Derek Carr has the weapons to break Daryle Lamonica’s Raiders TD record

Derek Carr has the weapons to break Daryle Lamonica’s Raiders TD record

Carr has some outstanding weapons heading into 2020

Fast forward to the 2020 season, and Raider Nation is not in lockstep when it comes to Carr, but he is fresh off two solid statistical seasons since Jon Gruden returned as head coach. He has thrown for over 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons after not doing so his entire career, and his touchdown to interception ratio is where you want it to be.

In addition, he completed better than 70 percent of his passes last season, finishing second to only New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees. Carr was able to accomplish this without a true WR1 atop the depth chart, something he will have in 2020, as well as the best collection of weapons to date in his seven-year career.

Tyrell Williams returns after a first campaign in the Silver and Black that showed he has that uncanny ability to rack up touchdowns. He caught a touchdown in each of his first four games with the Raiders before being injured, and then scored one in his return.

Henry Ruggs III was selected at No. 12 overall, and he will slide in as the team’s WR1 this season. During his time at Alabama, he was a touchdown machine, hauling in a score in one of every four catches he made.

Tight end Darren Waller had only three touchdowns last season, but that will change in 2020, as the Raiders have more weapons to take the pressure off of him in the red zone. In addition, 2020 draft pick Bryan Edwards, and 2019 draft pick Hunter Renfrow have the ability to make the tough catches, giving Carr more than enough options in the passing game.

Finally, Josh Jacobs should be 100 percent healed from his shoulder injury in 2020, and during his time at Alabama, he displayed his ability to be solid in the passing game. His backups, Lynn Bowden Jr. and Jalen Richard are both great pass-catching backs, so the possibilities are endless this season.

Of course, Carr will not only have to stay healthy in 2020, but also look to attack deep, something he has not done nearly often enough since Gruden’s arrival. Mayock and company went out and got him the weapons he needs to break this record, and if the Raiders want to have the kind of season that lands them in the playoffs, he may have to.