When Derek Carr showed up to the Raiders facility before the sun came up on Monday morning, that was a good sign. It’s not like the Raiders quarterback was ever going to hold out during contract talks. He is just too nice — to bring back a criticism, yes criticism, from his first eight years here — but showing up early for the first day of voluntary workouts was a statement.
The Raiders held up their end on Wednesday morning, giving Carr a three-year, $121.5 million extension with a no-trade clause. That last part is key, as it was given to Carr to balance out what will likely be only a two-year extension once the contract details and guarantees are released. Remember all the bells and whistles with receiver Davante Adams’ five-year, $140 million deal that turned out to really be three guaranteed seasons for $67.5 million? The rest is all for you, the fans and readers — funny money for entertainment value.
Carr had one year left on his old contract (at $19.8 million) and will likely take home less than $100 million in guarantees over the next three years — matching the duration of Adams’ deal and giving the two former Fresno State teammates and good friends a three-year window to bring a Super Bowl trophy to the Raiders.
No excuses. And a no-trade clause.
Carr and Adams have already posted videos of their sweaty post-workout glee on social media the last couple of weeks. When Carr has been at his best, it’s because of the confidence he has had in former receivers like Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts and current targets Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. Imagine how it will be with Adams, someone he has been throwing back-shoulder passes to since he was fresh out of high school.
There have been many ups and downs in Carr’s eight years with the Raiders, but the losses, broken leg, the throws out of bounds on fourth down, being booed in his Oakland finale and many horrendous draft and free-agent decisions by many former bosses are all a distant blur in the rear-view window now. New general manager Dave Ziegler, head coach Josh McDaniels and owner Mark Davis have tied themselves to Carr, 31, for three more seasons. With ideally with another offensive line addition coming, they have built up one of the best offenses in the NFL.
With Adams, Renfrow in the slot and Waller at tight end, Carr has three targets who are immediately open getting off the line of scrimmage. And that’s before you even consider their route-running ability, athleticism or ability to catch the ball in traffic. Running backs Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake can run for first downs and also catch out of the backfield, while McDaniels’ six Super Bowl rings sometimes get in the way when he is drawing up plays.
