- QB Derek Carr is a +400 to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if the Raiders trade or release him.
- Carr told reporters that he has no intention of extending the February 15 deadline for the $40 million injury guarantee on his Raiders contract.
- Carr’s former back-up Jarrett Stidham is the +150 favorite to become the team’s next starter.
Raiders QB Derek Carr is now a +400 favorite to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his former backup Jarrett Stidham is the +150 favorite to become his successor in Las Vegas. Both of these developments came about after Tom Brady announced his retirement this week.
The prospect of the Raiders moving on from Carr increased after Carr told reporters during the Pro Bowl Skills Competition that he has no intention of extending the Feb.15 trigger date on his contract to give the Raiders more time to resolve his situation.
“I don’t think that would be best for me,” said Carr about extending the deadline according to ESPN.
The Raiders must trade Carr before the February 15 deadline, which is 3 days after the Super Bowl, or else the $40.4 million injury guarantee on his contract becomes fully guaranteed.
With February 15 one month before the new NFL year and free agency opens, the onus is on the Raiders to make the decision.
Should the Bucs Pursue Derek Carr?
Should the #Buccaneers pursue #Raiders QB Derek Carr to replace Tom Brady? pic.twitter.com/9bYmm4jPsy
— CrossfireNFL (@CrossfireNFL) February 1, 2023
The Buccaneers found themselves with a huge hole on Wednesday when QB Tom Brady announced that he was retiring for good. Although sportsbooks still believe that Brady could change his mind like he did last year, BetOnline says that the odds of Brady doing so is at +900 while the odds of going away for good is at -2000.
Right now, the only quarterback under contract in Tampa Bay is Kyle Trask, whom the team drafted out of the University of Florida in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. But Trask is still raw and has very little experience and with head coach Todd Bowles entering the 2023 season on the hot seat, it’s unlikely that he will roll the dice with Trask under center.
Tampa Bay has some solid draft capital and has enough talent on their roster to lure Carr their way. The Buccaneers also play in a very winnable NFC South Division, which they won this season with a sub-.500 record.
But whether it’s a trade or if Carr decides to come after a release, Tampa Bay is definitely a real possibility for Carr, especially with Brady no longer there.
Other Possible Landing Spots for Derek Carr
The Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets are the next possible landing spots for Derek Carr if not Las Vegas, with BetOnline listing both teams at +450 odds. The Carolina Panthers are next at +600 while the Washington Commanders are priced at +700.
The Colts have had a different primary passer in each of the last five seasons. With a coaching staff change there, it is expected that they will be having a new starting QB again this season. Indianapolis is said to be trying to move higher in the draft to get a quarterback they like but if Carr is available, he would represent an upgrade for the Colts.
Meanwhile, Mike LaFleur took the fall after the Jets missed the playoffs. Mike White is a free agent and could end up following LaFleur to his next destination. Joe Flacco is scheduled to hit free agency and it doesn’t look plausible that the Jets will go back to Zach Wilson, leaving Carr as a potential option.
Carolina finished the season strong and that may have pushed them out of range to draft an elite QB in the upcoming draft. Depending on who they hire as head coach, the team could end up getting a veteran like Carr. Washington has gone the veteran route each of the last two seasons with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Carson Wentz so they could do the same again with Carr this year.
Stidham Is Favored For Raiders Starting QB Position
With Brady out, the case for Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham https://t.co/FmpivNWFrh pic.twitter.com/Fcri1u59hE
— Las Vegas News (@LasVegas_NV_USA) February 1, 2023
Before he announced his retirement last Wednesday, Tom Brady was the favorite to be the Raiders’ starting QB next season if the team moved on from Derek Carr. But with Brady saying that he is walking away for good, the case for Jarrett Stidham as Derek Carr’s successor is gaining traction.
Stidham is the +150 favorite to replace Carr in Las Vegas. It can be recalled that the Raiders benched Carr in Week 17 and let Stidham finish the season for the team.
Stidham impressed in his first Las Vegas start by throwing for 365 yards with 3 TDS against the league’s top defense in the San Francisco 49ers. His next outing against the Chiefs wasn’t as impressive but Stidham left an impression in his short stint as a starter.
San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo is next at +200 but with Brock Purdy and Trey Lance also hurt, there’s a still chance he could return to the Niners. Aaron Rodgers is next at +400 but Rodgers is also listed as the betting favorite to be the Jets’ next starter. Will Levis is next at +1200 followed by Lamar Jackson at +1200 and Baker Mayfield at +1400.
