For Derek Carr, it’s the Raiders or bust.
Carr, who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Raiders, affirmed his unwavering commitment to the franchise on Tuesday following an offseason inundated with trade rumors.
“I’d probably quit football if I had to play for somebody else,” Carr told reporters in his first public appearance since the end of last season. “I am a Raider for my entire life. I’m going to root for one team for the rest of my life —it’s the Raiders. So, I just feel that so strong in my heart. I don’t need a perfect situation to make things right.
“I’d rather go down the ship, you know what I’m saying, if I have to.”
It’s unclear if the Raiders feel the same way. Las Vegas was speculated to be in the market for a quarterback during the offseason, connected to both Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Just last offseason, the Raiders seemed to doubt Carr by inking Marcus Mariota to a two-year, $17.6 million contract — an inordinate deal for a backup.
Carr, 30, signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension with the Raiders in 2017. While two years remain on the original deal, his dead cap hit is minimal: releasing Carr would cost Las Vegas just $2.5 million this year, saving the franchise nearly $20 million against the cap.
Carr isn’t dwelling on that scenario.
“I’m that old-school mentality,” Carr said. “I’m playing for one team and that’s it. Whether we’ve won enough or not, I literally give every bit of energy and effort that I can to this organization and when I sign a contract, I completely, in my mind, have to fulfill that. I committed to that. I put my name on paper.”
Carr stands as the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards (26,869) and touchdown passes (170). Last season, he threw for a career-best 4,103 yards.
Yet those individual successes have seldom translated into team success. The Raiders, who went 8-8 in 2020, have made the playoffs just once during Carr’s tenure, back in 2016.
“People can say whatever they want,” Carr said. “I know what I’ve put on film; I know the things I’ve been able to accomplish and I still want more. There’s still more and I want to do it here. I don’t want to do it anywhere else.”