What if scenario: Miami Dolphins have to replace Tagovailoa in ’23

Derek Carr – Las Vegas Raiders

Derek Carr to the Dolphins may be a polarizing idea among fans. Some think he’s been an underrated quarterback for a long time, while others think he’s an expensive above-average player on the level of Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins. Last year, Carr led the Raiders to an unlikely run to the postseason amid chaos off the field, which included his coach being fired for his racist and sexist emails being leaked and his best receiver going to jail after killing someone while driving drunk and driving over 150 miles per hour. This year, Carr and the Raiders have taken a step back. He’s thrown for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with a completion percentage of 60.8 percent and has a passer rating of 86.3.

Some fans may thumb their noses at Carr, but he has a big arm and has shown an ability to thrive in less-than-ideal situations. Despite being on the Raiders, one of the biggest underperforming franchises in the league for almost two decades, he is 13th all-time in fourth-quarter comebacks with 28 and 16th all-time in game-winning drives with 33. To put that into context, that’s as many fourth-quarter comebacks as Brett Farve and more than Eli Manning, Russell Wilson, Joe Montana, and Warren Moon. It’s more game-winning drives than Aaron Rodgers (31), Jim Kelly (28), and Joe Montana (28).

Despite signing a three-year, $121.5 million extension with the Raiders in April, the dead cap money would only be around $5.6 million. That’s a lot of money to take on for a quarterback that has underperformed thus far, but they also wouldn’t have to give up much in terms of draft picks or players. There’s also the train of thought that Carr would improve in McDaniel’s offense with the outside weapons that would be at his disposal.