Ranking Josh Allen among the QBs of the AFC before 2022 NFL Draft

8. Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders)

There’s been a lot of huge moves in the 2022 offseason, but there may not have been a bigger one than Davante Adams reconnecting with his Fresno State teammate in Carr.

The two have teased the idea, but who would have thought that Adams would leave behind Aaron Rodgers after back-to-back MVP seasons? The circumstances here were the perfect storm and Carr will be the biggest benefactor of it.

Carr’s 2021 numbers (23 TD passes, 14 INTs, 94.0 passer rating, 52.4 QBR) don’t necessarily tell the whole story. The fact that he had a career-high 4,804 passing yards and led the Raiders to the postseason, even with all the hoopla going on around the team, speaks volumes about his leadership.

The biggest downside to Carr’s game is that he’s a bit more on the conservative side as a passer. While he has improved his willingness to take more shots downfield in recent years — 8.1 intended air yards per attempt over the last two seasons after a 6.7 average from 2018-19 — he’d much rather work targets within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage.

Carr could also benefit from using his legs more. He averaged 6.3 yards a carry on scrambles last season, but he only had 18 scrambles on the year (including the playoffs).

Next season could bring the deepest group of weapons Carr’s ever had. Adams joins Pro Bowlers Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, and Josh Jacobs, as well as Mack Hollins, Demarcus Robinson, and Jacob Hollister. And with Josh McDaniels leading the way as head coach, Carr could be in line for his best season yet.

Carr appeared to be heading for the MVP trophy in 2016 before suffering a fractured fibula in Week 16 that year. With this crew around him, he could get back to those heights.