The Raiders Release Derek Carr After 9 Seasons

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Raiders informed quarterback Derek Carr this afternoon that they released him ahead of the Feb. 15 deadline, and he is no longer a part of the Raiders organization. Carr played for the Raiders for nine seasons.

The Raiders avoided the deadline that guaranteed Carr 40.4 million dollars in future earnings under his current contract. The move was no surprise to either party as Carr refused to waive the no-trade clause that would have sent him any other team. 

Now that the 9-year veteran is a free agent, where will he land? The top candidate is likely the New Orleans Saints. Former Raiders Coach Dennis Allen hosted Carr, 31, last week. Although Carr refused a trade, New Orleans is optimistic that he could be signed as a free agent instead. The Saints would give up nothing in this scenario.

The Houston Texans are another option to sign Derek Carr. New head coach DeMeco Ryans is tasked with changing the culture in Houston, and the AP 2022 Assistant Coach of the Year should be well suited to the task. The Texans have a carousel situation at the quarterback position, so Carr could be a great fit.

Another team that Carr could potentially sign with is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the exit of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers now have a giant question mark at quarterback. The Bucs have attractive weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and their defense is good enough for the Bucs to compete with the rest of the division. 

Wherever Carr goes, he should be an upgrade for that team. Carr played at an MVP level just two seasons ago and, in the right situation, can return to that form.