With the Las Vegas Raiders officially moving on from Derek Carr, what is next for the position, and the franchise as a whole?
On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders did something that we had all been expecting for months, and that was releasing nine-year veteran quarterback, Derek Carr. It is not often that a team gives up on a 31-year-old player, coming off a Pro Bowl, and the franchise record holder in so many statistics, but that was the decision made by the organization.
Now, Las Vegas goes into the offseason looking to find the next quarterback to lead the franchise, but what is really available right now? Tom Brady appeared to be the one the franchise really wanted, but he abruptly retired after the playoffs, and now, Aaron Rodgers looks like the only real possibility to upgrade over Carr.
It is not like Las Vegas is replacing a scrub of a quarterback, so names like Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, and Baker Mayfield are not going to move the needle. In fact, after releasing Carr, it appears that all names are on the table for the Silver and Black, but is that really a place you want to be in after a six-win season?
Raiders will have a hard time upgrading for 2023
Now, Las Vegas could go the younger route, adding a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, but sitting at No. 7 overall, they will have to trade up to get either CJ Stroud or Bryce Young, the 1A and 1B of this class. Will Levis may be there for them at No. 7, or even Anthony Richardson, but both players will need a few seasons before they are ready to be stars at the NFL level.
So now we play the waiting game. We wait to see what Rodgers thinks when he emerges from his darkness retreat. We wait to see if McDaniels and Ziegler love one of the top quarterbacks in the draft to move up and get them
The only silver lining of this offseason is the fact that the drama surrounding Carr is over. Over the past five offseasons, he was rumored to be replaced every spring, and every spring came and went, and there was No. 4, under center for the Raiders in Week 1.
Raiders: Pending free agents that played in Super Bowl LVII to target
The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of work to do in free agency this offseason, and these Super Bowl players would look good in Silver and Black.
For Carr, he will have no shortage of suitors as he enters free agency for the first time in his career, and is likely to have no problem landing on his feet in 2023 and beyond. For Las Vegas, 2023 could be a tough season for them if they have to turn to a rookie, so let us hope Rodgers emerges from the darkness and chooses the Silver and Black.