via Raiders YouTube
Carr did not hold a farewell news conference, instead posting a goodbye to the fans on social media following the regular season.
Derek Carr Instagram
The QB made a trip last week to visit with the New Orleans Saints, who had expressed interest in him as a starter. However, he called an audible on any potential move to the Bayou, backing out of the two teams’ working trade proposal. With no other deals left on the table, the Raiders had no choice but to cut ties with Carr.
“We have a lot of respect for Derek Carr and what he has meant to the Raiders organization for the last nine years,” coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler said in a statement. “Derek has done great things in this league and we’re thankful to have been able to work with him this past year.”
“He is a true professional and we appreciate his hard work in striving to produce the results we all desire. We wish Derek and his family all the best in the future,” the statement concluded.
Las Vegas Raiders Twitter
The question now is: Where will Derek Carr play next year?
The former Raiders quarterback will be one of the more coveted free agents on the market, especially in a year where a lot of shuffling is taking place at that position.
Teams like Washington, Indianapolis, Carolina, and several others could be soft landing spots for the talented passer. They could also be teams that he could quickly lead to the postseason.
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While Carr hasn’t experienced a significant run in the playoffs, most observers feel like it hasn’t been totally his fault. During his tenure with the Raiders, the organization went through a lot of changes and upheaval (including a total move of the franchise), and many feel a change of scenery would do the quarterback a lot of good. The belief that he has the talent of a legitimate ‘franchise player’ still hasn’t completely faded.
In a solid NFL career, the 6’3″, 210-pound gunslinger is 64.6% in career completions and has thrown for 217 touchdowns with 99 interceptions. He has a career QB Rating of 91.8 and has avoided any major injuries after nearly a decade in the league.
Derek Carr via Raiders YouTube
But beyond his size, strength, and stats are Carr’s immeasurables. He also carries himself with the swagger of a fourth-quarter hero, and he has the talent to match. He’s got a lot of the ‘Big Man on Campus’ mentality that it takes to deliver a team to the promised land. He just hasn’t had the right opportunity yet. At least, not in the eyes of some around The League.
Several head coaches and offensive coordinators in the NFL right now would like to say they were able to tap into his massive potential. So, in 2023? We’ll find out who gets the next shot at ‘The Derek Carr Project’.
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