Raiders had decided well ahead that Derek Carr was not the answer at QB position
Derek Carr has been the face of the Las Vegas Raiders since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. When head coach Josh McDaniels benched the three-time Pro Bowler in Week 17, it signaled the end of his time with the franchise. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Raiders knew well before Week 17 this season that Carr wasn't the answer moving forward.
According to the report, the Raiders discovered within weeks of the start of the season that Carr was not the right fit. Benching him removed the chance of a $40 million injury guarantee going into effect in case he got hurt in the last two games. The report noted that the Raiders will focus on clearing up cap space for next season.
The report said:
"The Raiders were determined not to be handcuffed to a quarterback they no longer believed in and one that represented a major drag on their 2023 salary cap."
Ideally, Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler would like to trade him to get some draft assets in return. Teams like the Saints, Commanders, and Titans could be in the mix for Derek Carr. But a 2023 roster provision means a guaranteed $40 million next season, wherever he plays.
The question is how much other teams would be willing to give the Raiders knowing they would have to take on that massive guarantee. Should the Raiders move on from Carr, his career with the franchise will go down as one of the best of all time.
Derek Carr: The Greatest Quarterback in Raiders History?
Looking at Carr's career with the Las Vegas Raiders, his numbers line up as the best under center for the franchise. He's thrown for 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Raiders. Both are the most in team history, as Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler is second in both categories.
Out of the top 10 spots in Raiders history with the most passing yards in a single season, Carr holds six of those spots. He's played in the fifth-most games in franchise history and the most at quarterback with 142 games. Without question, Derek Carr's place in Raiders history has been cemented without playing another down.