For the third offseason in a row, all eyes are on Raiders QB Derek Carr

"Thanks For the third offseason in a row, all the questions surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders revolve around quarterback Derek Carr."

Last season, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr put up career-highs in passing yards, and completion percentage, as he improved in Year 2 of Jon Gruden’s system. However, he was also booed out of the Coliseum, and as he enters Year No. 7 as the team’s starting quarterback, half of the fan base is looking for a change.

Over the last three offseasons, the main questions surrounding the Raiders franchise have been focused on whether or not Carr is the team’s franchise quarterback. Sure, he has put up a ton of numbers during his six seasons as the starter, and is already the organization’s all-time leader in a number of statistical categories.

Unfortunately for Carr, and the Raiders, the wins just have not been there, as he has orchestrated only one winning season since taking over in 2014. That year, the Raiders won 12 games, but any hopes of a title were crushed when Carr went down due to injury on Christmas Eve.

Also that season, Carr looked like an MVP candidate, leading the team to many comeback wins, and showing he can get the job done with his arm, and his legs. Since then, there has been a lack of taking off with the ball, which is something Gruden expects from his starting quarterbacks.

So here we are, early February of what should be an exciting time for Carr. He is heading into his third year under Gruden, has improved each season, and his Raiders had a three-win improvement in 2019. However, every day it seems he is the topic of conversation, and it all stems from rumors that he is not going to be the guy for the Raiders moving forward.

Whether you read the Athletic, where Michael Lombardi said the Raiders are working behind the scenes to get rid of Carr, or are just a Raiders Twitter fanatic, who has an opinion on everything Carr, you cannot go a day without reading some kind of rumor. Be it Tom Brady, a rookie, or some other veteran free agent, all signs point to  the Raiders moving on from Carr, but what can you really believe?

Gruden has never been one to roll with a rookie quarterback, so I think you can take that one off the top, especially during the first season in Las Vegas. The city is going to want the team to win now, and any rookie they bring in is going to have their growing pains, whether it is Joe Burrow, or Jordan Love.

The whole Brady thing is interesting too, as he bought land in Nevada, but also has bought land everywhere else it seems. He would be a veteran to come in and run the offense, but how short is the window there? Adding Brady and also bringing in a rookie makes sense as well, but that is only if they are truly done with the 28-year old Carr.

There are a ton of teams in this league who would love to have Carr as their quarterback, so if the Raiders do try and trade him, there will be suitors. There is the other camp who feels this is all noise, much like the last two offseasons, and the Carr-Gruden dynamic is a good one heading into Year No. 3.

The bottom line is that only one person truly knows what is going to happen with Carr this offseason, and that is head coach Jon Gruden. The Raiders are building something special as they head to Sin City, and while there is a lot to be excited about, the question at quarterback is worrisome as we inch closer to the draft.