NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Las Vegas Raiders made a tough decision this season regarding QB Derek Carr and now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers must step in. Tom Brady may retire or move on but the truth is, he and the Buccaneers are no longer the fit they were a few years ago. It’s time for the Bucs to find a new signal caller, and thanks to the Raiders being the Raiders, Carr is the man they need to snatch up.
Teams such as the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and maybe even the Indianapolis Colts are looking to build success for the next 5-10 years, and Carr, at the age of 31 should be out of the question. With each team focused on the Draft and with it being such a QB-rich marketplace, Carr’s services will be needed by teams that are ready to contend with bonified playmakers at his disposal.
While the New York Jets are likely to ring his agent’s phone, he should expect one from the Atlanta Falcons, and maybe even the New Orleans Saints. But none of those teams can give him a better chance at competing for a Super Bowl than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs are a stout defensive team but the offensive side of the ball is where their magic is. Think about it like this. Brady, at the age of 45 and on the complete downside of his career, still managed to pass for 4694 yards and 25TDs. Imagine what a gunslinger like Carr could do with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Should The Buccaneers Trade For Derek Carr?
Evans snagged 77 passes for 1126 yards in 15 games while his counterpart Godwin snagged 104 passes for 1093 yards. Put them with Carr who loves the deep ball, and the Bucs will stay atop the NFC South for the next few years and be contenders in the NFC.
What the naysayers will point to with Carr is that he supposedly had a down year. His 60.8 completion percentage was the lowest of his career since his rookie season. He threw 14 interceptions in 15 games, he attempted 502 passes which was the least of his career, and yet, he had the Raiders still in contention. It may have been a down year in terms of production but he also had the league-leading rusher in Josh Jacobs behind him. Carr did what was asked of him, and like most QBs, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But he’s still worth a shot.
Another thing to factor in for Carr this season was his playmakers. Yes, having Devante Adams was a blessing but other than him, no other receiver caught more than 60 passes. It was Carr, Adams, and Jacobs all season long. With the Bucs, he has an abundance of receivers and TEs who can get open to the point where nothing should be forced.
What this will come down to is compensation. What is the Raiders’ asking price for Derek Carr? He’s still under contract for 3 years with a base salary of $32.9M (23), $41.9 (’24), and $41.2 (’25). The Buccaneers do have draft capital and while they are short in terms of salary cap space moves can be made to get a deal down to swallow Carr’s contract.
What’s astonishing about the Bucs is that one would think this is a team that’s been fighting Father Time. No, only Brady is in that fight. The playmakers for the Bucs are in their prime. Evans is the oldest of the band and he’s only 29 yards old. Adding a guy like Carr is not the same as adding Brady when he was a free agent. Time is on their side so to speak.
What this will come down to is how serious are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when it comes to winning. Brady may play another year but there is no way the Bucs should let him return to this roster. The team needs a new arm leading them and as it was with Brady, Derek Carr may just fall right into the laps are the right time.
