Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr visited the New York Jets this weekend. As reported by Connor Hughes of SNY, the meeting itself went “very well.” The Jets, for their part, surely feel that they’re a quarterback away from becoming contenders. Under head coach Robert Saleh, the Jets have assembled one of the best defenses in the NFL. Unfortunately, their quarterback play was a disaster in 2022. It goes without saying that the Jets are a potential landing spot.
All of this was a result of the Silver and Black releasing the former face of the franchise about a week ago. Head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler obviously have plans for the future that don’t include the Pro Bowl quarterback. While it was simply a visit with the Jets’ brass, it appears both sides are doing their due diligence, with nothing imminent yet.
Should the Jets go all in on Derek Carr?
With the quarterback position in New York uncertain, Carr would have an ideal opportunity to win the hearts of Jets fans and possibly lead the team to a winning or at least .500 season. Last season was a mess for the team, as they ended the season with a 7-10 record and multiple inconsistencies with their quarterbacks. There are plenty of quarterbacks whose futures are uncertain. Most notably on that list are Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and Daniel Jones.
However, this can also play out against Carr if he isn’t the chosen one to bring an end to the drought in New York. He will have to be cautious with his decision as the future of his career is also at stake. Unless he is strictly playing for the check or strongly believes in the Jets, it would be wise for him to understand his style of football and whether it properly blends or not.
This still gives Carr the opportunity to be the first to sound the alarm for any teams interested in him or needing to fill that position. The Jets currently have a $224,800,000 NFL salary cap for 2023 before any rollovers, which allows them to bring in Carr, who has playoff and Pro Bowl experience as well as knowledge of how to adjust to a new coaching staff.
Maybe it will be the New Orleans Saints?
This is the second team that Carr has visited, as he met with the New Orleans Saints while he was still under contract with the Raiders but turned that trade down. He signed a no-trade clause last April, which allowed him to make this decision, which means if he does sign with the Saints, it will be as a free agent. Carr was the Raiders’ QB for nine consecutive seasons and, during that time, became the team’s all-time passing leader with a total of 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns.
With the right fit and the proper moves, Carr can easily help a team by being the final piece of the puzzle for them. The 10th year quarterback has shown time after time that he has what it takes both on and off the field to be an influential leader, but Vegas just wasn’t the right fit for him. Regardless of where he goes, Derek Carr has shown that he can quickly adjust to the madness going on both inside and outside of the locker room.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/Matt York