Though it’s been over two seasons since the Las Vegas Raiders moved on from quarterback Derek Carr, the team has had a hard time replacing him. Carr faced a lot of criticism during his nine-year stint with the franchise, but it’s clear now that he was far from the biggest problem.
The veteran quarterback decided to retire this offseason due to a shoulder injury, and many fans were surprised that he didn’t retire as a member of the Raiders. Though things didn’t end well, he’s the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
However, it wasn’t a calculated decision not to sign with the Raiders. Carr technically isn’t fully retired yet, but is hoping that he can reunite with his former franchise for a one day before it’s all official.
“I would love to sign a one-day contract. I would love to do that with the Raiders,” Carr said on the “Home Grown” podcast. “I just don’t know how all that stuff works with me being under contract with the Saints and all that. We haven’t gotten to that point yet, and David (Carr) keeps getting on me because I haven’t signed retirement papers.”
Why Hasn’t Carr Signed Retirement Papers?
A major reason why Carr retired this offseason was that he didn’t want to get shoulder surgery. Either way, he wasn’t going to be able to play this season, but he likely would’ve had to get the surgery had he stayed with the Saints.
Instead, he decided to hang up the cleats. That said, it’s interesting that he hasn’t filed the necessary paperwork yet. Now, he’s under contract with the Saints and likely still rehabbing his shoulder, but he could theoretically return.
There has been interest in him this season. The Cincinnati Bengals reached out to Carr after Joe Burrow got hurt. It looks like playing this season just isn’t possible for the quarterback, but that doesn’t mean he can’t come back next year. He did the Saints a solid by retiring and voiding a lot of guaranteed money. They’d likely return the favor and free him from his contract if he decided he wanted to sign with another NFL team.
Which Team Could Be a Fit for Carr?
At this point, it’s not the worst idea in the world for the Raiders to consider a reunion with Carr next season. Geno Smith has been a massive disappointment, and there’s a chance he could get let go after the season.
If that happens, the Raiders almost certainly have to draft a quarterback early. Carr would be a great quarterback to help mentor a rookie. He knows the Raiders franchise better than anybody, and at the very least, he’d be a slight upgrade over Smith.
Now, it remains to be seen if Carr truly wants to play another season or two. He’s only 34, so he’s young enough to keep playing. He seems to be enjoying retirement, but getting a chance to finish what he started with the Raiders would have to be somewhat appealing.
Derek Carr Makes Admission About Signing Another Raiders Contract