HENDERSON, Nev. – Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock gave quarterback Derek Carr, star of several change rumors in the offseason, a solid backing.
“Derek Carr had his best year under (the command of) Jon Gruden. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and we couldn’t be happier with him,” Mayock said in a video conference. “I say it every year: we evaluate all positions. I have no idea who I could call (for a change), so you have to do evaluations of your players and other players in the league and you have to fill in your whiteboards and understand what the value is around the whole league and that is what we do.
“If they ask me specifically about Derek, Jon and I go shoulder to shoulder and hit the table for Derek Carr,” he added.
The Raiders have been linked with DeShaun Watson and Russell Wilson. Wilson’s agent put black and silver as one of his client’s possible destinations, along with New Orleans, Dallas and Chicago if the Seattle Seahawks choose to negotiate.
For his part, Carr is in his third year with Gruden as coach. Last season, the passer set personal bests in yards for air (4,103), rating (101.4) and QBR Total (71.0) with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a Raiders who finished with a mark of 8-8, an improvement of a win over the 2019 campaign, but they lost five of their last seven games and won just two games at their new home, Allegiant Stadium.
In his career, Carr, who signed a five-year, $ 125 million contract extension in June 2017, holds a 47-63 record with just one winning campaign.
Mayock was not so effusive in his praise when he spoke of right tackle Right Trent Browns, who in 2019, as a free agent, signed what was then a record contract for an offensive lineman for four years and $ 66 million.
Brown has played in more than 10 plays in just 14 of 32 games with the Raiders.
“About Trent, he’s still under contract and we believe in this player’s talent. There would be nothing better this year than having Trent Brown as the right tackle protecting Derek Carr in Week 1, but the jury is still deliberating and on overall, we still have a lot of decisions to make about our roster, ”Mayock said.
Brown’s impact on the salary cap is $ 14 million in 2021, with no dead money.
“Trent has it all when he’s healthy, fit and ready to play. He’s as dominant as any other tackle and he tried it in the 2019 season,” Mayock noted. “Since then, everything has been like a roller coaster. Really, what (Trent) needs to do, more than anything, is get in the best possible shape of his life and come ready to prove he’s a tackle. dominant in the NFL and that’s really all he has to do.
“If Trent gets in shape and stays committed, there is no other more talented player,” he added.
Mayock did not confirm or deny a report by Josina Anderson stating that right guard Gabe Jackson was informed he would be cut.