Derek Carr has no intention of extending the February 15th deadline in his contract, which would make $40.4 million in future guarantees available should he be traded from Las Vegas.
On Thursday, while at the Pro Bowl Games, the quarterback told the Associated Press that doing so “would not be best for me”.The said date marks when the aforementioned sum would become fully guaranteed. As it falls prior to the New League Year – and the start of free agency – it places pressure upon the Raiders to make a choice: accept a trade before the deadline, cut Carr to avoid the guarantees or wait until a later date to decide.
As the deadline approaches, the crunch of time makes any trade more difficult for Carr, who is under a no-trade clause. Las Vegas has not granted permission to speak to other clubs, which could be necessary to adjust his contract, should any trade partner be interested. Carr could also reject all trades and attempt to force his way to free agency.
March 15th is the date when any trade agreement can be finalized, making it difficult for the Raiders to trust any potential partner to not back out of the deal. To prevent this, Derek Carr not extending the trigger date is a must.Choosing to cut Carr would avoid the big guarantees, but the Raiders would get nothing in return for him leaving. Opting to wait and see what options become available is a $40 million gamble for Carr.
As Derek Carr prepares to say goodbye to the Oakland Raiders, the four-time Pro Bowler is excited for the prospect of a new home. “I’m just being patient,” he said. “I’m going to do what’s best for myself, my family, and don’t care what the optics are.” After a stellar performance at the 2020 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, Carr is embracing the new chapter that awaits him in his NFL career.
While it remains to be seen where he will end up, one thing is certain – he will give his all to the next city he plays in. For now, Derek Carr is looking forward to one last opportunity to represent the Raiders and give the fans a proper goodbye in the stadium.