Opinions are split when it comes to second-round rookie quarterback Derek Carr. On one hand, the Oakland Raiders haven failed to win a single game this year at 0-10. Carr has thrown for 2,075 yards and 13 touchdowns against nine interceptions while completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes. On the other hand, the Raiders are so devoid at talent that any rookie quarterback would struggle in this situation.
Carr has shown flashes of promise and stretches of weakness, prompting a wide range of reactions from NFL observers.
"Carr's development this season has been extraordinary considering the Raiders don't have any playmakers in their receiving corps and the running game has been nonexistent," wrote ESPN's Michael Wagaman. "...He also has a remarkable poise in the pocket and doesn't get rattled easily."
Carr has looked like an NFL-caliber quarterback with his big arm and toughness. The problem is, he hasn't always played like one. He's completing just 58 percent of his passes with a total quarterback rating of 30.2 over his last four games.
"I can certainly understand the argument for why Oakland should use that pick to either get an elite player at another position or deal it for multiple picks, in order to give Carr a chance to prove himself as the franchise QB with a better supporting cast around him," ESPN's Todd McShay wrote. "He has had very little help this season, and almost any rookie quarterback would struggle in that situation.
"But I also think the scouting report is out on him, and that he's having problems with the same areas I saw of him on tape when evaluating him for the draft: If you can get pressure in his face and lay some hits on him, he has a hard time handling it, and even though he has a strong arm, his deep accuracy isn't consistent enough. His performance has been getting worse as the season has gone on, not better."
Oakland's remaining opponents have a combined winning percentage of .580. It will be hard for the Raiders to sell their fans on a second-year quarterback who didn't win a single game as a starter all season, regardless of how the rest of the roster looks.
