Oakland Raiders: Wise move to release Matt Schaub

On Monday, the Oakland Raiders announced yesterday that they had released veteran quarterback Matt Schaub from the team, per ESPN’S Bill Williamson. The move was fairly predictable by many when Derek Carr stepped in last year and performed well. But Schaub’s fate was most likely sealed when the Raiders signed Christian Ponder last week to a much-smaller contract than what Schaub would have earned in 2015.

Oct 19, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after running back Darren McFadden (not pictured) rushed for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

If fans of the Silver and Black can take any solace in the wasted $8 million that the team gave Schaub last year for what amounted to about $800,000 per attempted pass, it’s that they didn’t further that mistake by overpaying him to be a backup to Carr this year too. There was no way that Carr, barring a freak injury, would ever be replaced by Schaub as the full-time starter at quarterback. And even though Oakland has a lot of cap space it would be a management failure to have him on the roster any longer. His release saves about $5.5 million for 2015.

More from Las Vegas Raiders

While it’s true that Schaub put together some good seasons while he was at the helm for the Houston Texans, he hasn’t been a quality starter for an NFL team since 2012, when he threw for 4,008 yards and 22 scores (12 touchdowns) and ended the season with a 90.7 passer rating. His final year in Houston was a disaster and his only year for the Raiders never really got off of the ground due to his struggles in the preseason and Carr’s accelerated rookie learning curve.

While there is a chance Schaub could go on and be a quality backup in another NFL city, it is a stretch to think he will ever be a signed as a team’s starting quarterback again. His career is on the back-end and injuries, including concussions, seem to have taken their toil cumulatively. Schaub appeared pensive and gun-shy in the pocket while in Oakland, possibly from the beating he took in Houston or a distrust of where his passes might end up.

The most important thing in terms of what it means for the Raiders is that the team has shown they are willing to walk away from a mistake and invest their money elsewhere. They also have a clear trust in Carr long-term, and while the money they gave Schaub seems ridiculous now, they still have about 25 million in cap space, and all they really lost was a 6th round pick they sent to Houston last year for him. Hardly something that would kill them in building out their roster.

So far, the moves the Raiders have made in 2015 look sound, and fans should like the fact they appear to be doing everything they can to bring the team back into prominence. The team’s outlook is dramatically better than it was just a year ago, when Schaub was given that inflated deal after his less than impressive 2014 campaign. And while many fans are still worried about the fact that the team has not been able to wrap up some bigger free agents like Randall Cobb or DeMarco Murray, there is still plenty of time in free agency to grab a quality player. And of course, there is the draft, with a lot of talent at the running back and receiver position.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Now that Carr is the cemented starter and they have a lower paid veteran in Ponder to back him up, Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie can focus on the draft and what the Raiders will do with the 4th pick in the 1st round. The good news for fans in Oakland is they can be sure the team will not be trading it away for a veteran quarterback like in year’s past. The future looks bright for the Raiders, and fans should be proud of this latest move.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Las Vegas Raiders