A few years ago, there was legitimate talk about the Raiders potentially trying to move on and replace Derek Carr. Even some believed that the Raiders might try to start Marcus Mariota over Carr when Jon Gruden first signed him.
But after leading the Raiders back to the playoffs in 2021 and signing a contract extension this offseason, there is no doubt who the leader of this team is going forward.
Going into the 2022 season, there is a chance that Carr could have his best season to date. And there are even some whispers that he should be among the favorites for the MVP.
In a recent article by Adam Schein of NFL Media, he made the case that Carr could be among the favorites to win the MVP award in 2022. Here is a snippet of his thoughts on Carr and the Raiders this season:
“Now Carr has his college bestie, who just so happens to be the best receiver in the game, as the Raiders brilliantly traded for Davante Adams. Carr and Adams are going to make beautiful music together once again, just like they did back at Fresno State. Especially with new head coach Josh McDaniels running the offense.
These additions will lift the 31-year-old passer from great player to certified star. Carr is going to enjoy a monster season, leading the Raiders to the playoffs again. And doing this in the absurdly loaded AFC West will raise his profile even more.”
For Carr to win the MVP award, he will have to lead the Raiders to the playoffs and he would likely need to set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. Is that possible? The answer is yes, as this is the most talented offense he’s been a part of since entering the NFL.
There is a lot of pressure on Carr to produce in 2022, especially considering all the investments the Raiders made on offense this offseason. So could he actually win the MVP award this year? He is a pretty good longshot bet heading into the summer.