Former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr keeps it all the way real and authentic regarding Fernando Mendoza
The Las Vegas Raiders are ready to see what their franchise rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza can do, and Derek Carr approves.
Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr offered a genuine endorsement of the franchise’s new No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, while attending a golf charity event this past week.
Carr, the Raiders’ all-time leading passer, was asked how he feels about Mendoza stepping into the role as the team’s franchise quarterback of the future. His response was about as classy as it gets.
“I love him, man. I hope he breaks all my records,” Carr said.
That kind of graciousness is typical of Carr, who spent nine seasons with the Raiders and built a legacy as the most prolific passer in franchise history. He’s not a guy who is going to be dismissive or bitter about someone replacing him. He genuinely wants the best for the organization, and he has a real appreciation for Mendoza. The two share similar beliefs and a common faith, which has helped form a mutual respect.
Carr’s place in Raiders history
Carr’s numbers with the Raiders speak for themselves. Across nine seasons, he finished with 35,000 passing yards, 217 passing touchdowns, and 99 interceptions. Those totals give him a commanding lead atop the franchise record books.
The next closest passer in Raiders history is Ken Stabler, who threw for 19,000 yards. Carr holds a 67-touchdown lead over Stabler in the career touchdown column, and he accomplished all of that while throwing fewer interceptions (99) than Stabler’s 143. Stabler, of course, remains one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in franchise lore, which only makes Carr’s statistical dominance more striking.
That said, much of Carr’s volume came because of the era he played in. The modern passing game inflated his numbers, and he spent time running an offense under Jon Gruden, one of the most offensive-minded coaches in NFL history. Context matters when evaluating raw stats.
What Mendoza could do that Carr couldn’t
Carr’s career in Las Vegas was defined by one persistent problem: he never had a great defense behind him. That’s not an excuse for his failure to get the job done in the postseason, but it is a relevant factor. The Raiders consistently asked Carr to outscore opponents rather than lean on a dominant defensive unit, and that’s a difficult way to sustain winning.
Mendoza steps into a different situation. If the Raiders can build a competent defense around their new franchise quarterback, there’s no telling what he could accomplish. Carr’s endorsement carries weight because he knows firsthand how hard it is to win without that kind of support.
Raider Nation wants Mendoza to break every record Carr set. Carr himself wants the same thing. That shared goodwill between the franchise’s past and its future is a healthy sign for where Las Vegas is headed.