Derek Carr Wins Castrol EDGE Clutch Player of the Year

The Oakland Raiders had an awesome draft in 2014. Saturday, second-round pick Derek Carr joined first-round pick Khalil Mack with post-season award.

The 2014 NFL Draft has the most to do with why the Oakland Raiders are relevant now. The Raiders picked Khalil Mack, the best player in that draft and Derek Carr, the best quarterback. Such a draft had to change the fortunes of a then struggling Raiders organization.

Mack and Carr vowed to make this turnaround as rookies in the process of going 3-13. Then after going 7-9 in Year 2, they finished the job, going 12-4 in Year 3. As they always say and you well know, Year 3 is the year we find out what a draft prospect is.

So we found out this year that the Raiders now have the most dominant defensive player and a franchise QB. And it was made official Saturday when they both received postseason awards. Mack won Defensive Player of the Year and Carr won Clutch Player of the Year.

I personally thought he was the NFL MVP as Carr’s injury in Week 16 showed it all. We got to see what the Raiders are with him and what they are without him. But Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan ended up with NFL MVP honors.

However, Carr did take home the Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Year award. Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford had more fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives (eight to seven). But the manner in which Carr got his is why he won the award.

As Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio always says, “In 2015, we learned how to compete. This year, we learned how to win!”

Hopefully in 2017, they learn how to put teams away!