Derek Carr Ready to Step up to Elite Quarterback Status

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Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after completing a two point conversion to take the lead during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Saints 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Derek Carr looks like he has arrived among the game’s elite!

When quarterback Derek Carr first went to the Oakland Raiders, you can tell he was different. He didn’t start out as an elite quarterback but he wasn’t like the other 17 starting QBs since 2002. The Raiders have always had big-armed QBs but Carr could actually handle himself.

He never looked lost, out of place or like the NFL game was simply too big for him. There wasn’t much around him like the other quarterbacks between 2002 and 2014. But he got all that he could with what little was around him, managing to look good in the process.

Instead of complaining and blaming others, he worked hard to make himself better. Carr kept his goal of starting a winning culture on his childhood team in mind. His hope was that at some point, the organization would surround him with talented, hard-working players like himself.

And through free agency and the draft the last few years, the Raiders added such players to him. Carr grew throughout this process and in Year 3, he looks ready to step up to elite status. He shootout with elite quarterback Drew Brees is a sign of it.

Turn the page for a look at his evolution.

Next: Rookie Year

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