The 2023 offseason is still over a month away, but there already looks to be quite a few big-name players who could be on the move. The 2022 NFL season has been one for the ages, and I do think it’s stuck out from prior campaigns.
Teams that looked poised to remain at the top this year have crashed and burned, and some new, up-and-coming teams have stolen the spotlight. At the end of the year, as teams progress into the following year, tough decisions must be made.
After all, the NFL is a business, and even though players might have a strong loyalty and desire to keep playing for their current team, the ending does not always work out how they want. Who are some big-name NFL players that could be on the move in 2023?
Three big-name NFL players who could be on the move in 2023
Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Not only was the ninth-year quarterback benched, but he was essentially made inactive and reportedly left the team to not be a distraction. The Raiders are still mathematically in the playoff hunt, but they need just about every single thing to go their way.
There have seemingly always been rumors of the Raiders wanting to move off of Derek Carr, and I think we finally see that come true in 2023. He did sign a massive extension last offseason, but it’s incredibly moveable.
If the Raiders cut or trade Derek Carr and designate it post-June 1, they only incur slightly under $2 million in dead cap and will save $33 million on their 2023 cap number. This seemed to be done on purpose when the extension was signed.
The Raiders have a clear out from Carr’s contract, and I do think they end up getting a draft pick for him. There are a few QB-needy teams that might want the stability that Carr can bring. He’s not elite and never has been, but he’s consistently average, and for some teams, that’s better than what they currently have.