Report: Potential contract number revealed for Derek Carr extension

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that the Las Vegas Raiders were set to extend quarterback Derek Carr for the “foreseeable future,” but now, a separate report has surfaced that begs the question of whether both sides will come to an agreement.

According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the two sides have not exchanged proposals — at least not yet — and the expected figure, should they come to an agreement, could be far higher than many expected.

“As it relates to Derek Carr and the Raiders, the sense is no proposals have been exchanged yet on an extension,” Bonsignore said. “You’ll see various numbers being thrown around, but, as I’ve been reporting, any extension would likely be in the $40m per season range.”

Carr is entering the final year of his contract. He signed a five-year deal back in 2018 that was worth roughly $125 million, and Carr is set to make $19.77 million this coming season. Though he has long sought out a contract extension to stay with the organization, Rapoport reported that there was some significant uncertainty given changes within the organization — particularly at head coach, as the Raiders hired Josh McDaniels after a season that saw John Gruden fired and Rich Bisaccia take over as the interim. Now, however, Rapoport says that the uncertainty has been ironed out, and Carr and his camp is confident in the prospects of his future with the Raiders.

Rapoport noted that both McDaniels, the new head coach, and Dave Ziegler, the new general manager are “officially on board,” meaning “Carr is finally set to receive the support that has eluded him.”

“Sources say the Raiders are moving forward with Carr at QB and prepared to discuss a contract extension that would keep him in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future,” Rapoport wrote.

Carr mulled his future with the organization for several weeks while the Raiders conducted a head coaching search, per Rapoport, but he was pleased with the franchise’s decision to hire McDaniels — who was reportedly Carr’s top choice.

Despite plenty of controversy and distractions in the franchise’s head coaching situation, Carr helped lead the Raiders to a 10-7 record in the 2021 season, good for an NFL Playoff berth. The Raiders lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round, however, by a 26-19 final.

Carr finished the season with 4,804 passing yards, the fifth-highest total in the NFL, along with 23 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions. It was arguably his best year in the NFL, despite a career-high in the interceptions department; his 68.4 completion percentage was just two percent shy of a career-high, while his 4,804 passing yards was a career-high tally, more than 700 yards better than his previous high in the 2020 season.

Carr was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft after a decorated career with the Fresno State Bulldogs, and now, he’ll look to extend his stint as the Raiders’ franchise quarterback. Carr has made three Pro Bowls in his eight NFL seasons.