As Derek Carr moves another day closer to finding out his future with the Raiders, he has reportedly sent a clear message to his current employer. The quarterback will not accept a trade to the Saints or any other interested team, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
As a result, Rapoport notes, the Raiders will be left with no other option but to release him in the coming days. Carr has over $40MM in guaranteed money set to vest this week, and with Vegas having moved on from him, a trade represented their only way of receiving compensation while relieving themselves of that financial obligation. Carr has a no-trade clause, however, which gave him control of the situation at all times in this process, something which he has clearly used. 
The Raiders prevented the 31-year-old from negotiating with potential new teams until trade compensation had been agreed upon. That made it noteworthy when they allowed him to visit the Saints this past week, with a subsequent report indicating the two teams had an agreement in place. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero tweets that it was Carr’s contract which stood in the way of a deal being finalized to send him to the NFC South.
A report emerged over the weekend that Vegas’ asking price was a third-round pick. The Saints could have easily met that request, given their current allotment of selections in this year’s draft, but they find themselves in dire straights from a financial standpoint. New Orleans is more than $60MM over the cap at the moment, so acquiring Carr via trade would have added considerably to the salary cap gymnastics general manager Mickey Loomis has become known for in recent years.
Carr has a scheduled cap hit of $34.9MM in 2023, and two more years on his existing contract with hits over $43MM. Given the absence of guarantees on the pact (at the moment), however, the Raiders would see more than $29MM in savings by releasing Carr in the immediate future. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would see that figure grow to $33MM weighed against comparably small dead cap charges.
Of course, this news in no way precludes the Saints from still ultimately landing Carr as a free agent. The four-time Pro Bowler will be free to sign anywhere immediately following his release, as opposed to players who can only negotiate prior to the start of the new league year in mid-March. New Orleans should be in the market for a new signal-caller after the production seen in 2022 from veterans Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. Carr will certainly have other suitors as well, however.
The former second-rounder had a down year this past season, the first with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler at the helm. Still, he will headline a QB market which may or may not see the likes of Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith be on the move through trades or free agent deals. The Jets are widely understood to be all-in on Rodgers, but they are reportedly prepared to target Carr as a secondary option.
The value of a deal Carr is able to land on the open market will no doubt be linked to the perceived availability of those other passers. Still, with his release imminent, it likely won’t be long until he has found his next NFL home.
Good for him. I’ll be curious to see where he ends up. As a Jets fan, I think I’d prefer Carr for just money than Rodgers for multiple first rounders plus the money. But a lot of teams could really use a good not great QB right now.
God for him? He’s acting like a spoiled child. If they weren’t so foolish in giving him another extension, I’d let him stew on the bench. He bailed on the Raiders and his fans. No one should condone this behavior!
He’s utilizing his contractually-negotiated right. What is spoiled about that? It’s smart.
That extension was really about reworking his contract so that it would be easy to move on from him after this year if they wanted to, and they ended the season by unceremoniously benching him. Why should he do them any favors?
If you’re going to a team….why weaken yourself when you don’t have to?
Aka, why make the saints give up draft picks when you can sign there as a FA.
Makes 100000% complete sense from Carr’s point. Why would he help LV? They’re the ones ditching him.
Especially true if you’re New Orleans bound. They’re already short a first and a second.
Why would he want to go to the Saints. Dennis Allen Head Coach. Bahahaha. The team over the cap? They didn’t win lately with Payton and Brees. They aren’t winning anytime soon.
They would t be my first choice if I were him, but hey, has to win the NFC south. As of now, he’d be the best QB in the division by miles.
NFC south falcons and panthers in better position then
I think those teams are better set up in most ways, but for just this year, I think the Saints with Carr could beat those other two unless they drastically improve their QB situations.
He didn’t bail the sat him
Hey, it’s their prerogative to bench him, but that’s not going to motivate him to do them a favor.
Magic- He’s acting like a spoiled child because he’s not giving up money and is protecting his future team from giving up assets? If anything, the Raiders are the ones acting spoiled. They handed him a no-trade clause but would only let him talk to teams who agreed to trade compensation? They need to stop crying and just release him.
I’d say you’re in error. You never bench your starting QB – so another spiteful move by Josh ‘the inept’.
There’s no reason Carr should want the raiders to receive compensation for throwing him out the door.
Don’t know if the saints are a good fit, the jets maybe, or panthers or Indy…..I think he’d do best with Frank In Carolinia
How did he bail, they benched him. They traded away Cooper & Mack but for some reason was still expected to win. That’s not a winning culture. The Jets should go after him. Rogers is year to year and always full of distractions.
He’s being smart. Why shouldn’t he look out for himself? The Raiders are the ones who benched him. They are looking out for themselves. Good for him to use the only leverage he has.
Makes sense. Why would he want his future team giving up assets that could help him win?
Well said. I personally would rather take my chances on the upside of Rodgers. I think he downplayed his thumb injury last year and played hurt. He also had no weapons all year. I agree with Mike Francesa when he said on his podcast that the Jets with Rodgers can go to a superbowl. I also agree with Mike that Rodgers has at least 2 good years left in him.
But it’s also not wrong to just take Carr for money and keep our picks. Either outcome would have me pretty excited for next season. Breece Hall looked good at the Knicks game last night. We’re going to need him back at full strength.
