Jets claim to be backing Zach Wilson through ‘hell or high water,’ so where does that leave Derek Carr?
Zach Wilson and Derek Carr have been two of the most polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Wilson has had a rough sophomore season in the NFL, suffering from injury and being benched by New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
Despite Wilson's struggles, Saleh gave the quarterback strong backing for a return next season. Here's what Saleh said to journalists:
"Zach has all the talent in the world, and we have all the confidence in the world in him. It's just, like I said, a reset. We're going to grind with him. We are. Through hell or high water, we're going to figure how to get him to where we know he can be."
As signs point to Wilson staying in New York next season, how does that impact Carr and where he'll play?
The Las Vegas Raiders star was benched by head coach Josh McDaniels ahead of the Raiders' Week 17 game versus the San Francisco 49ers. A possible destination for Carr was the Jets, but that seems unlikely given Saleh's endorsement of Wilson.
Carr is currently in his ninth season in the NFL, all with the Raiders. His benching signals that the three-time Pro Bowler will be playing his 10th season for another team. In 15 starts for the Raiders, he's thrown for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Derek Carr's 14 interceptions are tied for the most in the NFL this season. His streak of four straight seasons of at least 4,000 passing yards is likely to come to an end as well. For the 31-year-old, his career in the league shows that he can be a starter elsewhere.
It seems likely that Carr will start the 2023 campaign as the starting quarterback somewhere, although where that will be is uncertain. He has simply played too well throughout his career to be a backup next season.
Derek Carr's resume proves he's still a viable NFL starter
Derek Carr was taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started all 16 games of his rookie season, throwing for 3,270 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His streak of four straight seasons of 4,000 passing yards started in the 2018 - 2019 season. That season, Carr threw for 4,049 yards.
Last campaign, Carr set a single-season passing record for the Raiders, throwing for 4,804 yards. He holds four of the top five spots in Raiders history for single-season passing yards. The only other Raiders quarterback to appear there is Rich Gannon, who threw for 4,689 yards in the 2002-2003 season.
Derek Carr is the Raiders' all-time leader in both passing yards (35,222 yards) and touchdowns (217 touchdowns). Pro Football Hall of Fame Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler is second to Carr in those categories.
Without question, teams will inquire about the former Fresno State star. Although his career with the Las Vegas Raiders is over, there will be another chapter in Carr's career.
With a plethora of franchises in the market for a starting QB this coming offseason, all is not lost for Derek Carr.