Derek Carr & Raiders Relationship Is Broken, Trade Is Highly Probably
The Oakland Raiders have already traded away Pro Bowlers Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, and now there's speculation that quarterback Derek Carr could be the next one moved.
Carr and the Raiders have limped to a horrible 1-5 start, and according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, the 27-year-old quarterback has a "fractured relationship" with his teammates. Thompson also said Carr's confidence "has waned."
Thompson also said that Carr's toughness has been questioned. In their Week 6 contest against the Seattle Seahawks, Carr looked as if he was on the verge of tear after taking a sack. That photo went viral across social media, but it apparently hasn't sat well with the Raiders. Thompson added that some wonder if Carr will really be Oakland's quarterback of the future.
Now in his fifth NFL season, Carr has struggled to regain the strong form we saw in 2015 and 2016. He led Oakland to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years two seasons ago, but leg and back injuries have since piled up, and Carr hasn't been able to rediscover that magic since.
Carr took to Twitter on Monday morning and emphasized he's happy being a Raider and understands the hardships that come with it.
RELATED: AMARI COOPER TRADED: COWBOYS SOLVE HORRIBLE WR ISSUE WITH RAIDERS DEAL
Before the season started, $100 million head coach Jon Gruden traded Mack - the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year - to the Chicago Bears in exchange for four draft picks. On Monday, the Raiders traded former Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a first-round pick.
The Raiders now own three first-round selections in 2019, but make no mistake, this team has a ton of holes to fill all over the roster. The entire defense is devoid of talent, while Carr is playing behind one of the game's worst offensive lines, and there are few offensive playmakers around him.
Oakland had hoped that Gruden would be able to bring immediate success to a franchise that has struggled for almost 20 years. But there's going to be plenty of long-term pain before this team becomes relevant again.
