NFL Rumors: Jets inquired about Derek Carr before being released by Raiders
Derek Carr is free to negotiate and sign with any team in the NFL, as the former nine-year starter for the Las Vegas Raiders was finally released by the team yesterday.
The Raiders made the decision to move on from Carr at the end of the season and cut him before he was due $40.4 million on February 15th. Before being released, the team tried to trade him to get compensation for losing him, but he voided any trade proposal as he had no trade clause as part of his contract.
When the team was trying to trade him, the two teams inquired about his status. The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets called the Raiders prior to his release.
The Saints had a few meetings with Carr and had a trade offer but it never went through. The Jets had talks but they didn't heat up and it didn't go far.
One reporter thinks Derek Carr has the advantage over every other QB in free agency and the draft
While Carr is currently a free agent, he has the upper hand over any other QB this off-season. He now gets to speak and negotiate with QB-needy teams and can agree to a deal now, while other quarterbacks will have to wait until the new league year begins on March 15th.
Reporter Jeff Darlington joined Get Up and detailed how Carr has an advantage over other quarterbacks.
Darlington said:
“This is essentially free agency before free agency. Derek Carr can feel out the market and it could force teams like the Jets to decide if they want to wait out Aaron Rodgers or go and sign Carr. It puts urgency on Aaron Rodgers now. He wants to go into his darkness retreat but the Packers and Rodgers have to figure this out fast. "
"Because if the Jets decide they just want to go Derek Carr’s direction, no longer is the compensation available to get that trade market going for Aaron Rodgers, so we are in it now - pure chaos begins as soon as Derek Carr decides he wants to play out the market and not just go to one team.”
If a QB-needy team such as the Jets or Saints signs Carr soon, it will backfire on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who will have one less team interested in him, which would decrease his trade value.
The dominos will start to fall into place, and the question remains: who will be the first to make the move?
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Jeff Darlington, Get Up, and H/T Sportskeeda