As the dust settles from the 2023 NFL Draft, there have been some interesting developments in the world of the Las Vegas Raiders. One such tidbit surrounds the Raiders’ jettisoned signal-caller, Derek Carr. Also, could Dave Ziegler’s prized acquisition from a year ago, Chandler Jones, lose his starting job to this year’s much-heralded rookie, Tyree Wilson? Let’s recap an interesting week for the Silver and Black in another edition of Raiders Notes.
Carr’s time with the Silver and Black has come and gone. Naturally, many Raiders fans draw a collective sigh when they hear his name. That’s not necessarily due to the man himself; rather, it speaks to how exhausting and divisive the topic was for years. Still, the way in which his exit was handled continues to draw criticism from both sides of the “Carr debate.”
In the end, both parties simply walked away, as the Raiders received no compensation for Carr. But what about prior to Ziegler and Josh McDaniels’ arrival with the Raiders?
Former Raiders GM Mike Mayock Gives A Little Insight To Derek Carr’s Value
Regardless of how you feel about Mike Mayock’s tenure as general manager, the man did right by Carr. Looking back, Carr’s trade value was likely at its highest during that span, especially from 2019 through 2020. It’s easy to forget that No. 4 threw for 48 touchdowns with just 17 interceptions in those seasons. So, when Mayock says that Carr was worth more than a first-round pick, it’s not all that surprising.
I thought Derek Carr was a top-12 quarterback; I took the phone calls from people trying to trade for him, and he was worth more than a first-round draft pick. -Mike Mayock via the Green Light Podcast
While Mayock displayed restraint and didn’t give any more details, it’s still something worth noting. What would the Raiders have looked like had they shipped off Derek Carr for multiple picks? Well, it looks like that’ll go down as another “what-if” in team history.
A potential camp battle: Tyree Wilson vs. Chandler Jones?
No one doubts that Chandler Jones was, at one point, one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers. Unfortunately, after getting a big pay check signed off by Ziegler, Jones did little to back up that notion. When it was time for the Raiders to make their first-round selection, they opted to add Wilson. It’s early, with training camp still a ways away, but Wilson technically sits behind Jones on unofficial depth charts.
As we head into a pivotal campaign for the Ziegler regime, the Raiders need all hands on deck. More importantly, they need maximum productivity from said hands. Can Jones still be the impactful player Ziegler thought he was getting last offseason? He’ll be 33 at the start of his second season with the Raiders, plus he’s coming off a major injury.
As far as Wilson goes, he’s raw, yes, but the talent is undeniable. His physical traits are otherworldly, especially his length, but he’s an unfinished product currently. At the same time, the good could outweigh the reservations that observers have. Especially when you take into account Wilson’s versatility; the team’s assistant general manager, Champ Kelly, himself said so following the draft.
“We thought he [Wilson] was extremely versatile. He played all across the front, so you can line up with Maxx and Chandler and those guys and still find a role to help us rush the quarterback. We’ve even seen him drop (in coverage) in some clips, so we’re excited about that, too,” said Kelly. If Jones is indeed reduced to a rotational role, that would’ve been a lot of serious coin spent on underwhelming production that could’ve been had for a cheaper price. It looks like Tyree Wilson might end up giving Chandler Jones a run for his money, no pun intended.
*Top Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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