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Derek Carr bashes Las Vegas Raiders’ odd approach to his trade market: ‘I was only able to talk to one team’

In the introductory press conference with his new team, Derek Carr fired some shots at his previous organization and their curious handling of his departure.

The end of the nine-year relationship between Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders was far from ideal. Instead of playing out a frustrating season and trying to end things on a positive note, with two weeks left in their 2022 campaign, the team pulled the plug on his era as their starting quarterback.

Carr left the team soon after in the fallout of their decision and created a messy situation between the organization and the four-time Pro Bowler. However, the best outcome for the team would have been to move Derek Carr in a trade and receive some compensation instead of letting him walk for free. Which, in the end, is what they did.

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Before they officially cut ties with the 31-year-old quarterback, the team reportedly took trade offers and let him meet with the New Orleans Saints. The top contender for his services. However, that was the only team the Las Vegas Raiders allowed Carr to talk to, and that was something the signal-caller was very confused about and spoke on during his introductory press conference after joining the Saints organization last week.

derek carr
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Carr stats (2022): 3,522 passing yards, 24 TD, 14 INT, 86.3 rating

“I was very willing to accept a trade. But I was only able to talk to one team. I was only given permission to talk to one team. As much as I love and respect those guys, [General Manager Dave Ziegler] and [head coach Josh McDaniels] over at the Raiders, how do I make that decision when it’s the only time in my career that I’ve been, or could possibly be free? I can’t possibly make that decision without being able to talk to other people. But I still almost made the decision. I felt so much love here. Like, I still almost did it.

“… I went through every process to make sure I tried to make the best decision for our family, for us together. So, I wasn’t closed off to it all, which was maybe shocking to some people. But I wasn’t closed off, I was willing to work, but I just was only able to talk to the Saints.”

– Derek Carr (via ESPN)

Derek Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints and reportedly meeting the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers after being cut by the Las Vegas Raiders two weeks ago.

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