Report reveals one aspect of Derek Carr's situation with Raiders that could be problematic in offseason
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday morning that the Las Vegas Raiders are going to attempt to trade quarterback Derek Carr this offseason. That doesn't come as a surprise after the news this week that Carr is being benched for the final two games of the season (and he's away from the team at […]
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday morning that the Las Vegas Raiders are going to attempt to trade quarterback Derek Carr this offseason.
That doesn't come as a surprise after the news this week that Carr is being benched for the final two games of the season (and he's away from the team at the moment so he's not a distraction).
While the Raiders have two games left this season — and the playoffs still mathematically possible — their plans for this offseason appear to be clear.
Las Vegas is expected to explore trade options for quarterback Derek Carr, sources say. The veteran who has started nearly every regular-season game for the Raiders since the 2014 season is almost certainly headed to a new team for 2023.
In his place, Jarrett Stidham will start today against the 49ers, his two-game opportunity to make a case for next season. Meanwhile, Carr is away from the team for the final two weeks to avoid distractions.
There are scenarios in which Carr stays with the Raiders — the 49ers informally said goodbye to Jimmy Garoppolo during this past offseason and he still plays for them — but this is the likely outcome for Carr.
At the end of Rapoport's report, there was a note that that's very important and could cause complications for the Raiders as they try to trade Carr.
And it's something that folks seem to be completely ignoring.
Carr has a full no-trade clause in his contract, which means he has a significant amount of control over how this situation plays out for Las Vegas.
From NFL.com:
Decisions on Carr will have to come quickly. Based on the terms of his three-year, $121.5 million extension he signed before the season, his $32.9 million base salary for 2023 and an additional $7.5 million of his 2024 base becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster on the third day of the waiver period — or three days after the Super Bowl.
Any decision on what's next, whether a trade or outright release if a trade does not come together, would come before that.
While no trade could be official until the league year begins, trades are routinely agreed to in principle before then being finalized in mid-March. Carr also has a no-trade clause in his contract and the various sides would all have to be on the same page to execute such a deal.
If the Raiders try to trade Carr to the Indianapolis Colts (for example) and Carr decides he doesn't want to go to Indy, there's nothing Las Vegas can do. They'd be stuck.
Obviously, this could all work out if Carr is on the same page and agrees to go wherever the Raiders send him. But this is still an incredibly important aspect of this whole scenario that could cause some real hiccups for any potential deal.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
