A few factors look to be holding up Derek Carr trade talks. While the Raiders are set to explore dealing their nine-year starting quarterback, they are not letting Carr control the process at this point.
The Raiders have not given Carr’s agent permission to speak with other teams about a deal, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. Carr holds a no-trade clause and will not be on Las Vegas’ roster by mid-February; his $40.4MM guarantee vests Feb. 15. But the Raiders might be leery of letting Carr’s agent discuss potential landing spots for his client in free agency.
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With Carr having the power to shoot down any trade, Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes the team could be aiming to maintain control of this process out of concern negotiations for a Feb. 16 free agency agreement would take place rather than trade talks. Carr moving the guarantee vesting date back could improve his chances of landing elsewhere via trade, but Tafur notes he has no plans to do so. Carr and the Raiders are still on decent terms, however, per Breer. This process is not guaranteed to end with a trade, but with the Raiders prepared to move on anyway, Carr having the chance to both pick his new team and sign another contract could be in the cards.
This year’s Senior Bowl will take place Feb. 4, and teams are arriving in Mobile, Ala., for the run of practices that double as a meeting ground. But this year’s slow-moving head coaching carousel may well be affecting Carr talks. Four teams have not hired a head coach. Perhaps more importantly in Carr’s case, others — including the Commanders, Buccaneers and Titans — have not hired an offensive coordinator. The 31-year-old passer will undoubtedly want to discuss his potential fit with teams before agreeing to a trade, and with some potentially interested parties not having their ducks in a row yet, relevant information has not yet emerged.
Another robust QB market is also likely affecting Carr’s pre-free agency sweepstakes. Daniel Jones, Geno Smith and Lamar Jackson are technically on track for free agency, but those QBs’ teams are unlikely (or dead-set against, in Baltimore’s case) to let them hit the market. Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo certainly appear open to changing teams, and teams will be interested in them once the market opens in mid-March. Aaron Rodgers trade winds are blowing again, and these look like stiffer gusts compared to the 2021 and ’22 offseasons. Teams interested in Carr would need to make this commitment early, thus removing themselves from adding other available arms.
The Commanders, Jets and Saints have been linked as early Carr pursuers, though the Jets are now understandably — given the Nathaniel Hackett component — being tied to Rodgers. But Gang Green is still looking into Carr. The Commanders discussed Carr with the Raiders last year and make sense as a suitor this year as well, even if they are interested in further evaluating Sam Howell. It will be interesting to see what teams are willing to send the Raiders assets now for Carr and which prefer to weigh their options once the market opens. It will also be worth monitoring if teams will be prepared to pay that $40.4MM or if a Carr trade will be contingent on a new deal or a restructure. For now, the Raiders are sitting tight and hoping for clarity.
Looks like Mark Davis’s carr broke down on the I-15
Classy franchise stays classy.
Classy franchise is finally using smart business ethics to try to maximize the trade potential.
I am excited for Carr to get a new start somewhere and for the Raiders to bring in a new exciting name at QB and fill the seats. They have a lot of weapons on offense and unfortunately, as seen by Stidham’s ability to move the ball as a 3rs stringer well, this is simply not a fit for what Carr does best.
Good opportunity for a win-win situation to take place.
Agreed. But the raiders really should give him more respect for what he’s done with professional sports most dysfunctional franchise
What has he done exactly?
Among other things he’s had to be the team spokesmen for all the mishaps that have happened over the last 9 years.
Are people really still going on about Stidham? He was horrible in his second game. 6.1 ypa and a 31.1 QBR. Carr was clearly still the better option.
Doesn’t he have to be traded first for him to speak with teams? Whoever wrote this article is dumb
It’s pretty common to let prominent veterans who are clearly on their way out talk to possible trade destinations. That’s the only way extensions happen so quickly after trades.
“Doesn’t he have to be traded first for him to speak with teams?”
Not if they give him permission. They probably will eventually.
I’m thinking you didn’t read the article.
Or at the very least, comprehend it.
He has a no trade clause. So it’s smart to let him talk to teams, so he can give them his approval in a trade.
The raiders don’t want to do this quite yet, because being that he may become a FA — the Raiders don’t want to have him making a FA deal behind their back. Which is smart.
The guy has a no trade clause, so if he wanted to be uncooperative, he could be. Not working with him could cost the Raiders a LOT more than it could cost Carr…
How? The Raiders will just release him and sign a FA. It’s not like they’re getting first round picks for Carr and that contract.
There’s no way they release him and eat all that dead money.
If he signs with another team as a FA, would the Raiders get compensatory picks in the draft (unclear if this year or next)? The comp pick may be better than they’d get in a trade…
I don’t believe they get one if they cut him, which they’d have to do in this situation.