How much money will Raiders save by punting on Derek Carr?

How much money will the Las Vegas Raiders save by getting rid of Derek Carr after the 2022 season?

One of the most apparent moves for the Las Vegas Raiders to make when the 2022 season ends is to depart with quarterback Derek Carr, but how much money will Las Vegas save by doing so?

The answer is $40.4 million.

Carr is guaranteed $32.9 million in 2023 and $7.5 million in 2024. The salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2023 waiver period, which begins after the Super Bowl. Therefore if Vegas want to get rid of Carr, they would have to do so through a narrow window.

Is it time for the Raiders to move on from Derek Carr?

Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension this past offseason; however, it may be time for the Raiders to depart with their quarterback.

Vegas are currently 6-9, third in the AFC East division, and the 12th seed in the AFC playoff picture.

While Carr is not having that bad of a season, recording 3,522 passing yards (10th overall) and 24 passing touchdowns (tied-7th), his most recent questionable performance in Week 16 is not going to instill confidence in Las Vegas fanbase.

The Raiders faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, and Carr had a disappointing performance, throwing 174 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. In the final 35 seconds of the game, Carr threw a pass intended for receiver Hunter Renfrow; however, the pass was slightly off and was intercepted by Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton, ending the game and the hopes of a Raiders comeback.

Since becoming the starter in his rookie year in 2014, Carr has led the Raiders to the postseason just twice in nine years. Carr first led them to the playoffs in 2016 and lost in the Wild Card round to the Houston Texans. The Raiders would not return to the playoffs until 2021, when they again lost in the Wild Card round, this time to the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the new regime in Las Vegas with general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, maybe it is time for a new quarterback. The Raiders have been loyal to Carr, however, after nine years and a lack of success, perhaps the time has come for the Raiders to move on.

Suppose Vegas do decide to depart with Carr. In that case, they currently have a top-10 first-round draft pick for the 2023 NFL draft, which could very well be used to draft a new franchise quarterback, or they could sign a free-agent quarterback such as Tom Brady, Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, or Sam Darnold, who are all free agents in 2023.