Raiders Announcer Explains Why He Would Pick Derek Carr Over Deshaun Watson as the Starting Quarterback

Published 03/02/2021, 1:49 PM EST

Derek Carr endured a difficult season in 2020. The Raiders quarterback put on solid performances but failed to lead his team to the Playoffs. Carr’s name has now popped up in speculation about potentially leaving the Raiders.

Despite being one of the more reliable performers for the Raiders, Carr has been the subject of discussions regarding his future. Raiders’ announcer Brent Musburger spoke to Rich Eisen recently.

When asked about whom he would choose between Derek Carr and Deshaun Watson as starting quarterback for the Raiders, Musburger’s answer was straightforward.

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He admitted that Carr doesn’t get the credit that he deserves with the Raiders, despite not being the same level of Deshaun Watson.

“Derek Carr, Derek Carr, Derek Carr. In fact, I have to tell you that I’m a little disappointed by the continuing chatter about the Raiders and Deshaun Watson’s name came up.

“It’s possible he’d be moving on from Houston. Derek Carr’s offense was more productive than Deshaun Watson.”

Musburger added that Deshaun Watson was clearly the better prospect between the two. However, Carr was responsible for their strong offense last season.

Carr was instrumental for the Las Vegas Raiders’ wins last season. Furthermore, Musburger absolved him of all the responsibility for the losses they suffered.

“I’m not saying that Carr is a better prospect. But people need to look at what Derek accomplished last year with the eight wins. The problem that they lost eight games was never on Derek Carr.

“It is completely on the Raiders’ defense and had that defense played better, especially in a couple of games that come immediately to my mind. They would have been in the Playoffs.”

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Derek Carr deserves more respect

Musburger believes that had the Raiders reached the Playoffs, Carr would’ve helped them make significant inroads. He would’ve helped them get past the Wild Card round in the Playoffs at least.

Furthermore, Musburger noted that any quarterback reinforcement will be in the back-up spot rather than the starting spot. “I’m sure that that they would have been able to advance out of the Wild Card Round.

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“But Derek Carr was a playoff quarterback last year. If they wish to make a move, it would be in the backup spot.”

Musburger went on to say that he sees no reason for the Raiders to invest in a starting quarterback, especially with the salary cap being the way it is.

And he further added that he was unhappy with the way the local Las Vegas press had treated Carr, with all the speculations they sparked during the off-season about his future.

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“It doesn’t make any sense at all for the Raiders to spend a lot of what’s going to be a reduced salary cap, or something else in a new quarterback.

“I’m a little disappointed in the local press in Las Vegas in not really supporting him and what he was able to accomplish last year with this team.”

Will Derek Carr remain with the Raiders next season? With the salary cap situation being the way it is, it is the best solution for both parties.

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Furthermore, the quarterback demand in the NFL is great right now. And the Raiders don’t have the assets to bring in a top-level quarterback.

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Written by:

Aaditya Krishnamurthy is an NBA & NFL journalist for EssentiallySports, before which he worked at BusinessWorld magazine. He has been a fan of Basketball for over 10 years now, since Shaquille O’Neal was a Phoenix Suns player. During his time at Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, he started a sports magazine for the college called the Overtime Tribune and hosted the Overtime Tribune Podcast until he graduated.

Raiders Announcer Explains Why He Would Pick Derek Carr Over Deshaun Watson as the Starting Quarterback

Derek Carr deserves more respect

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