Las Vegas Raiders Derek Carr: It is finally time to end the CarrWars
By Brad Weiss
During his time as the starter, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was one of the more polarizing players in franchise history.
Drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the then-Oakland Raiders, Derek Carr instantly became a star wearing the Silver and Black. Through his first three seasons, he would establish himself as a Pro Bowl player, and could have won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2016.
However, after breaking his leg on Christmas Eve, Carr was never the same, and while he had some incredibly productive seasons, his play would make him a lightning rod for conversation among Raider Nation. Some fans loved Carr, the way he played the game, and how much he loved the organization, while others felt the team could have upgraded at the position nearly every offseason.
Love him or hate him, Carr finished his career with the Raiders as the most prolific quarterback in team history in terms of statistics, he just did not win. For a franchise whose mantra is “Just Win Baby,” Carr fell short in the eyes of many, and some fans are more than excited that another player will be the starting quarterback in 2023.
For Carr, he can finally silence his critics this season, and will try to do so wearing another team’s uniform.
Carr can end the debate after leaving the Raiders
Now that Carr is available, he is getting a lot of attention from other teams, and will land on his feet next season in another city. He has stated that the fire still burns bright in him to win a Super Bowl, and for the most part, will be able to choose where he continues his football career in 2023.
Fans of Carr will point to the terrible defenses the Raiders have had during his tenure, as well as the multiple team records he holds. If he lands on another team with a strong defense in 2023, we will see what he can do when that side of the ball is stacked, and will end a lot of the debate regarding that.
Even now, as it is clear Carr is gone, the conversation around Raider Nation still focuses on No. 4. He was never able to end the debate wearing the Silver and Black, but as he goes forward in his career, we will see which side of the fan base was right about the nine-year veteran.