It has not been a well-kept secret that Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and embattled quarterback Derek Carr have had somewhat of a contentious relationship over the past two seasons.
Las Vegas flirted with the idea of trading Carr during the NFL Scouting Combine back in February. It was also linked to multiple big-name quarterbacks before settling on former Tennessee Titans No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota.
With their first training camp in the Vegas suburb of Henderson having already started, Gruden is out here praising Mariota at every turn. It could also lead to some questions about Carr’s status as the Raiders’ Week 1 starter.
“(Carr) really fired me up today,” Gruden said Friday, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “He has turned a corner with his ankle (injury) and he is a dazzling playmaker. He had a very nice day.”
There’s a lot more to look at here outside of basic stats and Carr’s experience in the Raiders’ offense. The economics certainly play a role. That is not lost on Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock.
While Carr will more than likely be the Week 1 starter against the Carolina Panthers, there’s a darn good chance Mariota will take over for him at some point.
Let’s say Las Vegas finds itself out of playoff contention or struggling on offense after the first half of the season. It would only make sense for the Raiders to see what they have in Mariota. At that point, Carr would be a lost cause based on the ample opportunities he’s been given and his 2021 cap hit compared to Mariota.
At the very least, Gruden’s praise of Mariota on Friday lends credence to the idea that Carr is not the clear-cut starter in Vegas.
CHECK OUT: A comprehensive training camp breakdown from Las Vegas Raiders fans.