It has become increasingly clear over the past few years that the Oakland Raiders have found their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr, with his performance on the field revealing immediate talent and a gradual maturation that has many listing him as one of the NFL's top players. And on Thursday, June 22, the Raiders rewarded their fourth-year man with a contract extension that ought to make him the highest-paid player in league history.
Oakland had long been known as a QB wasteland, starting 17 men at the position between 2002 and 2013. In 2014 Carr became the first Raiders QB to stick for the entirety of the season since '02, earning the start in all 16-games. And in 2015 he showed that he was the real deal with a trip to the Pro Bowl in a season during which he eclipsed everyone but Dan Marino for the most touchdowns for a quarterback through his first two seasons in the league. But it was his 2016 campaign that really legitimized how elite Carr is, when he passed for 3.937 yards and 28 touchdowns on his way to turning a losing team into a serious playoff contender with a 12-3 record.
Carr will now surpass Andrew Luck as the NFL's top breadwinner, with a deal that ensures $70 million in guarantees with a guaranteed $40 million at signing. In total the contract will pay Carr $125 million over five years.
Source: bleacherreport.com
