He was never supposed to hit free agency after the 2023 season. The Las Vegas Raiders were never expected to have to find a new quarterback. This is not how it was planned out.

Derek Carr, who is 31 years old, is now a free agent after nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders. This comes just 10 months after he signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract with the team.

In his nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr threw for over 35,000 yards and 217 touchdowns, proving himself as an instant and lasting impact.

He was benched for the final two weeks of the 2022-23 regular season, giving the team a chance to preserve him so that they could trade him in the offseason. The only problem — Derek Carr was given a no-trade clause and had the ability to veto any trade.

“None of us are happy with where we’re at,” Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said at the time of Carr’s benching, “We think it’s an opportunity to evaluate a younger player who hasn’t had much time to play.”

There was a deadline for an off-season move of Carr. Carr was scheduled to have $40.4 million become guaranteed on February 15 if he was under the same contract.

The Raiders and New Orleans Saints were deep into talks on a trade that would send Carr to New Orleans, but after Carr’s visit with the Saints, he decided that he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause for any team.

Now on February 14, Carr will be officially released. One benefit of parting ways with the team before free agency starts is that Carr can negotiate with teams immediately.

In Free Agency, he should see multiple suitors. Some teams that are said to be interested include the Saints, Titans, Jets, and Panthers.

He is projected to garner a little more than $36 million per year in Free Agency, according to projections from Spotrac.