QB Derek Carr, NO (1 Viewer)

Speaking Tuesday, Raiders GM Mike Mayock admitted the team is open to replacing Derek Carr.

"Derek Carr played at a high level," Mayock began. "I was very happy with Derek Carr." He then cut to the chase. "Every position gets evaluated every year, and if we can upgrade it, we will." It's innocuous enough, but teams that aren't considering changing quarterbacks say so. This does not mean the Raiders are for sure moving on, but they are certainly remaining flexible as the onset of an unusually deep quarterback market approaches. Moving on from Carr would not be cap prohibitive, instead creating $13.6 million in space.

SOURCE: Zack Cox on Twitter

Feb 25, 2020, 11:33 AM ET

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DEREK CARR QB, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Raiders GM Mike Mayock said, "We feel really good about the quarterback position."

In a pre-draft interview, Mayock expressed satisfaction with his two quarterbacks, Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota, but the Raiders have not one, but two first-round picks in next week's NFL Draft. Las Vegas will likely have an opportunity to select one of the top-four consensus quarterbacks, although it seems more likely that the team adds a receiver or corner given team needs. Carr remains the heavy favorite to start Week 1 with Mariota available if the offense remains stagnant. 

RELATED: 

Marcus Mariota

SOURCE: Dan Graziano on Twitter

Apr 14, 2020, 6:10 PM ET

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#FantasyHotTaek

Matt: Derek Carr is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in fantasy football this year. The Raiders beefed up the skill position group the last two years. Even if the receiver corps is hard to sort out, the rookies bring a ton of playmaking potential to a unit that desperately needed it. Jacobs and Waller are young stars at their positions. The offensive line still has high-quality pieces and Carr has another year down in Gruden’s offense. Marcus Mariota is not a threatening challenger to his starting job, either. After the passers with a bit more rushing upside in their projections, he’s one of my favorite targets.

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zed2283 said:

I don't know what to do with this guy.  The Mariota owner in my league is interested but I keep reading these fluff pieces.

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DEREK CARR: Raiders quarterback disrespected?

It doesn't take much to rile up a competitive athlete in the NFL. But there is nothing that fires up a player more than a perceived slight or lack of respect. That's why my ears perked up when I heard Derek Carr's response to a question on whether he considered opting out of the 2020 season.

"I did not. I have a lot to prove to myself. I have a lot to prove to my organization," Carr told reporters on Tuesday. "I'm going to be completely honest with you: I'm tired of being disrespected."

Based on the typically mild-mannered quarterback's tone there, it is apparent that he's irritated by the outside noise regarding his job status and place in the pecking order among NFL starters. Despite the fact that Carr just posted a 70.4 percent completion rate, 21:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 100.8 passer rating in 2019, there were plenty of whispers that the Raiders were dissatisfied with their franchise quarterback and could look to upgrade the position in the offseason. The speculation only intensified when the team signed former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota in March to a two-year, $17.6 million deal. Although the veteran was dumped by his original team in favor of Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill, the signing seemingly put Carr on the hot seat. And then speculation also ran rampant that Las Vegas would jump into the quarterback sweepstakes on draft day, something that ultimately didn't come to pass.

Given all that, it's no surprise the seventh-year starter (and three-time Pro Bowler) feels disrespected by the football world.

While critics point to his 39-55 career record and a resume with only one winning season, Carr has played at an MVP level at times (see: 2016) and his improved performance under Jon Gruden should've solidified his spot as the team's long-term solution, right?

That's what I would imagine when comparing Carr's numbers to some of the young stars at the position:

PASSING STATS SINCE 2016:
Carr: 66.4%, 15,536 yds, 7.3 ypa, 90:37 TD-to-INT.
Dak Prescott: 65.8%, 15,778 yds, 7.6 ypa, 97:36 TD-to-INT.
Carson Wentz: 63.8%, 14,191 yds, 6.9 ypa, 97:35 TD-to-INT.
Jared Goff: 62.4%, 14,219 yds, 7.6 ypa, 87:42 TD-to-INT.

It doesn't matter whether you personally like the players listed or not -- the fact that Carr's production over the past four years is nearly identical speaks volumes. Each of the other three players is viewed as his team's unquestioned QB1 by his front office and coaches. Sure, some of them evoke quizzical looks from certain folks in the football world when their names are mentioned in "franchise quarterback" conversations, but they are certainly not under scrutiny from their own staff.

