Las Vegas Raiders Rumors: Derek Carr Could Be Benched, Cut Before 2023 NFL Season

The Las Vegas Raiders are technically still alive in the playoff race, but the team is already considering making a major move ahead of the 2023 season. The Raiders are reportedly weighing the idea of benching Derek Carr for the next two games, leaving open the possibility of releasing the quarterback this winter.

Carr's $32.9 million salary for the 2023 season and $7.5 million of his salary for 2024 become fully guaranteed if he's on the Raiders roster on Feb. 15. If Las Vegas decides to cut Carr before that date, they will no longer be responsible for paying him.

All of that money also becomes fully guaranteed if Carr can't pass a physical on Feb. 15. The Raiders might sit Carr for the rest of the season to ensure that he doesn't suffer a serious injury that would prevent him from being healthy in mid-February.

The Raiders' front office has met the last two nights to discuss whether or not Carr should play, The Athletic's Vic Tafur reported. When Josh McDaniels was asked after the team's Week 16 loss in Pittsburgh if Carr would remain the starter, the Raiders head coach didn't dismiss the idea that a quarterback change could be made.

"I think there's a possibility that we would do the right thing regardless of the position," McDaniels said.

Carr, 31, joined the Raiders as a second-round draft pick in 2014.

Since leading the Raiders to last year's playoffs, Carr has not exactly performed like a quarterback who warrants more than $40 million guaranteed. Carr leads the league with 14 interceptions, and his 86.3 passer rating is tied for 25th among all starters. Las Vegas is 6-8 and likely to miss the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

In April, Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension. The contract included $24.9 million with the signing, but allowed the Raiders to move on from Carr following the 2022 season.

Carr had a career-best 101.4 passer rating in 2020. He led the Raiders to a 10-7 record and a wild-card berth in 2021, completing 68.4% of his passes for a career-high 4,804 yards. Las Vegas traded for Davante Adams in the offseason and had hopes of making two straight playoff appearances for the first time in 20 years.

Instead, the Raiders are almost certainly going to be left out of the playoff picture with only a few weeks to decide if they want to make a change at the most important position.

Carr went 16-of-30 for 174 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 13-10 loss against the Steelers on Christmas Eve. Las Vegas appeared to be climbing back into the race before scoring just 26 total points in road losses against Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Rams over the last three weeks.

Las Vegas is scheduled to conclude the season with home games against the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders.