Las Vegas Raiders: 2022 mocks already packing Derek Carr’s bags
By Brad Weiss
With the 2021 NFL Draft in the rearview, the 2022 mocks are already coming out, and they mostly have the Las Vegas Raiders moving on from Derek Carr.
The 2021 NFL Draft has come and gone, and with that, some media outlets have already turned their focus to the 2022 NFL Draft. There have already been mock drafts out there, and a tradition like no other has popped up, and that is Derek Carr being replaced high in the draft by a college quarterback.
On Saturday, Bleacher Report posted their first 2022 NFL Mock Draft courtesy of Zach Buckley, and surprise surprise, he had the Raiders replacing Carr with the No. 6 overall pick in USC’s Kedon Slovis. If this were to actually happen, that would mean the Raiders took a major step backward, and getting rid of Carr would be warranted.
However, there is almost no way that the Raiders are picking in the first six picks next season, and in fact, they have enough talent on the roster to challenge for a Wild Card in 2021. Carr has been outstanding for the Raiders since Jon Gruden arrived, and the team has improved in wins every season, so for them to win four or so games in 2021 seems a bit far-fetched.
Can is the franchise QB for the Raiders
Heading into the 2021 NFL season, there is no doubt that Carr is the team’s franchise quarterback, and I really do not see them moving on from him anytime soon. Despite nearly every mock having, the Raiders take a quarterback since Gruden’s arrival, they have not even used a Day 3 pick on the position group, which tells you everything you need to know about how the front office feels about No. 4.
Sure, if Las Vegas is holding the No. 6 overall pick next year, I could see them moving on from Carr because that means that the wheels completely came off during the season. But after three 4,000-yard seasons, and him improving every year, you have to think that not only will the Raiders be picking later than No. 6, but Carr will likely have led this team to the playoffs.