Derek Carr is arguably the worst quarterback in his own division, and that’s not even an insult. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback is good enough to have made three Pro Bowls and two playoff appearance during his eight seasons leading the Raiders. But he’s now buried in a division that includes two likely Hall of Famers in Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson, as well as a talented newcomer in the Chargers’ Justin Herbert.
The competitive division, plus Carr’s contract situation, leaves him at a crossroads with the Raiders.
Carr signed a 5-year, $125 million contract with the Raiders in 2017. His contract is set to expire after the 2022 season. The Raiders reportedly have not yet opened extension talks with Carr.
Other teams have taken a hint from the situation and inquired with the Raiders to see if they are interested in trading Carr.
According to Cleveland.com, the Browns have had Carr “on their radar” this offseason. The Indianapolis Colts also reportedly have trade interest in Carr.
Cleveland has Baker Mayfield, who in 2020 delivered the team’s best season in three decades. But Mayfield dealt with injuries last season and performed poorly as the team disappointed. The Colts are in need of a quarterback after trading Carson Wentz to Washington.
The Colts finished above .500 last season (and choked away a playoff spot), while the Browns were a playoff team the year before. It’s unclear if Carr is a definitive upgrade over a healthy Mayfield. But he might make a lot more sense for the Colts, who are in a weaker division and have just Sam Ehlinger at quarterback.
The question is: would the Raiders trade Carr and go into rebuilding mode? Or do they want to keep him despite the uphill battle to compete in their division? With a new coach and GM in the fold, they probably will want to keep the momentum rolling rather than go backwards. They likely wouldn’t have accepted the jobs without the intention of working with Carr, so the QB might not be going anywhere.
Photo: Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) before playing against the Baltimore Ravens at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
