Derek Carr will hit the open market. Could the New York Jets pounce?
The first major domino of the quarterback market has fallen, which is important news for the QB-hungry New York Jets.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has informed the team that he will not accept a trade to any team. This means the Raiders will release him ahead of February 14, which is when $40.4 million of Carr’s contract becomes guaranteed.
Sources: #Raiders QB Derek Carr has informed the team he won’t accept a trade to the #Saints or any other team. The team is expected to release him and he’ll be a top free agent. pic.twitter.com/k0LcLRlDOo
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2023
Carr previously took a two-day meeting with the New Orleans Saints, which seemed to go well. New Orleans and Las Vegas had even agreed on the compensation for a trade (one third-round pick was the rumored cost). However, Carr’s contract was an issue, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It appears Carr was unwilling to rework his contract. In turn, Carr is utilizing the power of his no-trade clause to force a release and allow himself to test the open market.
The #Saints and #Raiders had the framework of a trade in place for Derek Carr, but his contract — which would fully guarantee him $40.4 million as of 4 p.m. ET Tuesday — was an issue. Carr’s no-trade clause gave him power to veto any deal and effectively force his release.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2023
Rapoport says Carr “wanted to speak with teams and now he will.”
The first big QB domino of the offseason. Derek Carr wanted to speak with teams and now he will. Las Vegas moves on and is free from his contract. https://t.co/rOdBsTThG9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2023
In a video published on Sunday afternoon, Rapoport mentioned the Jets as one of four possible suitors for Carr, alongside the Titans, Panthers, and Saints. Rapoport added the caveat that New York is a suitor “if they don’t get Aaron Rodgers.”
The Super Bowl LVII @NFLGameDay Notebook with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: The latest on the future of #Raiders QB Derek Carr; #49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo will have a strong FA market; #Packers QB Aaron Rodgers enters the darkness, but what next? pic.twitter.com/xkvt6cJs18
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2023
Rodgers, meanwhile, is set to begin a four-day “darkness retreat” on Monday, where he hopes to make his decision on what he wants to do in 2023: return to Green Bay, retire, or ask to be traded.
