Derek Carr loves playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. He gives everything he has to the organization and is grateful for what they’ve done for him. At the same time, he reserves his right to be frustrated with them at times. Most often during the many rumors of them flirting with potential new quarterbacks like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. This despite him already going to multiple Pro Bowls and playing his best football the past two years.
However, there is one other thing that sticks in his craw. Something he didn’t understand when it happened and doesn’t to this day. That being the decision to trade Khalil Mack. Carr admitted to Cris Collinsworth on his podcast that his initial reaction was shock. He couldn’t understand why. Up to that point, he and teammate Gabe Jackson had constructed their own contract extensions to where the Raiders would have enough cap space to keep Mack in the fold. So when the trade happened, it was blindsiding.
Three years later? Carr still hasn’t seen justification for it.
It isn’t hard to understand why Carr is still upset about that decision. While the Raiders did get a lot of draft picks in return for Mack from Chicago, none of them were guaranteed to be good players. Replacing a superstar like him was going to be a major headache that head coach Jon Gruden just didn’t seem to realize. Time has proven this true. His final two years in Oakland, the Raiders finished 20th in points allowed with Mack. Since his departure? They’ve finished 32nd, 24th, and 30th respectively.
What makes it sting even more is the Raiders have finished 7-9 and 8-8 the past two years. Those records were brought about by late-season collapses. The culprit in both instances? The defense. In 2019, the Raiders were 6-4. Then they gave up 34, 40, and 42 points in their next three games. All losses. Last season it was even worse. Again the Raiders marched out to a 6-3 mark. Then they went 1-5 in their next six games, giving up an average of 34 points per game.
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Derek Carr has every right to be upset
Having Mack would’ve made a significant difference. It may not have made the Raiders defense great, but at least average. That would’ve been enough to make the playoffs at least once given the way Carr and the offense were playing. Instead, the team remains in a drought dating back to 2016 and everybody is finding ways to blame the quarterback for it. You’d probably be annoyed by that too.
As for the trade itself? It doesn’t look great at all. Among the four players Las Vegas got in return including those two coveted 1st round picks? The only one who has emerged as decent is running back Josh Jacobs. The rest have disappointed. Considering how valuable pass rushers are in comparison to running backs?
It doesn’t feel like the Raiders got the favorable end of that deal.
The Bears even have a chance to make it worse if Cole Kmet becomes a viable starter at tight end. This should serve as a reminder that trading away potential Hall of Famers for big packages sounds great in theory. The problem is getting the picks is only half the battle. Turning those picks into productive players is the most important part. The Raiders haven’t done that, and Derek Carr has every right to be angry.
