Derek Carr is officially the highest paid football player in the NFL. He will play the prime of his career with The Raiders.
Carr was rewarded for his career in his first three years with The Oakland Raiders. He has thrown for 11,194 yards, 81 touchdowns and only 31 interceptions. When Carr broke his leg in week 16 versus The Indianapolis Colts he was gravely missed in their 14-27 playoff loss to The Texans. He proved that he was what the team needed to succeed.
The contract that he has earned is a five-year, $125 million extension with $40 million fully guaranteed, $70 million in total guarantees and a $12.5 million signing bonus, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. When the contract expires it will be 2022 and Derek Carr will be 30.
At 30, Carr could be looking at another five-year, $100 million dollar contract. It could be even more than that if let’s say he helps The Raiders win a Superbowl or he wins a couple MVP’s. The Raiders have not had a legitimate Quarterback since Rich Gannon.
The best years of his career are ahead of him and The Raiders. His broken leg only seems to drive him even more. The way that players are able to take care of their bodies makes it even more likely that Carr plays into his late 30’s. It is too hard to predict the future so it is not a guarantee for anything. Quarterbacks are playing into their late 30’s; Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers, all still effective in the NFL.
Derek Carr has on multiple occasions said he wants to “Be a Raider for Life.” He is the embodiment of The Raiders and their leader. Without him The Raiders were not the high powered team that they were with him.
A report came out early March, that The Raiders and Carr were not close too a new contract. Derek Carr elaborated on his future with The Raiders:
"“I’m a Raider. I’m a Raider for life. I don’t want to play anywhere else. When I got drafted, this is where I wanted to be anyway. I don’t want to go anywhere, ever. They told me they don’t want me to go anywhere, ever. Now it’s about two people who want to be together, and how do we make that happen? We’ll see.”"
Carr doesn’t have to worry about any doubts anymore, He will be a Raider for life.