Derek Carr Contract: After Las Vegas Move, Raiders Ready To Talk Contract Extension?

The Oakland Raiders finalized their long anticipated move to Las Vegas Monday, and it’s now possible the team and general manager Reggie McKenzie can once again focus on extending franchise cornerstones and leaders: quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker and pass rusher Khalil Mack. Both Carr and Mack could see more money in their pockets with the Raiders' move considering California has among the highest state income tax, while Nevada is among the lowest.

Each star took to Twitter after NFL owners voted 31-1 in favor of allowing Raiders owner Mark Davis to relocate the franchise, with the All-Pro Mack punctuating Carr’s kind words towards the City of Oakland as well a sadness and eagerness to make the new Las Vegas fans proud.

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With the move all squared away, McKenzie could start to live up to his word early in the offseason, when he said signing Mack and Carr to long-term deals was a priority.

"The good thing is we do have time, but I'm not the type to wait until the last minute," McKenzie said according to CSN Bay Area in January. "Those two guys are not only great players but they are great men. They are true Raiders and I want to make sure we do the best that we can to make sure that they stay Raiders."

Considering the MVP-caliber season Carr put up in 2016, one that was spoiled by a broken leg before the postseason began, the Raiders and McKenzie are likely to move quickly on Carr’s extension. His deal is technically up after the 2017 season, while Oakland does have a fifth-year option on Mack’s deal and could exercise that before tinkering with a brand new deal. Carr was a second-round pick and inked a four-year, $5.3 million contract that included a $3.3 million signing bonus.

A few days after McKenzie’s comments, Carr told Fox Sports that while he was a “team guy” he also said that his team-friendly deal allowed the Raiders to build a stronger team around him and he had thought about his family and helping the impoverished nation of Haiti.

Based off reports and Carr’s comments, it’s quite clear he’s likely to get a substantial raise compared to his rookie deal. In the middle of the best season of his career, ESPN quoted a source in November that said the 25-year-old’s next contract would “Luck-ish,” a reference to the five-year, $123 million deal the Indianapolis Colts struck with quarterback Andrew Luck last summer.

Though, until such a deal is reached by Carr and the Raiders he stands to make substantially less in 2017. He’s scheduled to earn $977,519 in salary, another $556,591 in his pro-rated signing bonus and $175,000 in roster and workout bonuses, according to Spotrac.

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Considering Oakland’s quiet work on the free agency market this month, it’s possible it was hoarding space to hand Carr the deal he and Raiders’ fans have expected. The Raiders largest deal was $10.6 million over two years to former Packers and Rams tight end Jared Cook, but could let him after next season. And other than wide receiver and returned Cordarrelle Patterson and right tackle Marshall Newhouse, the Raiders didn’t sign any free agent to a deal longer than one season, spending just $25.5 million in cap space and guaranteeing only $10.9 million.

That’s left McKenzie more than $32.6 million in cap space, the fifth-most in the league, which he could use on Carr and perhaps roll over some into 2018 to also pay Mack.