That's why I understand Carr's frustration. He has done more with less in the Gruden era, but skeptics -- outside and apparently inside the building -- continue to question whether he really has the goods to be a true franchise QB.

Studying the All-22 Coaches Tape from the past two seasons, I'm struck by Carr's ability to play like a pass-first point guard from the pocket. Carr gets the ball out of his hands quickly and utilizes every option in the route concept. Although the horizontal nature of the Raiders' passing game would seemingly crush Carr's yards-per-attempt average, the veteran passer notched the best ypa of his career in 2019 (7.9) despite throwing to a number of castoffs, misfits and unknowns.

With that in mind, the Raiders should be optimistic about Carr's potential to take his game up a notch with an upgraded supporting cast on the perimeter. Henry Ruggs III, the first receiver off the board in April's draft at No. 12 overall, gives the team an explosive playmaker on the outside with speed to burn. He is a rare find at the position, as a deep-ball specialist with outstanding stop-start quickness and dynamic running skills. The Alabama product should give Carr a legit No. 1 receiver to target in the passing game. Keep an eye on third-round pick Bryan Edwards as another pass catcher who will enable Carr to silence his critics with a strong 2020 campaign. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder should thrive as a chain mover between the hashes with his big frame and strong hands. The South Carolina product has already drawn comparison to Davante Adams from Carr, based on his combination of physicality and ball skills. If he quickly emerges as the WR2 opposite Ruggs, Carr's supporting cast begins to look like a dangerous unit, with a pair of young playmakers alongside TE Darren Waller and RB Josh Jacobs.

Considering how well Carr has been able to play without blue-chip players around him, I predict that the football world will need to put some respect on the 29-year-old's name when he runs onto the field this season.

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Faust said:

Cam Jordan's right about Bucs, NFC South race; five breakout DBs

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Faust said:

Derek Carr Is Running Out of Time to Earn Respect

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Manster said:

I'm betting da raidahs move on from Carr as soon as it makes sense money-wise........dude Alex smith calling him captain checkdown.

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Hankmoody said:

Well you're already 0-1.  His dead money would have only been $8M to cut him this year vs. a $22M cap hit so it already made sense money-wise yet they didn't. 

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Craig_MiamiFL said:

I've never understood folks that don't believe Carr is a franchise QB. Whether he's Grudens franchise QB is another question.

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Manster said:

I like him.  I think he has the makeup to be good leader in the huddle, and he was great in '16(I think) before he broke his leg.  Since then, he looks like a deer in the headlights.......dudes makin a lot of money, so it's put up or shut up this season.

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Craig_MiamiFL said:

Bad fit with Gruden's offense IMO. Far more effective out of the gun. 

I have zero doubts he's a franchise QB. I'd take him EASILY over Prescott personally. 

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Truebluey said:

You mean as an NFL GM?  I can't envisage a situation where you'd take him over Dak as a fantasy starter.

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Craig_MiamiFL said:

Correct. 

Dak's the better fantasy player. 

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Craig_MiamiFL said:

Far more effective out of the gun. 

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Manster said:

dude has Alex smith calling him captain checkdown.

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Manster said:

 it's put up or shut up this season.

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Derek Carr completed 22-of-30 passes for 239 yards and one TD in the Raiders' 34-30, Week 1 win over the Panthers. 

Carr's touchdown was a beautiful fadeaway 23-yard endzone lob to Nelson Agholor, with the quarterback perfectly placing the pass over good coverage. Carr even attempted two other downfield passes, both to Henry Ruggs III. The Raiders were in command of this contest for three quarters, so Carr was not forced to overextend himself. He is not a wise start against the Saints in Week 2.

- Rotoworld

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Derek Carr completed 28-of-38 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns in the Raiders' 34-23, Week 2 win over the Saints Monday night.

Carr had just one three-touchdown game all of last season. He had all night to throw with the Saints missing DE Marcus Davenport (elbow), and Carr's three scores went to Alec Ingold (three yards), Zay Jones (15), and Darren Waller (one). It wasn't a very fantasy-friendly output from Carr in terms of his pass catchers outside of Waller, who commanded a whopping 16 targets and posted 12-103-1 on the Saints. Like normal, Carr didn't challenge downfield whatsoever, but he dinked and dunked his way to a strong night. Carr will not be a recommended fantasy play next week on the road at New England.

Sep 21, 2020, 11:33 PM ET

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Derek Carr completed 24-of-32 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' 36-20, Week 3 loss to the Patriots.

