Every offseason, we hear a ton of rumors about Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr being on the move, as the narrative is still that he and Jon Gruden do not get along. Nevermind the fact that Carr has had arguably his three best seasons under Gruden, and the Raiders were actually solid on offense in 2020.
Despite many reports of Carr being on the move, it appears that will likely not be the case. SI.com’s Senior NFL Reporter Albert Breer stated in a recent report that the Las Vegas Raiders are not currently listening to offers for starting quarterback Derek Carr.
"While there were rumors floating around that the asking price for Carr was two first-round picks last week, I was told pretty emphatically that Carr isn’t available. –Carr Will Remain a Raider?- SI.com"
As you can see above, the team is standing firm behind their veteran signal-caller after an efficient 2020 campaign. Carr set career-highs in passing yards and quarterback rating while tossing 30 touchdowns and leading the team on five game-winning drives.
While Carr may not be on the trade market, another member from the Silver and Black’s quarterback room allegedly is.
Raiders’ backup quarterback Marcus Mariota is both an intriguing and realistic and intriguing trade candidate
The Las Vegas Raiders paid Marcus Mariota approximately $10.75 million (5.7% of the team’s cap space) in 2020 per Spotrac.com. While Mariota is an experienced quarterback, the team has more pressing needs on the defensive side of the football.
In other words, it is hard to justify the contract of a player who was inactive for the majority of the season due to injury. However, when Marcus is healthy he can prove to be an electrifying player.
The Hawaiian native certainly knows how to perform when at 100%, and there are a plethora of NFL teams that are looking for a new starter this offseason. Moreover, the Silver and Black are not among those seeking a new quarterback. Instead, it appears as if they are attempting to profit from offloading the league’s most expensive backup under center, while the market is still hot according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.
"The Raiders will listen on Mariota and he could be the sort project that could intrigue a team looking for a quarterbacking bargain (the Patriots?). Mariota on the Move? – SI.com"
In conclusion, it appears as if Las Vegas is focusing to overhaul the defense rather than move on from Derek Carr. Stability is critical to winning in today’s NFL, and it would seem as if the Raider organization is pleased with what Carr has accomplished.