HENDERSON, Nev. – Mike Mayock, general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, gave quarterback Derek Carr, the protagonist of several off-season trade rumors, a solid endorsement.
Derek Carr had his best year under Jon Gruden. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and we couldn’t be happier with him, ”Mayock said in a video conference. “I say it every year: we evaluate all functions. I have no idea who could call me (for a change) so you have to do evaluations of your players and other players in the league and you have to fill out your boards and understand what the value is in the whole league and that’s what we do.
“If you ask me specifically about Derek, Jon and I will sit shoulder to shoulder for Derek Carr at the table,” he added.
The Raiders have been linked with Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson. Wilson’s agent listed black and silver as one of his client’s possible destinations, along with New Orleans, Dallas and Chicago if the Seattle Seahawks choose to trade it.
For his part, Carr comes to his third year at Gruden as a coach. Last season, the quarterback achieved career highs in passing yards (4,103), rating (101.4), and QBR Total (71.0) with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a Raiders who went 8-8, an improvement from one victory. Compared to the 2019 campaign, however, they lost five of their last seven games and won just two games at their new home, Allegiant Stadium.
In his career, Carr, who signed a five-year, $ 125 million contract extension in June 2017, is 47-63 with just one winning season.
Mayock was not so effusive in his praise when he spoke of the right tackle Trent Browns, who in 2019, as a free agent, signed a record four-year, $ 66 million offensive lineman.
Brown has played more than 10 times in just 14 of the 32 games with the Raiders.
“As for Trent, he’s still under contract and we believe in that player’s talent. Next year there is nothing better than having Trent Brown tackle the right way and protect Derek Carr in week 1, but the jury is still out and overall we still have a lot of decisions to make about our selection, ”said Mayock.
Brown’s impact on the salary cap is $ 14 million in 2021, with no dead money.
“Trent has it all when he’s healthy, fit and ready to play. He is as dominant as any other tackle and he proved it in the 2019 season, ”said Mayock. “Everything has been like a rollercoaster ever since. What (Trent) really needs to do, more than anything else, is get in the best shape of his life possible and get ready to prove he’s a dominant tackle in the NFL and that it’s really all he has to do .
“If Trent gets in shape and stays committed, there is no other more talented player,” he added.
Mayock neither confirmed nor denied a report from Josina Anderson that informed judge Gabe Jackson that he was going to be cut.