With his release from the Las Vegas Raiders, Derek Carr is a free agent for the first time in his nine-year career, and is sure to command the attention of a QB-needy team before the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Below are my top three places where the former Fresno State product may land?
1.) Carolina Panthers: The odds-on betting favorite. Carr would seamlessly fit into new head coach Frank Reich’s offense and be the perfect triggerman for it. While he will not be handing off to Christian McCaffrey, Carolina does own the ninth overall pick, which could be used to selected either a RB such as Texas’ Bijan Robinson or a bona-fide No.1 like TCU’s Quentin Johnston.
2.) New Orleans Saints: After failing to secure a trade to the Saints, Carr may end up in the Big Easy as a free agent on his own terms. With Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill failing to secure the QB1 role, Carr could come in and immediately make a average passing attack downright scary in 2023.
3.) New York Jets: This would be the perfect place and scenario for Carr to step right into. Young playmakers on the outside in Garrett Wilson and Corey David. Workhorse running back in Breece Hall. Shutdown corner in Sauce Gardner, and a top 10 defense led by Carl Lawson, C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams. Carr would just have to be a game manager in making enough plays to win and trusting the defense to hold things down.
That and playing in a much more winnable AFC East—with the exception of Josh Allen and the Bills—Carr would become the second best QB in the division above Mac Jones and Tua.