HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas raid announced Wednesday that they are sitting Derek Carrwho has been the team’s starting quarterback since they picked him in the second round of the 2014 draft and started Jarrett Stidham for their last two games, with Chasing Garbers as your backup.
“None of us are happy with where we are, but we think it’s an opportunity to gauge a young player who hasn’t had a lot of game time,” said freshman coach Josh McDaniels. “Derek is great. He understands our situation and circumstances and is very supportive of the two young men.
“He will do whatever he can to help them.”
This move certainly raises questions and we have the answers…
Why are the Raiders bench Carr now?
You could call it an insurance policy, because while the new Raiders regimen signed with Carr a three-year, $121.5 million extension this past spring, that includes a no-trade clause. , Las Vegas gave itself a three-day window after the Super Bowl to cut Carr with a minimum relative salary cap of a little over $5 million. And if Carr gets injured in these final two games, his $32.9 million salary for next season and his $7.5 million salary for 2024 will be guaranteed. So putting Carr in bubble wrap in the last two games would at least keep that injury-guaranteed factor.
Does this mean Carr is done in Vegas?
For all intents and purposes, yes. Even as McDaniels says there is no “finality” to the decision. Carr said in June 2021 that he would “probably” retire instead of playing for a team other than the Raiders, which would likely reduce his commercial value.
Carr said: “I would probably quit football if I had to play for someone else. at that time. “I’ve been a Raider all my life. … I’d rather get off the train, you know what I’m saying, if I have to.”
Keep stable.
How will Carr’s time as a Raider be remembered?
The most polarizing character in the history of the Raid franchise. Serious. Fans either love him to the point of defending any sling or arrows fired in his direction, or loathe him to the point of blaming him for literally everything that happened in his life. nine seasons he centered. And a lot of things went wrong.
Look, Carr – who played in the passer-friendly era – holds virtually every passing record in franchise history and is the top five QBs in franchise history behind Ken Stabler, Daryle Lamonica, Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon. Critics say Carr, who threw 3,522 yards with 24 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 2022 while registering a QBR 56.2, hasn’t been the same since breaking his right ankle in the penultimate game of the 2016 season.
Who is Jarrett Stidham?
Raiders New Start QB was purchased in a transaction with New England Patriots this past season after being placed in the fourth round of the 2019 draft from Auburn, where he moved after starting his college career at Baylor. So Stidham has backup experience brave cat and Mac Jones as well as Carr, but perhaps most importantly, McDaniels’ system is the only one he’s ever played on at the professional level.
Stidham has played 11 NFL games, throwing a total of 342 yards with two touchdown passes and four interceptions, and completed 52.5% of his passes, but Sunday will be his first professional game his.
Are the Raiders likely to find their 2023 starter in free agency, commercial or draft (and does Stidham stand a chance)?
One possible theory is that Brady, who was very familiar with the McDaniels system, having played for him for more than two decades in New England, came to Las Vegas as a stopover. Then the Raiders, who will have the option to pick in the top 10 if they lose, will outline their future QB. And if Stidham played well, that would be a good problem in this scenario, wouldn’t it?
Trading Carr, as long as he waives his trading ban clause, will also give the Raiders additional options and more mobility to move forward in the draft.
Could other changes come soon?
If you haven’t noticed, owner Mark Davis'”Rome was not built in a daycomment to ESPN a day after the Raiders’ embarrassing loss to the Colts brought Las Vegas to 2-7 and an emotional Carr crying on the podium said it all. Davis is invested more in the coach than in the quarterback.
Make the point that Davis once wanted to move on from Carr and sign Brady, only to be attacked by then-coach Jon Gruden, and, well, we have today. In terms of personnel, McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler had to call for the Pro Bowl to run again Josh Jacobs as well as linebacker Denzel Perryman, both are on contract year. Also, keep an eye on the status of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
