Las Vegas Raiders: 3 reasons Derek Carr will outplay Justin Herbert in 2021
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders: 3 reasons Derek Carr will outplay Justin Herbert in 2021
Offensive Line
According to most outlets, the Chargers would seem to have the edge here, but I’m going to go the opposite direction here. Yes, the Raiders revamped their offensive line, but with the return of underrated guard Denzelle Good, a healthy and improving offensive tackle in Kolton Miller to protect Carr’s blindside, and a healthy Richie Incognito, this group should surprise many around the NFL.
Yes, the center position is going under a complete makeover with the trade of Rodney Hudson, and it is still too early to tell if rookie right tackle Alex Leatherwood will be a linchpin on the offensive line front line, but I’ll still take this unit over the complete uncertainty of the Chargers offensive line. The Raiders offensive line revamp has drawn plenty of criticism, but it is not nearly as bad as many are making it out to be.
The Chargers drafted highly-touted offensive tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round this year, a great move by the Chargers, but how trustworthy is a rookie offensive lineman in most cases to protect the blindside of a quarterback? Also, how healthy will former Green Bay Packer Bryan Bulaga be on the right side of the ball?
With a 2020 season that saw him dealing with an assortment of injuries, it’s unclear if he will return to form, and yes I know this argument can be made for Incognito, but I’ll go with the four-time Pro Bowler any day. Add the fact the Chargers are also starting two brand new and questionable guards in free-agent acquisitions Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi, when you say “revamped”, the Chargers are truly the embodiment here.
The center position seems to be solidified by another former Packer Corey Linsley, once again a new face added in free agency, who is by no means no slouch, but also a new face.
With a completely new offensive line, a blindside tackle who is a rookie, a right tackle who battled multiple injuries, and two guards who are unspectacular, I do not see Justin Herbert having the protection that Derek Carr will. Let’s check the box one more time for the Raiders captain here.
For 2021, the edge seems to be in Carr’s favor to outplay Herbert, but long-term, the second-year signal-caller could end up passing No. 4 in terms of the pecking order at the position in the NFL. Still, for next season, Carr is in a better position to succeed.