If we can get Carr for just picks, then use top picks on OL and S, watch out…
Man with a baseball player’s screen name would take the world of Mike Fran-Say-So, world-class hypocrite who has never called out the New England Patriots. Gag me with a spy camera!
Nobody cares, see you later mediocre QB.
That mediocre QB is better than half the league is doing, though, if not more.
SNS- Weren’t you the one who said nobody was in the driver’s seat? hahaha looks like you were wrong and now you’re clearly mad. Nobody types “nobody cares” if they aren’t upset with the outcome. Or you just feel like being a dummy since it’s evident many people care.
P.S. you’re going to end up with a worse QB next season.
A 3rd round pick doesn’t make a huge impact. If he thinks he’s winning or ‘in the drivers seat’ whatever. There’s no leverage for either side, it’s A 3RD ROUND PICK.
Raiders wanted him gone and he’s about to be, the needle barely moves. Stidham played just as good as Carr.
You enjoy the Stidham/Jimmy G era, SNS. I’m sure those two, along with Hoodie Jr and Mark Davis’ idiocy will produce a magnificent 3-14 season.
I washed my hands of the Raiders. I’m over it. I’m going to root for Carr’s new team, whichever it may be.
The Raiders aren’t good, and won’t be good. You’ll wish you had Carr before next season is over. The Raiders will not be good as long as Davis is their owner.
And Russell Wilson was a 3rd round pick. A third round pick is actually very valuable.
I stood up for this guy for a long time but at the end of the day he didn’t get the job done. More power to him for using his option to make his own decision. We were only looking at a 3rd rounder so it’s not like it was going to be a major haul coming back our way. The cap hit was going to be the same either way as far as I understand so it’s not that big of a deal financially. I wish him all the best moving forward but I agree that it was time to move forward with another QB1 and see if we can take that next step.
As a Raider fan, I’d vote to keep him. He is still a good QB, and they have no alternatives. If they release him, then there is no good reason to keep Adams or Jones, or any other older player.
But at least the FO has been consistent over the past five years in constantly making the wrong move. Just once, even if it backfires, I’d like the Raiders to show some coconuts.
As bad as they’ve done in recent drafts they also did well on some picks. Releasing Carr isn’t a matter of age, more of a matter of performance. I’ve been a staunch Carr supporter when many abandoned him. But now I believe the time is right to move forward with another QB1. I’m even willing to see how Stidham can do based on how well he played against SF in his first start. We need to give Ziegler a couple of drafts to see how he stacks this team. Parham in the 3rd last year seems like he’s keen to do well. Bottom line is Carr didn’t get the job done so we have to move forward and see how this thing plays out.
Back up to Tua..down!
The Raiders make me laugh in how they keep blowing it with coaches and players.
Starts with ownership. Al stopped winning since the early 1980’s. Vs Skins was 1984(?).
Davis ownership is definitely a problem
The tweedle-dee bowl-cut is never going to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy. You’d make more money betting on treasury notes.
…Ever. Sorry Raiders fans.
Now that’s funny, you’d think a guy with his $ could afford a decent haircut. Read somewhere that he hangs around his high school buds and drives a crappy ‘let’s go surfing’ vehicle….
Seriously. I hate to say it, but I just don’t see it…ever. Carr should consider his dismissal a blessing in disguise.
What you read probably has merit.
Holy crap, it happened. He cut the hairdo. Did he read my post?! Same day! LOL
link to youtube.com
Raiders fans cheer!!
Lord Almighty, the soup bowl can be retired.
Thanks for the link!
LOL, too funny.
good for him to tell the Raiders off
If the Raiders think Garoppolo is an upgrade over Carr they are in for a rude awakening.
I think Carr ends ups in NFC South with either Bucs or Saints, whoever gets him in that division would be considered favs. Only thing I’d be worried about is the major losses coming for each team due to salary cap. I do believe Raiders end up with Garapollo or Levis, if Raiders get Garapollo then the Panthers get Levis which I still would believe whatever team gets Carr would still be favs. Other scenarios I could see for Carolina would be trading up for Young or Stroud or resigning Darnold, could do that regardless of drafting a QB. Think if they trade up there the team to beat. But my hot take for off-season is Falcons get Lamar so will see what else Atlanta do after that trade, Atlanta is worst team in division if they stick with Riddler
Hail to the Red…..
errrrr…
Commanders!
He’d be the second best QB in the NFC East, after Hurts.
They’re a decent QB away from being a threat.
He’s not a good quarterback and will never lead his team to a Super Bowl. Feel bad for whatever team signs him
Saying he isn’t a good QB is asinine. Maybe he isn’t great, but he has been a good QB for a clown show outfit.
Good for Carr for taking control of the situation (that the Raiders created) and doing the right thing for himself. Funny how quickly Raider fan turned on this guy after one bad year, under an inept new HC. No, he’s not a great QB…but he’s top half (or so) of the league type guy and can win some games with a talented roster. Plenty of teams should be interested in him. The Raiders did him a favor..I wouldn’t want to be around that dumpster fire over the next few seasons. Crazy how McDaniel made the madness of 2021 seem like the good old playoff days.
Only the Raiders could screw things up so bad, they get nothing back for a starting QB
He thinks he will get more than his guaranteed 40 million.
This isnt the worst scenario for him. On the open market, he will likely earn more $$ and choose his destination.