3 players the Las Vegas Raiders need to extend soon

3 players the Las Vegas Raiders need to extend soon

Derek Carr, QB, Free Agent: 2023

I know, I know, this one is going to cause some controversy. It also comes with a bit of a caveat. The Raiders should not hesitate to extend Derek Carr, only, if Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have decided that he is, indeed, their quarterback going forward.

Carr is a very good NFL quarterback, that is not really debatable, nor is it what causes so much polarization regarding Carr with the Raiders fanbase. The question is, can Derek Carr lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl?

These Raiders, that is.

The defensive needs to improve, of course, but the ‘85 Bears are not walking through that door. If Gruden and Mayock have determined the answer to that question is yes, then they should not wait to extend the Raiders veteran signal-caller.

Carr is on one of the best value contracts in the NFL for a veteran QB, and an extension likely would not include that significant of a pay-raise. DC is still yet to hit 30 years old and is improving every year under Gruden, and possibly extending him this offseason would free up some much-needed cap room.

If Carr is their guy, putting their money where their mouth is would be the smartest long-term move at this point. If the franchise can extend Carr’s deal on a team-friendly contract and improve the defense and weapons around him with the money that is saved, there is no reason Carr could not lead the Silver and Black deep into the playoffs.