Derek Carr is officially a free agent. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday afternoon that the Las Vegas Raiders were releasing the signal-caller before a $40.5 Million contract guarantee kicks into place on Wednesday. The news brought on more rumors surrounding the veteran quarterback, and based on the latest Derek Carr next team odds, the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are best positioned to make a push.
Derek Carr Next Team Odds: Panthers & Saints Out Front
Check out the latest Derek Carr next team odds, per PointsBet:
Derek Carr had a long, successful (stats-wise) nine-year run with the Raiders but took a step in the wrong direction in the 2021-22 season and first-year head coach Josh McDaniels was not prepared to saddle himself with a digressing quarterback for the long haul. Not to fret, though. Carr figures to be highly coveted on the free agent market and is likely to take his time before picking the next challenge.
"We have a lot of respect for Derek Carr and what he has meant to the Raiders organization for the last nine years," coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler said in a statement, per USA Today. "Derek has done great things in this league and we're thankful to have been able to work with him this past year. He is a true professional and we appreciate his hard work in striving to produce the results we all desire. We wish Derek and his family all the best in the future."
Carr threw for 3,522 yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions over the regular season, but his 60.8% completion percentage marked his worst since his rookie season in 2014. The Raiders finished at a disappointing 6-9 despite coming in with high hopes following a playoff berth and adding superstar receiver Davante Adams in the offseason.
The termination of Carr's contract means the quarterback is free to sign with any potential suitor, giving him a nice head-start before the league-wide free agency period officially begins on March 15.
The Saints met with Derek Carr last week as a potential trade candidate, but Carr was unwilling to come to an agreement on contractual terms, refusing to take a pay cut on his current contract. Still, Carr and Saints head coach Dennis Allen have a history dating back to Carr's rookie season (when Allen was the Raiders' head coach). The two sides will likely touch base again to sort through what a new contract may look like.
As for the Panthers, they put fans through the three-headed quarterback carousel of Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker and Sam Darnold in 2022 and would likely benefit from the stability Carr would provide. They now have neither Darnold nor Mayfield on the roster and have the ninth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Unless Carolina opts to trade up in the draft, they'll likely enter the free agency market for their next quarterback, where Carr stands as the best option.
The Derek Carr next team odds show the Saints and Panthers as front-runners but don't be surprised if some dark horse candidates enter the fold in the near future.
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