Make a Final Decision on Derek Carr’s Future
Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr has been a bit of a question mark in terms of fit with the organization since Jon Gruden stepped in as head coach.
He is the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards and helped bring the team back to relevancy. However, for now he has just been a middle of the pack QB. Some fans/pundits wonder if Gruden and General Manager could move on from the Fresno State product.
If they were to do so, this offseason would be their best opportunity. Carr still has three years left on his contract. However, releasing him this offseason would create just $5 million in dead cap compared to the almost $28 million it would last season.
In 2019, Carr completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,054 yards and 21/8 TD/INT ratio. He averaged 7.9 yards per throw. The interceptions thrown were a new low for Carr and the yards were a career high. His passing yards ranked eighth among all quarterbacks. However, Carr’s 21 passing touchdowns ranked just 19th, tied with Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew.
He’s also coming off a a 2018 in which he threw for just 19 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. The year before Carr threw for his second lowest total of yards in a season. It’s not that Carr is bad, it’s just he is a middle of the pack quarterback that has yet to find real playoff success.
Carr’s play leads to speculation from fans and media members alike. CBS Sports Jason La Canfora reported that the Raiders have considered moving on from Carr in December of last year.
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote a piece in December asking the question if the Raiders should move on from Carr.
Even dating back to last year’s draft, many had mocked and picked the Raiders as the favorite to land former Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray.
This offseason, those rumors need to be put to bed. Either Las Vegas needs to stick by Carr and work at building around him, or draft a quarterback in the first round and start new at the position.
Either could be the right answer. It isn’t like Carr is a total failure. But if the Raiders become enamored with a quarterback in the draft, they cannot waffle on whether or not to pull the trigger.
Fans have been waiting for an answer and the organization must deliver. Another offseason of rumor and speculation about Carr’s future is not going to benefit the team.
As they enter 2020, the Raiders must be 100% invested in Derek Carr as their quarterback of the future, or be prepared to move on by selecting a signal caller in the first round.
