Well, it has begun. The Las Vegas Raiders are now setting the wheels in motion for a possible trade surrounding besieged quarterback Derek Carr. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the “process of evaluating the trade market” has begun in Sin City.
You can’t be too surprised by this development if you’re a Raiders fan. The trio of Carr, head coach Josh McDaniels, and general manager Dave Ziegler were headed for divorce. Looking back, Carr’s contract that he signed in 2022 was essentially a tryout. Now, in turn, it can be seen for what it was: a “one and done” type of deal. Expectations were sky-high as the Raiders were coming off a playoff appearance and had traded for superstar wide receiver Davante Adams. Regrettably, the team fell quite short of this forecast.
Sources: The #Raiders will begin the process of evaluating the trade market for QB Derek Carr, as they prepare for a decision on their QB for the future. This points to the possibility of Carr, who holds a no-trade clause and will be part of the process, leaving the organization. pic.twitter.com/zvZvGv8cQ5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2023
Raiders News: It’s only a matter of time now for Derek Carr
The fact is, the Raiders had decided that they’d seen enough from Carr earlier in the season. In actuality, just weeks into the season, McDaniels and Co. knew Carr wasn’t the long-term answer. You have to wonder, though, what if the team had managed to truly rally and make the postseason? Surely, team brass couldn’t have justified jettisoning a signal-caller who had led a team to back-to-back playoff appearances.
Regardless, what’s done is done regarding Carr. The Raiders will save some money by doing away with No. 4, and now they must turn their attention to the position. Is the answer Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo? Do they go with a rookie signal-caller? The answer might lie elsewhere; maybe that one guy in Green Bay can help the Raiders. As far as Carr is concerned, he can still flourish in the right situation. He needs a team that’s playoff-ready with a solid offensive line and a plethora of weapons to succeed, however. One thing is certain: Carr should not play for the New York Jets. We’ll see how all of this plays out in the coming weeks.
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*Top Photo: Don Wright/Associated Press