By: Kevin Le

It seems like every off-season, Derek Carr has had his name thrown around in trade rumors that never fall through. This has been a constant trend for him, especially having a quarterback guru head coach like Jon Gruden. The Las Vegas Raiders moving on from Carr would be a mistake and one that will have a ripple effect. Finding a solid starting quarterback in the NFL can be a hard and tricky situation. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden already have a quarterback in Carr that doesn’t need development and a fresh start. Carr has proved that he is the right guy for the job when he has the right pieces around him. With free agency soon to start, the Raiders should use their resources and energy to put more talent around Carr. There are many problems with the Raiders, but number 4 is not at the top of the list. 

Keep the Carr Parked

Derek Carr just wrapped up his third year with Jon Gruden and it was one where he looked very comfortable. Carr had an under-the-radar successful season throwing for twenty-seven touchdowns with only nine interceptions. It was a career year for Carr in passing yards, yards per attempt, passer rating, and QBR. Each year in this new system, Carr has gotten better and better and is becoming the quarterback Gruden wanted. In this past season, Carr proved he can be an elite quarterback when given the right talent to work with. This Raiders offense led by Carr only showed flashes of what they can continue to be in this coming season. Having Carr as the starting quarterback in 2021 will only elevate this team towards its lofty goals. 

Not him, then Who?

If Derek Carr were to be replaced as the starter, there are names that come to mind to take over. Those quarterbacks who are linked to the Raiders this off-season are Texans Deshaun Watson and Seahawks Russell Wilson. The names above are not free agents yet, so the Raiders would have to pull off a big trade. This team would have to give up a lot of assets to acquire one of these guys which could hurt them. Watson and Wilson are top ten quarterbacks in the NFL, but the cost might be too much in the end. Carr has shown he is not that far off with the level of talent in Watson and Wilson. Replacing Carr as the starter for the Raiders would be a huge mistake given what he did last season. 

The Decision Makers 

The two people who decide Derek Carr’s future are General Manager Mike Mayock and Head Coach Jon Gruden. Early on in Gruden’s second stint with the Raiders, there was a narrative that he did not want Carr anymore. The media had a lot to do with that trend because they wanted a controversial headline out of that situation. Mayock and Gruden have come forward multiple times and spoke highly of Carr being the starting quarterback of this team. If the head of the team constantly says that their quarterback is doing great then the answer lies there. Carr had one of his best seasons under Gruden’s offense and is only getting more comfortable as the years pass. Teams have called and offered for Carr already this off-season, but the answer has been a big no. The Raiders front office is committed to Carr and has been for a while now. 

Prediction

The starting quarterback for the Raiders in 2021 will be Derek Carr and he will have much to prove. There is too much to give up to get another quarterback and Carr is still playing in his prime. The Raiders as an organization will stick with Carr because they see the upside in him and his potential. Another year in Gruden’s offense will only make Carr even better because he will have more experience learning the system. Throughout all of the trade rumors and storylines, Carr will stand behind center for the Raiders this season. Last season, the Raiders stood at 6-4 with momentum to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Carr will have an MVP-type season and lead his team back into the playoffs where they belong. In the end, Carr will have the last laugh and have a chance to silence his critics.

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