The Raiders are expected to sign a veteran quarterback in the weeks ahead and according to a report this week, 41-year-old Joe Flacco is near the top of the team’s wish list.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals are also an option for Flacco, but it appears from the outside that Flacco is the Raiders’ no. 1 choice to mentor Fernando Mendoza in his first NFL season.
If Flacco doesn’t end up in Las Vegas, another option that might make sense is Derek Carr.
Carr knows Klint Kubiak’s offense better than any players in the Raiders’ building and he made a series of comments last week confirming he would have interest in returning to his former team in some capacity.
“I have told my agent, I’ve told people, ‘Man, if they ever want me to come out there and help [Mendoza] in any way,’” Carr told AM 570 LA Sports.
“Now, they have so many great coaches, and Tom [Brady] is there and all those things. But I do know that building. I do know our fan base. I do know what it means to be a Raider. If that’s something that Mr. [Mark] Davis wanted, and [Klint Kubiak] and those guys, just to spend some time with him and show him what it’s like to be a pro.”
“I tell people I’m the most upgraded version of the iPhone. I just got out of it, so I get it. I’ve seen the coverages. I know these things. If that’s something they would like, if that’s something that gives him some value, I would absolutely be willing to help him in any way.”
Carr’s career with the Raiders came to an awkward end in February of 2023, and by no fault of his own, he became one of the most polarizing players in team history by the time he left the organization.
But a poll last week ended with 62 percent of fans and followers on social media being open to the idea of bringing Carr back to the Raiders in some capacity.
If the decision was up to Kubiak, there’s a good chance Carr would be back, but the situation gets more complicated with Mark Davis, Tom Brady and GM John Spytek involved.
It’s also worth noting that Carr is under contract with the Saints if he ever un-retires, and it could become complicated working out compensation and getting him under a contract that makes sense for everyone involved.
Maybe something could come together down the road between Carr and the Raiders, but for now the California Post’s Vinny Bonsignore says a reunion isn’t going to happen.
With Mendoza soon to be the next franchise quarterback in Las Vegas, there probably won’t be any better opportunities than now for Carr to reunite with the Raiders… but never say never?
x: @raidersbeat
Those poll results are the reason this country is upside down.
Pure ignorance.
Why wouldnt you want someone who knows the system to help bridge the gap, he’d play cheap and let him retire a raider… saints arent getting anything for him, send them the last pick
I want Derek Carr to retire a Raider.
I don’t want him at any price. Don’t you remember what happened when he got benched? Caused nothing but trouble. I wouldn’t take him if the Saints offered the Raiders their 1st round pick and paid his salary.
NO, absolutely not. Carr will be nothing but trouble. Look what happened when they benched him the last 2 games. He cried, went home and didn’t return to the team because he got benched. I say good riddance. We don’t need that A-HOLE.
I have never understood why DC isn’t at least universally respected among Raiders fans. With the exception of Gannon’s 4 year run from ’99-’02, Derek Carr was the best QB the Raiders had going back to Stabler. For those of us who aren’t old enough to have seen Stabler, the Raiders have mostly been awful at the QB position. With the exception of his rookie year and the 2017-2018 seasons when he was returning from both the physical and mental effects of a catastrophic injury, he consistently gave the Raiders above average QB play at a minimum despite some atrocious rosters, for nearly a decade. No small thing for a team that’s relied on guys like Vince Evans, Jeff George, Jamarcus Russell, Matt McGloin and Jay Schroeder among other abominations to start games since I got old enough to follow football in 1989. I guess it’s a sin that he wasn’t Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes.
He’s also been a class act, and when the nepo baby owner sent him away because he was convinced that Carr was the problem, he never trolled at the franchise for reverting back to their history of dismal QB play, which he would have been justified in doing. I have no idea if he has anything left, but if the last few years haven’t given you more respect for what he brought to the table, maybe another dozen years of QB hell might convince you.
You forgot Jim Plunkett. He won 2 super bowls. And what has Carr done? I’m waiting?
Getting into the hall of fame is a long road. Plunkett is certainly one that deserves to be inducted. If and when???? Look how long it took his coach Tom Flores to get into the hall of fame. Tom was in his 80’s! Both Tom and Plunket are Mexican Am perhaps that has something to do with it.
That has nothing to do with it. Plunk was a bust. His only NFL success was his last stop. And he only got a shot because Pastorini went down. But the real reason he’s not in the hall is because he spurned the media.
Flores was a career back up. On a terrible team. Two rings coaching should’ve been enough to get him in sooner. But oook at Cliff Branch and so many others.
Cart doesn’t deserve to be a raider. Never did.
Exactly. Two-time SB winners, if they were white they both make it much more easily.
Captain checkdown. Matster if the back foot back shoulder rainbows. (That were always under thrown).
A fantasy football general is the only fan that respects cart. Or a “model christian”
Class act? lol remember him crying and screaming at his OL when he was getting sacked?
He’s a pos just like his brother. They both think they belong in the hall.