In a memorable 2014 NFL Draft, the Raiders drafted two guys who I would consider to be their cornerstones of the franchise. The first was a defensive end named Khalil Mack. That was definitely a nice selection because in a short period of time, he became one of the best defensive players in the league. In the second round of that draft, the team drafted a quarterback named Derek Carr out of Fresno State. Prior to Derek, the Raiders had trouble sustaining consistency at quarterback. Today, the team rewarded their quarterback with a contract extension. A three-year deal worth $121.5 million to keep him in the silver and black for the forseeable future.
I won’t necessarily put him in the elite conversation. He’s far from the tier one level of quarterbacks. However, he’s a serviceable guy that can get the job done. If you watch Derek closely, he throws the football effortlessly. He has what I call “shooters touch” for a quarterback meaning he never puts any forced effort into his passes because it’s truly a flick of the wrist. I’ve heard some people say his throwing efforts are “Aaron Rodgers esqe”. His best attribute is the deep ball. Derek can step back into the pocket and spin it down the field 60 yards and it’ll get to his intended receiver perfectly. Anytime you have a quarterback that can stretch the field the way he does, it can create opportunities for everyone to get involved. He’s not just a pocket passer. Derek can move the pocket and create with his feet to make throws on the run and extend the play. He’s the ultimate competitor according to his teammates. I can tell how much he loves football just by the joy he plays with on the field.
2016 was by far the best year of his career. If he doesn’t break his leg that season, he’s your league MVP that year without question. 2021, I saw him grow as a leader. The Raiders had some dark clouds hovering over them last year with the unfortunate news of Jon Gruden and the incident surrounding Henry Ruggs. Derek put that team on his back and everyone followed. That’s what leaders do. I remember on Monday Evening Quarterback saying that if the Raiders did get rid of him, who would they get to replace him? I’m glad he’s staying put.
