Ahead of Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels announced that quarterback Derek Carr would be done for the season. Backup Jarrett Stidham started the final two games and lost both of them, though he put a scare in the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime loss in Week 17.
The decision essentially put an end to Carr’s nine-year run with the franchise. Carr's 2023 base salary of $32.9 million becomes guaranteed just days after the Super Bowl, as does $7.5 million of his 2024 salary, so the Raiders will look to work quickly. NFL Network's Ian Rapaport confirmed ahead of Wild Card Weekend that the Raiders are set to begin the process of looking into a trade, though there's also a chance he just gets cut and gets to choose his next spot.
Given this, what are the best Derek Carr destinations? We’ll look at these ideal landing spots that include the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, and New York Jets.
4. New Orleans Saints
The Saints haven’t found a QB to replace Drew Brees yet, and a combination of Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, Ian Book, and Andy Dalton hasn’t worked the past two seasons. The team also traded its 2023 first-round pick last season, so a young franchise QB isn’t walking through that door anytime soon.
There are some solid weapons in the offense, too. Alvin Kamara can be a top-three NFL back, and last year’s first-rounder, WR Chris Olave, looks like a star in the making. Plus, the NFC South might be the worst division in the NFL in a long time, and if it loses Tom Brady next season, it could be even worse.
With a wide-open division, offensive weapons, a solid defense, and a need at QB, the Saints are an excellent Derek Carr destination. This move may not make them a Super Bowl contender, but it could put them back in the playoffs next season.
3. Tennessee Titans
With decent QB play the last three seasons from Ryan Tannehill, the Titans have come oh so close to making the Big Game. With Tannehill injured and declining this season, the Titans completed a massive collapse to miss the playoffs. They even turned to Josh Dobbs over rookie Malik Willis in the do-or-die Week 18 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If you chalk up this season to poor QB play, a down year for Derrick Henry, and a tough schedule, the Titans may be a veteran QB away from getting right back to the top of the AFC heap. Carr as the Tennessee QB could do this next season.
The next Derek Carr destination could be great if it is a team that relies on running and defense and only asks Carr to manage the game most times and pull a few fourth-quarter comebacks out from time to time. This is the formula Mike Vrabel has used for years and is one Carr could make better.
2. Washington Commanders
The Commanders fell short of the playoffs in 2022, with the decision to turn back to Carson Wentz backfiring in a big way. Taylor Heinicke did an admirable job when he started, but Washington can do better.
The team has a solid receiving duo in Terry McLaurin and rookie Jahan Dotson, an excellent RB pair in Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson, and a promising defense that could be among the best next season when Chase Young fully recovers from his knee injury.
Ron Rivera’s bunch was best with Heinicke this season, and at his core, Heinicke is a little like Derek Carr Lite. The Raiders QB isn’t as mobile as he used to be, but he’s better than Carson Wentz and Heinicke from a throwing perspective, so he could make the Commanders better with a solid veteran performance in 2023.
1. New York Jets
Speaking of teams that have incredible infrastructures and just need a little more from their QB to be really good, let’s talk about the Jets. New York got some terrible quarterback play from a washed-up Joe Flacco, some even worse performances from a never-was Zach Wilson, and some scrappy but inconsistent play from Mike White.
Despite all that, the 2022 Jets were in the playoff hunt almost all season because of the job Robert Saleh and his staff have done rebuilding the defense and the non-QB pieces of the offense. The arrow is pointing up as the Jets likely have the Offensive (WR Garrett Wilson) and Defensive (CB Sauce Gardner) NFL Rookies of the Year in 2022.
Just having a quarterback that the team doesn’t hate could be a step up for the Jets in 2023. And, like these other Derek Carr destinations, Gang Green has an impressive defense and an above-average running game (once rookie Breece Hall comes back next season).
Carr as a Jet — if the team doesn’t trade for Aaron Rodgers or sign Tom Brady this offseason — could take the team from a borderline playoff team to a true Super Bowl contender.
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