Carr also lost a pair of fumbles, one of which was recovered for a Patriots touchdown. Without Henry Ruggs in the lineup, Carr didn't challenge much at all down the field. Slot man Hunter Renfrow was the Raiders' leading receiver with 6-84-1 on a team-high nine targets. His touchdown came late in the fourth quarter when the game was all but over. Carr has six touchdown passes on the season and has yet to throw an interception. Carr gets a horrible Week 4 draw with the Bills in Vegas. He'll be a back-end QB2 for that one. Carr doesn't have a 300-yard game yet this year.

Sep 27, 2020, 4:42 PM ET

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Derek Carr completed 32-of-44 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' Week 4 loss to the Bills.

Carr did most of his work in garbage time, although he was missing his two rookie receivers Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards. As always, Carr mostly checked down to his tight ends, running backs, and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. Carr's fantasy ceiling is limited by the Raiders' conservative offensive approach, but he's playing well enough for Las Vegas to hang around against quality teams. Through four games, Carr is on pace for 4,380 yards and 32 passing touchdowns. Both of those would be career highs. The Raiders head to Arrowhead for a date with the Chiefs in Week 5. His only prayer for QB2 streamer appeal will once again be in garbage time.

Oct 4, 2020, 8:02 PM ET

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Derek Carr completed 22-of-31 passes for 347 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the Raiders' 40-32, Week 5 win over the Chiefs.

The Raiders fell in a quick 14-3 hole at the start of the second quarter, but Vegas' defense completely shut down Patrick Mahomes for nearly the entire second half, and Carr did his best Mahomes impression in the second quarter. He tossed 59- and 72-yard touchdowns to Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs and mixed in a five-yarder to Darren Waller. The teams were knotted at 24-24 at halftime. Josh Jacobs scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground in the fourth frame to seal the win. Carr now has back-to-back 300-yard games and multiple touchdowns in four straight outings. Ruggs' return to the lineup really opens up the offense. The Raiders now have their bye week before a Week 7 date with the Bucs. Carr is still just a middling QB2 in fantasy.

- Rotoworld

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Derek Carr completed 24-of-36 passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Las Vegas' Week 7 loss to Tampa Bay.

Carr went 3-for-3 for 62 yards and a touchdown on Las Vegas' opening drive but was quiet for the rest of the game as the Raiders' defense (or lack thereof) failed to stop anything the Bucs threw their way, forcing Carr to dropback and get suffocated by Tampa Bay's sieging front-seven. Carr continued to show rapport with Nelson Agholor (5/107/1), finding the 27-year-old for a 44-yard gain in the third quarter, but was ineffective (and forced an interception) on 11 fourth-quarter plays while the Bucs closed the game on a 21-0 run. Fantasy players should consider this one a blip on the radar since Carr had previously tossed for 300-plus yards and multiple scores in back-to-back games. He'll rank as a low-end QB2 in Week 8 as the Raiders attempt to bounce back against Cleveland.

- Rotoworld

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Mag1234 said:

Is this the Derek Carr thread? Is there a Derek Carr thread? I can't be the only one who finds themselves rolling him out this week! I certainly hope he will put up QB1 numbers against a defense that stops the run but gets absolutely shredded in the passing game. I'm surprised that previous article predicts low end QB2 numbers against this defense.

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Bri said:

He's been very impressive every time I've watched and their offense is a pain til those rookies get things ironed out. It can't be easy to drop back and see two rookies didn't get open as often as he has to deal with that. (Plug in Zay or whomever not getting open too) Renfrow has never been that good but he did the best with what God gave him and I appreciated him. He's had to dump it to the back or find a slight advantage to force it to the TE a zillion times. Aghalor is often not that open, he's putting it right where it needs to be like he learned with Waller.

I'd recommend trading for him in dynasty. He's doing the hardest part of his job real well and (did I mention the line?) it only gets easier from here. I don't know if it's maturity, Mariota this summer, Witten's wisdom...idk what it is, but everything has totally clicked for him. He's one free agent stud WR or one rookie panning out away from getting everyone's attention. Watch his gamepass tape, it's very impressive how bad his options are and how he makes the throw anyway.

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DocHolliday said:

Some teams seem to really struggle filling the WR position.  The Raiders try every year.  Maybe one of the rookies develop into a decent option for 2021.   Until then, Carr will keep slinging it to his stud TE and average WRs.  

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