After what felt like an eternity, the Raiders have signed quarterback Derek Carr to a contract extension. Locked in for at least the next three seasons, this one made total sense.
Despite the constant rumors around Derek Carr’s future with the Raiders, the new front office has made a long-term commitment to their quarterback. With a three-year contract extension worth 121.5 million dollars, Dave Ziegler and co. have made Carr the fifth highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
In search of a contract extension before last season, Carr went out and had one of his best seasons in 2021. With 4,804 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, he had one of the best statistical seasons of his career while also leading the Raiders back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Despite the vast amount of talent in the AFC West last season, Carr proved that he can be a winning quarterback in the NFL. So while the Raiders dealt with the tragic Henry Ruggs situation, losing their head coach mid-season, and injuries to key players, Carr was able to keep the team afloat.
That alone is reason enough to give him a contract extension. He is a good quarterback and those don’t grow on trees. Perhaps you need more, however, in which case, there are many reasons this contract made sense for both the Raiders and Carr.