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3 Reasons Raiders Should Move on From Derek Carr This Offseason

By Michael Luciano

Quarterback Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders prepares to throw against the Denver Broncos
Quarterback Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders prepares to throw against the Denver Broncos / Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The Oakland (read: Las Vegas) Raiders have a difficult choice to make at quarterback, as Derek Carr in 2019 continued to stay mired in that dreaded QB middle ground, never good enough to win playoff games but never bad enough to force the organization to move on. With Jon Gruden and Co. having just wrapped up another sub-.500 season, they should look to reboot this team by sending Carr elsewhere before they complete their big move to Sin City, principally for these three reasons.

3. He's Owed $62 Million Over the Next 3 Years

Carr on the sideline with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden
Carr on the sideline with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden / Jason O. Watson/Getty Images

Carr owns a five-year, $125 million contract with $70 million guaranteed, and those astronomical numbers are looking worse by the day. In terms of salary, Carr will be the ninth-highest paid quarterback in all of football next year, but he hasn't produced like a top-10 passer since his big year in 2016. Don't rule out Gruden and Mike Mayock opting for a more economical option behind center as they figure out how to compete in the AFC West.

2. The Offense Has Plateaued

Carr takes a hit in the backfield against the Los Angeles Chargers
Carr takes a hit in the backfield against the Los Angeles Chargers / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Carr might have had his two highest completion percentages and his only two 4,000-yard seasons under Gruden's watch, but the Raiders are far from an offensive juggernaut, as they ranked 24th in the league in points scored this season. Any way you slice it, that's a disappointment, especially given the emergence of rookie running back Josh Jacobs. Perhaps a different, more aggressive quarterback could change Oakland's fortune? The current situation simply isn't working.

1. Vegas, Baby, Vegas!

The big unveiling of the Las Vegas Raiders is on the horizon.
The big unveiling of the Las Vegas Raiders is on the horizon. / Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The impending move to Las Vegas presents the Raiders with a perfect opportunity to hit the reset button. With a new city and stadium beckoning, why not get a new quarterback, especially one that can generate buzz and intrigue as opposed to the certainly serviceable if unremarkable starting quarterback that Carr is? The late Al Davis would have swung for the fences at QB if he was running the show as it rolled into Vegas, and Gruden needs to channel ol' Mr. Davis in order to fix the Silver and Black offense.