HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders announced Wednesday that they were sitting Derek Carrwho’s been the team’s starting quarterback since they selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft, and starting Jarrett Stidham for their last two games, with Chase Garbers as its backup.
“None of us are happy with where we are, but we think it’s an opportunity to assess a younger player who hasn’t had a lot of time to play,” the club said. first-year coach Josh McDaniels. “Derek was brilliant. He understands the scenario we’re in and the situation and is very supportive of the two young guys.
“He will do whatever he can to help them.”
The move undoubtedly raises questions, and we have answers…
Why do the Raiders bench Carr now?
Call it an insurance policy, of sorts, because while the new Raiders’ regime signed Carr to that three-year, $121.5 million extension last spring, which included a no-trade clause, Las Vegas gave itself a three-day window after the Super Bowl to cut Carr for a relatively minimal salary cap of just over $5 million. And if Carr were to get injured in those final two games, his $32.9 million salary for next season and $7.5 million of his salary for 2024 would become guaranteed. So putting Carr in bubble wrap for the last two games at least keeps that injury guarantee factor at bay.
Does that mean Carr is done in Vegas?
For all intents and purposes, yes. Even though McDaniels said there was no “finality” in the decision. Carr said in June 2021 that he would “probably” retire rather than play for a team other than the Raiders, which would apparently lower his trade value.
“I would probably quit football if I had to play for someone else,” Carr said. at the time. “I’ve been a Raider for my whole life. … I’d rather go down with the ship, you know what I’m saying, if I have to.”
Stay tuned.
How will Carr’s time as the Raider be remembered?
As the most polarizing character in Raiders franchise history. Seriously. Fans loved him to the point of defending any sling or arrow thrown his way, or hated him to the point of blaming him for literally everything that went wrong in his nine seasons under centre. And many have gone wrong.
Look, Carr – who played in assisting times – holds virtually every passing record in franchise history and is one of the top five QBs in franchise history behind Ken Stabler, Daryle Lamonica , Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon. Critics said Carr, who threw for 3,522 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2022 while posting a 56.2 QBR, hasn’t been the same since turning up. broke his right ankle in the penultimate game of the 2016 season.
Who is Jarret Stidham?
The Raiders’ new starting QB was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots This last offseason after being taken in the fourth round of the 2019 draft at Auburn, where he had transferred after starting his college career at Baylor. So Stidham has experience in backing up Tom Brady and McJones as well as Carr, but, perhaps most importantly, McDaniels’ system is the only system he has ever played in professionally.
Stidham has played in 11 NFL games, throwing for 342 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions and completing 52.5% of his passes, but Sunday will be his first professional start.
Are the Raiders likely to find their 2023 starter in free agency, trade or draft (and does Stidham have a chance)?
According to one working theory, Brady, who knows McDaniels’ system intimately, having played for him for the better part of two decades in New England, comes to Las Vegas as a stopgap. Then the Raiders, who would hold a top-10 pick if they lost, would draft their QB of the future. And if Stidham plays well, then that would be a good problem to have in that scenario, right?
Trading Carr, as long as he waives his no-trade clause, would also give the Raiders additional picks and more mobility to advance in the draft.
What other changes could be coming soon?
If you weren’t paying attention, owner Mark Davis”Rome wasn’t built in a daycomment to ESPN the day after the Raiders’ embarrassing loss to the Colts that dropped Las Vegas to 2-7 and an emotional Carr cried on the podium all said. Davis is more invested in the coach than the quarterback.
Add to that the thought that Davis once wanted to leave Carr and sign Brady, only to have the move torpedoed by then-coach Jon Gruden and, well, here we are today. On the personal side, McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler must call on the running back of the Pro Bowl Josh Jacobs as well as linebacker Denzel Perryman, both in contract years. Also keep an eye on the status of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
0 Comments