Coming into last season, the Las Vegas Raiders were expected to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
They had just acquired Davante Adams, arguably the best wide receiver in the league, and they had a very strong roster on both sides of the football.
But they fell on their faces, winning just six games and missing the playoffs after blowing multiple leads and losing several close games.
A casualty of that miserable season was quarterback Derek Carr, who was benched toward the end of the schedule and ultimately released.
Carr, who is now the starting QB for the New Orleans Saints, said he was “mad” about how last season ended, via NFL on ESPN and The Fresno Bee.
Derek Carr spoke on his final days in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/WmBFg3E23c
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 27, 2023
Statistically, Carr saw his production drop in 2022, as he threw for 3,522 yards and 24 touchdowns against 14 interceptions while posting an anemic 86.3 passer rating.
He had been the face of the Raiders ever since his rookie season in 2014 when he immediately gained the starting spot.
During his nine seasons with the team, he was named to the Pro Bowl four times, but he got the team to the playoffs just once in 2021 by the slimmest of margins.
Once there, Las Vegas lost to the Cincinnati Bengals as Carr completed just 29 of 54 passes.
For the 2023 campaign, the Raiders will have veteran Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and he is someone who is considered a consummate leader and team-oriented man.
At age 31, he may ultimately be just a temporary solution, but perhaps he is the man to get them back to the playoffs.
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