The Las Vegas Raiders made a rather huge decision, especially given the surface-level status of the Derek Carr contract situation, by benching the gunslinger. And yet, the franchise has a sneaky, if a bit of an imperfect, out if they decide to go that route.
While several players on the team already voiced their displeasure for the situation, including some like Davante Adams who literally came to play with his friend and former college teammate, Carr won’t even be with the team for the remainder of the season, per ESPN and several other outlets.
“Obviously, I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here,” Davante Adams said. “You know, him being one of my really good friends and the reason why I came here in the first place, I mean, I wouldn’t be here right now if he wasn’t here, so I think everybody knows how I feel about him.
“And with that said, there’s a process of how things go, and I’m not going to sit here and go on and on, but obviously I support my guy and we’ve got to finish the season out the best way we can possible with all things considered.”
Derek Carr Contract “Out” For Raiders
Also within the ESPN piece previously mentioned is some rather important information on how Las Vegas could minimize the impact of tossing Carr to the wayside despite signing him to a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension in the spring. Again, it’s not perfect, and it might make a future situation with Davante Adams (conjecture inbound) strange, but it’s a business decision they’ll have to make.
Given a guarantee is built in the contract if Carr is injured, giving him $32.9 million in salary for next year and $7.5 million of the 2024 deal, the Raiders are going to have to make a call sooner than later.
In fact, the Derek Carr contract — extension and overall — might only end up costing the Raiders $5.625 million in a salary-cap hit if he is cut within three days of the upcoming Super Bowl. Life, kids, comes at us fast… even for a QB who holds most of his current franchise’s passing records.
Basically, that timeframe will be the only realistic window for the Raiders to bail on Derek Carr with minimal consequences to their cap. Since they lost any potential trade leverage after benching, then shooing him away for the remainder of the season — though reports claim it was a mutual decision to avoid a distraction — it’s more than likely Carr will be available for signing this offseason.
If not, then the Las Vegas Raiders are taking a monster Derek Carr contract risk. All in the name of Josh McDaniels… I guess?
