Over the past two seasons, many have wondered whether Jon Gruden (and Mike Mayock) would eventually try to improve the quarterback’s situation for the Raiders. While Derek Carr had some good seasons, it looked like he had played.
However, one reason the Raiders followed him this year is that Carr has made progress in each of the past two seasons under Gruden. Another year of growth, along with an improved wide receiver team, could make him one of the top 10 defenders in the NFL. And that is exactly what happened to Carr and the Raiders.
Carr not only had the most passing yards of his career, but also ended the season with a passer rating of 101.4. He also set career records in yards per attempt (7.9) and adjusted yards per attempt (8.2). In a recent Pro Football Focus article, he ended up as the website’s eighth player of the season:
“We suggested that Carr could benefit from a more aggressive style before the start of the 2020 season, and that’s exactly what happened in 2020. He increased his average target depth from 6.9 yards to 9.1 yards and we saw 20 more long-range shots against just six more worthwhile moves. Carr posted his best passing grade since 2016, and the Raiders’ attack has become one of the best in the league. “
Considering all the injuries to the wide receiver and the offensive line that Carr had to deal with in 2020, this was a terribly impressive season for him. While the team can improve on their red zone attack and need to be more consistent from game to game, Carr proved that he is a quarterback in the franchise.
If the Raiders can continue to add and improve the wide receiver this off-season, nothing prevents Carr from making it up the list in 2021. It’s pretty clear that he fits Gruden’s attack perfectly and the longer these two stay together, the better it is the direction of the franchise.