Derek Carr contract, explained: Why Raiders released QB after failed trade to Saints

Zac Al-Khateeb

Derek Carr contract, explained: Why Raiders released QB after failed trade to Saints image

This story has been updated from a previous version.

Derek Carr, whose time with the Raiders has long come to a close, is officially off the franchise's books as of Tuesday.

Las Vegas was ready to move on from the ninth-year veteran — who in 2023 made his fourth Pro Bowl appearance as an alternate — as early as Week 18. The most pressing question following the Raiders' decision to part ways with Carr was whether it would trade him or cut him.

The franchise answered that question on Tuesday, cutting Carr in a move that saves Las Vegas considerable money. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

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That moved seemed to be a foregone conclusion, as Carr had exercised the no-trade clause in his pricey contract extension. That severely (read, completely) limited Las Vegas' ability to negotiate with other teams who could do with an upgrade at quarterback. Carr would rather take a salary cut than not control his own destiny moving into the next stage of his career.

The Sporting News breaks down Carr's contract details and how they have informed Las Vegas' decision to part with the former Raider:

Derek Carr contract details

Derek Carr 1-10 getty-ftr

Carr in April 2022 signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension with the Raiders, which included $24.9 million guaranteed at signing (a $7.5 million signing bonus and $17.4 base salary for the 2022 season). However, the remaining $40.4 million in guarantees, which would be paid out over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, would only become available after Feb. 15, 2023 — or if Carr became injured at any point of the 2022 season.

Once it was apparent the Raiders were going to move on from Carr — they benched him for Jarrett Stidham in the last two games of the season — it no longer made sense to keep him beyond that date, or risk his getting injured.

Below is his Raiders contract rundown, per Spotrac:

Year Yearly cash
2022 $24.9 million
2023 $33 million
2024 $42 million
2025 $41.3 million

MORE: Derek Carr contract: Raiders QB unwilling to extend Feb. 15 deadline to facilitate trade

Why Raiders released Derek Carr

The Raiders would have preferred to trade Carr so they could get something in return, while simultaneously getting another team to take on the remainder of his contract. Las Vegas certainly isn't hurting for teams in need of a solid upgrade at quarterback, either.

That said, Carr has enforced his no-trade clause, even telling the Saints he would not accept a trade to the franchise. He also told the Raiders he would not extend the Feb. 15 deadline to help them facilitate a trade.

“I don't think that would be best for me,” Carr said on Feb. 2.

Even if the Raiders had traded Carr before Wednesday, the deal would not be official until March 15, meaning a team could renege on the deal or otherwise try to modify trade arrangements. By forcing the team to cut him — and losing out on guaranteed money in the process — Carr can now reach out to teams immediately as a free agent, negotiating his own contract and ensuring he goes to a franchise that would best set him up for success.

With that, the Raiders cut him on Tuesday to avoid paying $40.4 million to a player who won't play another meaningful snap in Las Vegas. In so doing, they also avoid a $34.9 million cap for 2023, good for ninth-highest in the NFL.

After the move was made, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler released a joint statement:

MORE: Derek Carr open about Raiders exit after showing off Pro Bowl skills: 'Probably why I'm going somewhere else'

According to Carr's brother, David, a decision won't come quickly after his release.

"It's gonna be a long process. He wants to do his due diligence and see as many places as he can to get a feel for what the best place for him will be," he said.

Carr visited with the Saints before his release and spent some time with the Jets in the days after his release.

Derek Carr potential landing spots for 2023

Several teams are in need of a quarterback in 2023, including the Saints, whom Carr visited before telling them he would not accept a trade. Here's a rundown of some teams that could potentially make a run at Carr:

Jets

The Jets have said multiple times they are looking for a veteran quarterback to take over in 2023, not only to lead an offensive unit with some key pieces in place, but also to mentor former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson. The Jets reportedly are going all-in in trying to land Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, however — and still must navigate their salary cap difficulties, as they are roughly $3 million over following Super Bowl Sunday.

Colts

Indianapolis has tried several times in recent years to implant a veteran quarterback into the roster, with next to no success from the likes of Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan. Carr would be an upgrade, but it's possible the Colts, who have the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, instead trade up to grab one of Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.

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Buccaneers

Tampa Bay is an attractive option for any free-agent quarterback, with two Pro Bowl receivers in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans — not to mention a decent offensive line — all under contract. With Tom Brady well and truly retired, Carr would not only be the top quarterback in Tampa Bay ahead of Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask, but also the entire NFC South.

The Buccaneers currently sit at $55 million over the cap, per Spotrac, meaning several players on the roster would need to undergo contract restructures just to have enough money for Carr.

Saints

New Orleans is in perhaps the worst position to land an upgrade at quarterback in free agency, ranking last in salary cap space at minus-$57.4 million, per Spotrac. The team managed to get a (late) first-round pick by trading Sean Payton to the Broncos, but there might not be enough in New Orleans — even with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Olave on the roster — to interest Carr.

One thing New Orleans has going for it is coach Dennis Allen, who was the Raiders' coach when Carr was a rookie in 2014 (he only lasted four games into the season before he was fired). That familiarity might come into play, but New Orleans still has a lot of other things to work out to become a potential landing spot for Carr.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.