Josh McDaniels‘ first try as a head coach involved an early feud with the team’s starting quarterback and a seismic trade occurring soon after. It does not appear the new Raiders HC has his sights set on a quarterback change to start his second HC go-round.
When asked by NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero if he was prepared to confirm Derek Carr would be Las Vegas’ Week 1 starter, McDaniels indicated there was “no doubt” this would be the case (video link). This follows a report that indicated mutual respect exists between Carr and the longtime Patriots offensive coordinator. This would be Carr’s ninth season as the Raiders’ QB1.
In Denver, McDaniels’ irking of Jay Cutler led to a stunning trade in April 2009, sending the 2008 Pro Bowler to Chicago for a package of picks. McDaniels trading up for Tim Tebow in the 2010 first round added to a dismal quarterback run for the young coach/de facto personnel czar in Denver. It seems McDaniels is eyeing a more stable start to his Raiders tenure.
Carr spent most of Jon Gruden‘s stay in trade rumors, but the Raiders kept going year to year with the Reggie McKenzie-era draftee. The Raiders brought in Marcus Mariota to push Carr in 2020, but the longtime starter staved off the former No. 2 overall pick. Mariota is on track for free agency again. Last season, Carr led the Raiders to the playoffs despite the midseason exits of Gruden and Henry Ruggs. Carr finished with a career-high 282.6 passing yards per game, though his QBR figure (52.4, 14th) dropped after back-to-back marks above 64 (10th, 11th).
The Raiders will soon need to make a decision on Carr, and McDaniels added (via Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed, on Twitter) the sides have not begun extension discussions yet. Carr’s $25MM-per-year contract — an NFL record when signed in June 2017 — runs through the 2022 season. If the Raiders are committed to the soon-to-be 31-year-old passer, they will need to authorize a big raise.
I’m not sure who they’d start otherwise. Any upgrade would involve a huge pursuit and it wouldn’t be wise to begin that before even evaluating the roster in practice. The options that are definitive upgrades over Carr are few and pricey, and I honestly see McDaniels attempting to invent his own starter after a season or two before I see him acquiring a veteran who may clash with his coaching.
Owners and GMs better get use to pricey upgrades because a decade from now a quality starter will cost $100M per year if the current passer centric model isn’t significantly modified.
They need to draft a QB in the next few years and hope he works out. Carr won’t last forever and there aren’t any clear upgrade alternatives available.
Carr is a solid QB and won’t lose games with bad decisions. He was able to put up respectable numbers despite the turmoil last season in Vegas. If we can land Devante Adams he will form a formidable stable of options along with Waller and Renfrow. If the offensive line improves and Jacobs can establish the run our offense will be flat out scary next season.
So we need a $25 mil+ WR, 4 of our 5 OL to improve, and Jacobs to stay healthy. We’re screwed lol
Spend the money on Derek! Then spend more on putting a team around him! Go get Adams!Spend the money Mark you got it.Shame and a disservice that in 9 years you haven’t put a team around the most underrated QB in pro ball…I mean you have to see that right? Your father(R.I.P.) would have spent every dime on a #1wide out…I saw him do it on a couple of #2’s