While he’s still signed for another season, the Oakland Raiders wasted little time rewarding quarterback Derek Carr for his strong performance this season.
Carr confirmed Thursday via Twitter that he signed an extension:
On Friday, the Raiders shared a photo of Carr signing the contract:
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Carr and the Raiders agreed to terms on a five-year extension worth $125 million, which would make him the highest-paid player in league history./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64127752/920x920.0.jpg)
Tom Pelissero of USA Today reported Carr’s deal includes $70 million in guarantees with $40 million guaranteed at signing.
He now currently eclipses Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who averages nearly $24.6 million annually, per
The news comes as little surprise. With the exception of the Cleveland Browns, no other NFL team has struggled more than the Raiders to find a franchise QB. Since Rich Gannon’s Pro Bowl season in 2002, 17 quarterbacks started at least one game for Oakland prior to the team selecting Carr in the 2014 draft, per Pro-Football-Reference.com.
In Carr, the Raiders have seemingly found the answer to their prayers. The third-year passer wasn’t an overnight success, but he has improved with each season in the NFL. He finished with 3,937 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2016.
Carr had been building an MVP campaign before suffering a broken fibula in Oakland’s Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Without Carr, the Raiders also stood little chance against the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round. Connor Cook went 18-of-45 for 161 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the 27-14 defeat.
