Since the beginning of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders and Derek Carr have been at odds over the quarterback’s future with the team.
Derek Carr was benched in the last two games of the regular season due to a fallout with the franchise over a performance issue. Since then, the quarterback has become distant from the team and doesn’t even participate in any kind of activity.
However, his departure from the organization was still unclear due to a clause in the extension contract, which put both parties in a conundrum until now. The Raiders have finally released their star quarterback, Derek Carr, after such a drama.
Why did the Raiders let Derek Carr go?
The fallout began when the Raiders began to blow their chances to win last year and failed to qualify for a wild card berth. Even the star quarterback’s performance went downhill later in the season. And finally, when he got replaced by Jared Stidham, Derek lost all hope of continuing in the franchise.
The four-time Pro Bowler had a below-average performance this season, scoring 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while accumulating 3,522 yards of passing at a 60.8% completion rate. The stat might seem okay, but in the case of Derek, everyone wanted a lot more from him.
He couldn’t even participate in the Pro Bowl, but Joe Burrow’s injury made it possible for him to be the replacement. It was only a matter of time before they parted ways.
How did Derek Carr react to his release from the Raiders?
A few weeks ago, after the pro bowl game, Carr hinted at his leave from Las Vegas in an Instagram post, saying, “Thank you 🙏🏼 4x. Until next time Las Vegas….”
On February 14, the 31-year-old declined to waive the no-trade clause in the contract extension signed in 2021. The clause guaranteed his future with the team; however, fate had other plans for the quarterback.
Carr’s decision forced the Raiders to terminate his contract and release him after nine years when he was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Since then, Carr has acquired the franchise’s all-time touchdown, passing, and passer rating leader distinctions.
Although the athlete hasn’t said anything about becoming a free agent yet, the Raiders have issued a statement regarding the new development: “He is a true professional and we appreciate his hard work in striving to produce the results we all desire.”
A message from Head Coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler. pic.twitter.com/luSJILEcRX
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) February 14, 2023
There are several lucrative landing spots waiting for Carr, as he is one of the most prolific athletes in this rare position.
What do you think of Derek Carr’s career with the Raiders? Should they continue their journey? Comment on your thoughts in the box below.
