Russell Wilson is frustrated with the Seattle Seahawks.
But he doesn’t want to be negotiated.
But if he is dealt, he will be happy to play for one of the four teams.
That’s according to his agent Mark Rodgers, who opened the floodgates for the off-season rumor, telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter last week that he should play for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders or Chicago Bears.
Mayock addresses Wilson’s speculation with praise for Carr
Predictably, this led to a wave of speculation about Wilson’s future and what his possible arrival could mean for the four teams on his list. This prompted Raiders general manager Mike Mayock to give defender Derek Carr a vote of confidence on Wednesday.
“I think Derek Carr had his best year, under Jon Gruden,” Mayock told reporters, by Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. “I think he is one of the best defenders in the NFL and we are happy with him. … I think Jon Gruden and I would go shoulder to shoulder and hit the table for Derek Carr.”
Are the Raiders investigating Wilson’s potential trade?
Mayock did not mention Wilson by name with that endorsement. Doing so would be tantamount to tampering. Besides, he didn’t have to. His vote of confidence was a clear response to Wilson’s interest in playing for the Raiders.
And of course that is what Mayock would say. As long as Carr is the quarterback in Las Vegas, the general manager’s job in public is to support him. His particular job is to find a way to dress Wilson in silver and black without mortgaging the franchise.
There is some truth to Mayock’s praise for his quarterback. It could be argued that Carr is the most unfairly defamed defender in football. Three times as a Bowler, Carr has just finished a career season completing 67.3 percent of his passes for 256.4 yards per game with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions. It is a game that teams hungry for NFL quarterbacks would like to play.
But the Raiders have had no substantial victory with Carr, so requests for his expulsion are frequent and expressive. And if his departure resulted in Wilson in downtown Las Vegas, they would be justified.
Raiders desperate to make their mark in Las Vegas
This is not critical for Carr. But Wilson is an excellent talent and a difference maker that would almost certainly elevate the Raiders to the playoffs. The Raiders are desperate to reach the postseason under Gruden and Mayock, as they have settled in Las Vegas. It is a destination the franchise has reached only once since 2002 – a wild card loss in 2016 that an injured Carr did not dispute.
So while Mayock is saying the right things to the media about his starting quarterback, he is almost certainly exploring his options behind closed doors. If you are not, you are abandoned in your duty.
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