Las Vegas Raiders: Early to-do list for GM David Ziegler
2. Extend or move on from Derek Carr
There are plenty of contract extensions that need to be discussed this offseason but not loom larger than Derek Carr’s. Carr is entering the final year of his deal, and with little security, he would be foolish to play without a new contract in 2022.
So the decision can no longer wait. Ziegler will have to decide whether Carr is their quarterback of the future.
Carr’s numbers were not great this season in terms of his touchdown to interception ratio, but he somehow navigated this team to the postseason. The players seem to embrace him, and he is fully committed to this franchise. When it comes to the market, Carr should command over 30 million, putting him in the Jared Goff – Carson Wentz range.
But at what point does the money become too much for Ziegler?
McDaniels will have a huge say in this, but in a conference with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, possibly Deshaun Watson, can Carr get them to a Super Bowl? This decision will give us a significant sign of whether Ziegler thinks the team is a few pieces away from being genuine contenders.
The early word is that McDaniels loves Carr and they will build around him, and this offseason will be telling either way.