Derek Carr: 5 Possible destinations ahead of NFL Trade Deadline

The Oakland Raiders moved Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack for future draft picks. Does that mean Derek Carr is the next one to be traded?

The Oakland Raiders have been very busy this season. Before the season began, they traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears for 2019 and 2020 first round picks, 2019 sixth round pick and 2020 third round pick. They also recently traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cowboys for a first round pick. The next question is: Where does this leave Derek Carr.

According to Spotrac, the Raiders have a way out of the Carr contract with little cap damage in 2019. They could cut him taking a $7.5 million cap hit in 2019, a $5 million cap hit in 2020, and a $2.5 million cap hit in 2021. So, it won’t be a huge hit to their cap to let him go during the offseason. However, they could also trade him now to get something in return.

Let’s take a look at the teams that could trade for Carr, and the places that could rejuvenate his roller coaster career so far.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The play of Blake Bortles could be the difference between Jackosnville holding up the Lamar Hunt Trophy and subsequently the Lombardi Trophy and an early exit from the playoffs. So this isn’t a succession plan for the Jaguars, it’s a here and now plan while also preparing for life without Bortles.

Here in lies the problem for Jacksonville, though. They will take on a minimum cap hit of $16.5 million in 2019, and they don’t have a way out until after next season. They do also have to cut to make room for Carr as he’d put them over the cap. On top of all of that, they are already over the expected cap for next season, according to Spotrac, and that’s before free agency and draft picks are signed.

All of this makes this the least likely landing spot for him, but still a small possibility. The Jaguars would need to do some salary maneuvering, because they’d likely need to keep both on the roster in 2019.