Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders
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What is Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr worth? The best of a weak quarterback class of 2014 (the same one that includes Blake Bortles and Jimmy Garoppolo) could become the first $25 million signal caller in the NFL.

The funny thing about that becoming a reality is neither the Oakland Raiders or Carr and his agent appear to be worried that a deal won’t get done. Carr has been everything advertised when the team made him their second-round pick in 2014 and had it not been for an injury late in the season, the Oakland Raiders could have made a serious run in the AFC playoffs.

Per NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman, despite a dearth of reported discussion between the sides, the expectation is that Carr and the Raiders will have to come to terms, and when they do it will be for record-setting money.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday on NFL Network’s Up to the Minute Live that, if and when the Raiders lock up their franchise QB, Carr could become the first quarterback to earn $25 million per year. Colts signal-caller Andrew Luck currently paces all QBs with a $24.6 million average salary.

And should Carr return to form in 2017, and lead the team to the playoffs and possibly a Super Bowl appearance, that is money well-earned and a check Oakland Raiders management will be more than willing to write.

The Raiders and Carr should watch the market as other quarterbacks will determine how much the former Fresno State signal caller is offered. A potential contract for the Redskins’ franchise-tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins could completely rewrite the market for Carr, Rapoport reports. A long-term deal between Cousins and Washington would have to be worked out by the July 15 deadline for signing tendered players.

If a Cousins contract was concocted by then, that would give Carr and the Raiders, Rapoport explains in this scenario, less than two weeks to negotiate a new deal and meet Carr’s self-imposed deadline. (The likelihood of this playing out is unknown at this time, but we’re saying there’s a chance.)

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