The Raiders WON’T Trade Derek Carr
Some talk this off season has been made surrounding the idea that the Raiders could move on from Derek Carr. While Carr struggled in 2018, it makes little sense to move him this offseason.
Coming into the 2018 season, Carr was voted to three straight Pro Bowls. He is just two years removed from a campaign in which he threw for 3,937 yards and a 28/6 TD/INT ratio. He isn’t Andrew Luck and he surely isn’t Patrick Mahomes, but Carr has been a feasible starter during his career.
The 2018 season also saw Carr lose his best weapon in Amari Cooper. It would be hard for most quarterbacks in the league to succeed with a receiving core headlined by Jordy Nelson and Seth Roberts. If the team adds more weapons this offseason, there’s a chance Carr bounces back to his pre-2018 form.
That being said, Carr hasn’t necessarily earned anything in Oakland. He has a record of just 32-46 and hasn’t won a playoff game. It makes total sense if the Raiders, especially with a new front office in place, want to bring in a new quarterback to mold.
However, if Gruden, Mayock and company want to do that, this is the wrong offseason to do so.
As mentioned multiple times, the 2019 NFL Draft is considered a weak quarterback class. While players such as Dwayne Haskins or Kyler Murray could hold more potential than Carr, there’s no certainty what their floor is. Moving on from Carr, while taking a chance on Haskins/Murray or any other early-round QB is a risk that could set the franchise back numerous seasons.
The 2020 QB class is considered much stronger. Players such as Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailo, Jake Fromm and Jacob Eason will all be available. The Raiders are better off building their team around Carr in 2019, seeing if he truly is a fit, before potentially adding a much better passing option in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Let’s say the Raiders want to move Carr and replace him via free agency. The top FA QB are likely Teddy Bridgewater, Nick Foles and Tyrod Taylor. Both Foles and Taylor are aging veterans. Foles has been talked up as an option, but he is still a risk and would be a band-aid on an offense that needs surgery. Bridgewater is young, but has been inconsistent during his NFL career.
The 2020 free agent QB class has players such as Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Jacoby Brissett as well as veterans like Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisburger. If the Raiders really want to move on at QB, spending up for a QB in the 2020 class makes much more sense.
Derek Carr might not be the most sexy pick right now, but he is arguably the best option. As Gruden tries to rebuild the Raiders, he will focus on other positions for at least one more season while keeping Carr under center.
