Last year, former Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement. Now the 34-year-old has indicated he’d consider playing in the NFL again. So why not in Kansas City?
Derek Carr is an NFL success story, and throughout his career, he was a consistent quarterback who unfortunately played on two bad football teams. In Oakland and then Las Vegas, Carr was the Raiders’ heart and soul.
In New Orleans, following Drew Brees was a tough act to follow, but ultimately injuries ended his playing career, and he hung up his shoulder pads.
On Thursday, he expressed interest in returning to the NFL and said he had some offers, but he felt they weren’t great fits for his skill set. In other words, he wants to play for a winner with a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl.
So, that begs the question? Would he come out of retirement to be the backup in Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes?
Money would be a factor, and the Chiefs are light on funds, but the chance to work under Andy Reid and serve as Mahomes’s understudy also has appeal. In fact, if Mahomes is not ready until October, Carr would be a perfect fit to bridge the gap until the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback can get back on the field.
Carr has always respected the Chiefs, and his addition makes a lot of sense. He’s also tough as nails. His arm is solid, and when healthy, he has enough mobility to create big plays.
Though early indications suggest that Mahomes is receiving world-class training during his rehab process, and early accounts indicate he’s ahead of schedule, the Chiefs aren’t going to risk his return until they are 110% convinced his knee is golden.
Now, Carr, who has been a starter his entire career, would have to accept being the backup, but he’d be the perfect choice to hold down the offense until Mahomes is ready. He would also serve as an experienced backup, helping Mahomes adjust to his return to the NFL.
Further, with this being the first major injury of his career, he could learn a lesson or two about returning from major surgery. Unfortunately, Carr has plenty of experience in that department.
Carr’s talents were wasted with the Raiders, who never recognized his true value or built an offense around his skill set. The Saints were just depleted of playmakers, and he deserved a better fate. However, they paid him a boatload of money.
Speaking of that, Carr has made his mega-millions as an NFL starter, so perhaps that’s not an issue now. However, could his ego accept a 1-year, $5 million deal as the Chiefs’ backup and spot starter?
Honestly, I can’t see why he wouldn’t.
After all, if he’s seeking a Super Bowl run, you can’t tell me there’s a better team than the Chiefs. Something tells me Kansas City is going to be ultra-focused to wash away the stench of the last thirteen months.
In the end, Carr needs to decide whether he wants back in the NFL and whether he’d be willing to join a team with no guarantee he’s the starter. Again, as far as backup jobs go, Kansas City isn’t the best place to further your career.
However, with so many question marks at quarterback in the AFC and the fact that the New England Patriots had their hat handed to them in Super Bowl LX, who is going to bet against the Chiefs making a serious Super Bowl run this season
However, his contract rights are owned by the Saints, so it’s not cut and dry that he can walk to the Chiefs without some sort of negotiation with New Orleans.
Considering all that, if a deal can be done, Carr makes a lot of sense in Kansas City.
