4:05pm: Although Carr said Thursday night the Raiders have not granted he and his agent permission to speak to trade partners, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes (via Twitter) the team has done so — but only for suitors who have agreed to the team’s desired compensation. It is unclear if any team has offered sufficient compensation, but the Raiders are attempting to follow the Texans’ Deshaun Watson path. Vic Tafur of The Athletic points to no conversations having yet occurred (Twitter link).
Houston only let Watson meet with teams that met the trade price; four finalists emerged. The Carr process will unfold much differently. The Raiders will not land anything close to what the Texans did — three first-round picks and change — in the March 2022 sweepstakes, but they will let Carr discuss a fit with franchises that are willing to pay up.
10:54am: From what has become an alternate-heavy Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas, Derek Carr addressed his unusual situation with the Raiders. The nine-year veteran confirmed he has not been given permission to speak with other teams about a trade.
Rumored to be concerned Carr’s agent will use that permission to negotiate with teams about his client’s potential free agency rather than talking trade fits, the Raiders are attempting to maintain control of this process. But teams look to be willing to wait out Las Vegas here.
As of now, quarterback-needy teams are expecting the Raiders to release Carr, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Teams are recognizing the Raiders’ limited leverage here. The team made no secret of wanting to move on, having benched Carr for its final two games in an effort to prevent an injury affecting his contract. The Raiders would owe Carr $40.4MM on Feb. 15, and with a dead-money charge of just $5.6MM due with a release, they can save $29MM-plus by moving on.
Carr confirmed he will not adjust the uniquely structured contract to move the vesting date back, indicating (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) “I don’t think that would be best for me.” The longest-tenured QB1 in Raiders history could be less than two weeks from hitting the open market a month before the rest of this year’s lot of free agent passers. Teams are already doing work on Carr, with the Jets, Saints and Commanders three known suitors.
“That’s for [the Raiders] to talk about,” Carr said when asked about the Raiders’ refusal to permit talks with other teams. “I’m just obeying the rules. If it gets to the date [and I get released], then I’ll be able to talk to all my friends.”
Carr, 31, holds a no-trade clause, further limiting the Las Vegas’ options. Still, second-year Raiders GM Dave Ziegler said during a SiriusXM Radio interview (via NFL.com) he expects teams to begin contacting him on a Carr trade. A few prospective Carr suitors — the Buccaneers, Commanders and Titans — have yet to hire an offensive coordinator, adding another complication to these slow-moving midwinter trade sweepstakes.
Aaron Rodgers‘ status figures to also affect certain teams’ Carr pursuits. With Rodgers a candidate to be traded well after Carr, teams that believe they can acquire the future Hall of Famer may be willing to wait. The Jets come to mind here, but the Packers’ disinterest in sending Rodgers to an NFC team would make that conference’s QB-needy franchises more likely Carr fits. Tom Brady‘s second retirement, which he chose over coming back to the Bucs for a fourth season, would stand to make Tampa Bay an interested party. Ditto Washington, New Orleans and possibly Atlanta. The Commanders attempted to engage the Raiders in Carr trade talks last year, and they are open to adding a veteran yet again.
It appears one of these teams will add a starting quarterback early, following the likes of the Rams in 2021 (Matthew Stafford) or Washington in 2018 (Alex Smith). Will said team end up acquiring Carr in free agency?
Love the guy, not a fan of the player, inconsistent.
Nice guys do not win games. The Raiders offense passed up Carr’s ability. Its time.
As a Jets fan, I’d vastly prefer signing Carr as a free agent to trading huge draft capital for Rodgers’ contract.
Jets are over the cap, so have to release and/or restructure contracts in order to get a veteran QB.
Sure, but that’s going to be true regardless. They’re barely over the cap and creating some space won’t be too hard, both in cutting some guys and gaining flexibility by extending Quinnen.
Going to be really easy for them to open up significant money without a huge hit (release/restructure Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios, Carl Lawson, etc.).
