Remember all the rumors about Derek Carr’s trade in the past few weeks?
The Las Vegas Raiders, you may remember, were expected to “field calls” to the 29-year-old quarterback, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Bonsignore also reported how a possible switch from three teams could allow Las Vegas to acquire Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson.
Obviously, seeing how the Patriots needed an appropriate starter, that conversation changed locally in Ned England. It quickly became: Could Derek Carr be traded to the Patriots?
Well, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock on Wednesday seemed to end all of Carr’s trade scenarios. Instead, Mayock issued a brilliant review Carr, who in most accounts is an average to below average caller.
“I think Derek Carr had his best year under Jon Gruden,” said Mayock, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “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.”
Could Mayock’s feelings be calculated or classic general manager language? Yes for sure. But if you take that at face value, it seems that Raiders value Carr a lot and, therefore, are against trading it. Carr, who enters the 30-year season, has spent the last seven in the organization.
While closing the door of a potential Patriots defender, he leaves another one wide open. This cements the fact that Las Vegas would be more inclined to negotiate Carr’s backup on Marcus Mariota.
Reports have recently emerged of Mariota’s commercial shares falling due to the incentives in his contract. Ian Rapoport, of the NFL Network, noted that, based on these incentives, Mariota, starting the full season, could grant him $ 20 million.
It is no surprise that it would alienate some teams, but based on the Patriots’ glaring need for position, New England could be an obvious suitor for Mariota.
And all indications point to the Raiders with their ears to the ground.
Miniature photo via Paul Rutherford / USA TODAY Sports Images