Raiders News and Rumors: OL, Derek Carr, Agholor, and more
Derek Carr Getting an Extension?
Early this past week, Derek Carr debates hit a high pitch when rumors about a contract extension hit the social media channels. A tweet from Spotrac co-founder and editor Michael Ginnitti and a comment from NFL Insider Adam Caplan of SiriusXM Radio sparked the discussion:
Derek Carr’s future in Las Vegas is soon to be extended as the 29 year old closes in on a new contract w/ the #Raiders. Carr holds a 5 year, $160M projection in our system currently. https://t.co/jafV97SbP5
— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 22, 2021
Back in November, ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez also mentioned the thought of an extension for Carr:
"“Carr, playing in the same system for the third straight season for the first time in his seven-year career, is putting up impressive numbers,” Gutierrez wrote. “Numbers that might actually be setting him up for another payday.”"
Tafur put out some of the flames with his insight:
Everybody is just speculating. There’s nothing to report on a possible extension for Carr. https://t.co/dEJuKUVB2t
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) February 22, 2021
Carr has shown steady improvement through three seasons under Gruden, but he did experience some rough patches in the final quarter of the 2020 season, throwing five touchdown passes and four interceptions in his last three full games, which excludes Week 15 when he exited early with a strained groin.
On one hand, Carr threw for a career-high 4,103 yards, but his completion percentage (67.3) and touchdown passes (27) both rank third-best for any single season of his career. If we do a deeper dive, he did post career bests in quarterback rating (101.4) and QBR (71).
If the Raiders extend Carr, they’re probably thinking ahead. After a pretty good but not great season, he’s not going to break the bank. Ginnitti projected a salary that averages $32 million annually, which would tie Carson Wentz for eighth among quarterbacks, per Spotrac.
If Carr continues to improve, the Raiders would essentially have a team-friendly contract. If his play trends in the wrong direction, they can still trade him on a manageable deal. Keep in mind the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles traded Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, respectively, this offseason. Both quarterbacks have higher 2021 cap hits than Carr.
At $22.1 million, Carr already has a manageable 2021 cap hit, and that figure drops to $19.9 million in 2022. Perhaps an extension could lower his current cost by stretching his salary, but ultimately, an immediate agreement on an extension would protect the team from much higher costs years down the line if his numbers continue to trend up before the final term of his deal in 2022.
Think of it this way, as Carr improves, his price goes up.
So in summary, Carr’s extension wouldn’t hurt the Raiders’ cap space for a couple of years, but it would give them long-term flexibility with the rising cost of signing and re-signing quarterbacks while showing short-term confidence in him.