After nine years, the Derek Carr era is over – officially.
In late December, after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels officially announced his decision to shelf Derek Carr for the remainder of the year. McDaniels stated the move was simply to “evaluate the team’s younger quarterbacks,” but there was always more to it than that. This move, in fact, signaled the end of a nine-year era with Derek Carr as the Raiders’ quarterback.
As time passed, McDaniels was very open with Carr about what was going on. The 31-year-old signal caller understood it was nothing more than business, and had his sights set on the next chapter of his career. There was still one thing that went unsettled, though; how the Raiders would move on from Carr.
On Tuesday, the team answered that question by officially informing the Fresno State alum that he has been released, Adam Schefter reported.
With this move, approximately $29 million in cap space has been freed. That number accounts for the $5.6 million dead cap hit the Raiders take upon Carr’s release. Now, Las Vegas finds themselves with plenty of flexibility to move as they please this offseason; including the possible addition of Aaron Rodgers, whose cap hit in 2023 is $31 million.
Signing off after nine years of Raiders’ football
Being drafted in 2014, Derek Carr came in and instantly wrote his name in the Silver and Black’s history books, becoming the first rookie quarterback to start for the Raiders in Week 1. As the years went on, Carr would claim more franchise records. These records include: Most passing yards (35,222), most passing touchdowns (217), as well as both highest passer rating (91.8) and completion percentage (64.6%) among quarterbacks who started at least 10 games.
2016 stands as Carr’s most memorable campaign, for both Carr and Raider Nation.
After finishing 7-9 one year prior, Carr and the Raiders pieced together a 12-win season to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. After a 12-2 start, the team’s QB1 suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16 against the Colts, leading to a one-and-done postseason experience.
Carr ended the year finishing third in MVP voting, accomplishing incredible feats along the way. He became the third quarterback in league history to throw for 500+ passing yards with at least four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a single game, breaking the record for most game-winning passing touchdowns in a season when it was all said and done.
With the Derek Carr-era now behind the Raiders, Raider Nation waits to see who their next quarterback will be.
*Top photo: Rick Scuteri/Associated Press