Derek Carr Eyes Legacy Franchise After Poor Break Up With Las Vegas Raiders

After the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis, Derek Carr assuredly has more clarity than some of the other notable quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers about finalizing their future in the league. While Rodgers still can’t decide between playing and retiring, Carr may have already made up his mind.

Although the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers are still in the race to land the 9-year veteran Raiders QB, the Jets look to have booked the top spot in Carr’s mind. Things are moving faster between the two sides after their second meeting this week.

The New York Jets think Derek Carr can solve their problems

Derek Carr is still contemplating his next move after his Raiders benching and his subsequent departure from Sin City. According to reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “While the Panthers and Saints remain in the conversation for Derek Carr, the former Pro Bowl quarterback has a slight lean toward the Jets as his next home as of now, per source. Nothing is final, but Jets, who are linked to Aaron Rodgers, have made an impression.” 

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Head Coach Robert Saleh couldn’t fly out to Indianapolis because of a stomach illness. However, he didn’t really need a second meeting, considering how well the first one went when Carr visited the New York Jets‘ Florham Park facilities two weekends ago. “Derek’s got an elite mental makeup with regards to football IQ. He’s got tremendous accuracy and arm strength. Can put the ball anywhere you want. He’s underrated in terms of being a scrambler, being able to move out of the pocket and all that stuff,” Saleh said in a press conference on Thursday.

Robert also compared Derek Carr’s career trajectory to Super Bowl LVI champion Matthew Stafford’s. “He’s more in line with what [Matt] Stafford’s career has been in terms of if you can just get him to a place that can surround him with all the pieces and allow him to just quarterback. It’d be pretty cool. He’s a solid young man,” the Jets HC added.

Does that put the Super Bowl on the map for the Jets?

The Jets haven’t won a Lombardi since Namath in Super Bowl III. After Stafford won the Lombardi last year with the Rams after 12 disappointing years in Detroit, Gang Green is confident about breaking their 12-year playoff drought with Carr, manning the pocket. Carr has three times as many Pro Bowl selections as the Rams QB. However, Derek has been to the postseason just once in 2021.

And with the hotbed of quarterbacks in the AFC, Carr may not completely discard the relatively easier NFC South options in the Saints and the Panthers. Especially after spending the entirety of his career in the AFC.

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Besides, the Jets have also enquired about Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. However, many, including Jets legend Joe Klecko, believe Carr is a better fit for the Broadway-bound road.