With this being the likeliest scenario let’s hope that someone offers a 3rd round pick and Carr accepts the trade. With no leverage we should just take the best we can get and move forward. After all, we drafted Parham in the 3rd round and that has worked out well so far. It’s not like we can’t find a solid player on day 2.
He has a no trade clause. He is going to deny every trade the raiders want. Even if its his preferred destination, he doesnt want his new team to lose resources.
If a team Carr wants to play for is willing to trade for him, it’s in his best interest to take the trade. With the trade he will get to keep his contract and will not have to re-negotiate a new one, that would probably be more cap friendly.
Well this aged well @rose
I guess Mark Davis’s brilliant plan is to bring Mike Glennon or DeShone Kizer back to replace Carr.
Jimmy g is already done
Like to see the Texas pick him up and trade up with Cleveland’s pick at 12 to get Nevis. We have pick 33 as well. I think 12&33 moves is up 5 spots or so. Not drafting Young helps Nevis slip past Indy. We start Carr for a couple years and he either flames out or rebuilds value.
Do you mean Levis? If Carr isn’t released before the draft, he’s probably not going to accept a trade to a team that drafted a quarterback in the 1st round. That would make him a bridge quarterback and he’s not going to want that. I see a Mayfield like standoff for Carr and the Raiders. Teams waited for the Browns to release Mayfield
Carr shouldn’t talk to any team until he’s cut. They screwed him, why should he do favors in getting the Raiders higher draft picks? Personally, he’s marginal. 1(?) playoff game in 10 years? But there are always desperate teams, like the Colts as recent example.
I consider him to be a top 15 QB, and the stats support it. He’s a leader too. No one catches as much undeserved flak as Carr.
I absolutely agree he shouldn’t do the Raiders any favors though. They did him wrong. He should force them to cut him. I’d do it for the petty side of it, but also because the structure of that contract is ridiculously unfriendly to him. Even if he gets a few million less, make some team guarantee a nice chunk of it.
I believed this as well coming into last season, and while I believe he may have been passed by a few guys this past year, the real issue is McDaniels. LV will win nothing with him and will continue to alienate their best players. Waller’s probably off to greener pastures next, and it’s only a matter of time before Adams (who is fine right now, granted) realizes this isn’t what he signed up for and asks out again.
Arty, do you think he’s gonna get the same salary if he’s cut? I don’t. I think that’s why they are waiting for him to get released. It’s just like Mayfield. Teams may want him, but not at that salary. I imagine he can restructure his salary but I wonder how that can happen if the Raiders didn’t give him permission to seek out a trade
Valid point. Would you trade a 2nd for him and pay that salary then? I wouldn’t.
I don’t think it’d take a 2nd. The Cowboys were in the same situation last year with Cooper where teams were waiting for him to be released but Cleveland swooped in and got him for a 5th. There were probably a half dozen of teams that would have done that deal but they gambled on his release and lost. If someone really wants him, they should make the deal but only if he’s their top target. I believe he’s the best deal out there. Jackson and Rodgers may be better quarterbacks but they’ll cost so much more in salary and compensation. Carr is better and less of an injury risk than Jimmy G. Brady retired. The rest are backups
That’s my hope as a Raider fan. There are a lot more teams without a QB, than there are available choices. If I were the Jets, for example, am I going to gamble that I can land Rodgers, Jackson or Garappolo, both of whom might not be as good as Carr (age, money & injuries)?
Someone will pay, imho. Otherwise, if I were the Raiders, I’d keep him.
It’s gonna be hard to keep him. They basically sent him home and said that they don’t want him anymore. Hard to come back from that. The only way Carr has the slightest chance is if McDaniels gets fired and that’s not happening before the season
Carr is a poormans Favre.
He would fit well in New Orleans.
Trade Carr and Adams for Rodgers, heads up even trade. Win-Win for everyone.