Las Vegas Raiders: Top-25 players of the Derek Carr Era

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 11: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 11, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 11: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 11, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Nov 26, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts next to offensive tackle Donald Penn (72) after completing a 54-yard pass for a first down against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts next to offensive tackle Donald Penn (72) after completing a 54-yard pass for a first down against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Las Vegas Raiders: Top-25 players of the Derek Carr Era

No. 24: Donald Penn, OT (2014-2018)

With a rookie quarterback at the helm of a franchise, a team must make sure that they have a strong offensive tackle protecting their blind side. For the Raiders, Carr took over as the starter as a rookie in 2014, and at left tackle was a free agent signing from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had established himself as a punishing blocker.

Donald Penn was brought in on a two-year deal in 2014, and it did not take him long to become an anchor along the offensive line. Penn would appear in all 48 games across Carr’s first three seasons in the league, and from 2014 through 2017, missed only two games in total.

During that time, Penn made the Pro Bowl twice and was a key cog on that 2016 team that was one of the best in football. When Jon Gruden drafted Kolton Miller in 2018, Penn made the move to right tackle, but it was the four-year run from 2014 through 2017 that made him one of the best players of the Derek Carr Era.