PFF Analyst Suggests Carr Could Take Among Biggest Leaps in NFL

With WR Davante Adams joining the Raiders offense and reuniting with his good friend and college quarterback, it should come as no surprise that expectations are building for ninth-year starter QB Derek Carr heading into the 2022 season. On Thursday’s PFF NFL Podcast, Steve Palozzolo picked Derek Carr as a candidate to take one of the biggest leaps forward in the NFL, referencing the Raiders’ addition of Adams to an already solid receiving unit.

Carr finally appeared in a playoff game in 2021 after missing the team’s 2017 appearance due to injury, but even before the 10-7 finish and playoff appearance last season, Carr was in the early-season MVP conversation as he led the league in passing as the Raiders got off to a 3-0 start. Palozzolo suggested that Carr could put himself back in the MVP conversation following the addition of Adams.

“If Derek Carr starts putting up MVP-caliber number, do we start talking about Derek Carr as MVP or Davante Adams?” Palozzolo asked.

Palozzolo’s PFF co-host Sam Monson went on to state that Derek Carr would win the award in that scenario as no wide receiver in the history of the NFL has ever won MVP.

Asked if he was worried about the state of the Raiders’ offensive line, Palozzolo downplayed those concerns.

“No, I think maybe the new system will help a little bit… I don’t feel great about the offensive line. It’s probably bottom-10, but I think they’ll be okay. You have Adams, you have Renfrow, you have guys that can get open quickly… Derek Carr is going to take a big leap forward.”

Carr has certainly improved throughout his career and could be coming off his most-impressive season to date, leading the Raiders to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth as the team endured off-the-field hardships, not to mention his career-high 4,804 passing yards which ranked fifth in the league. With the addition of one of the league’s premier wide receivers to his arsenal, Carr could be poised to take his numbers and his team to new heights in 2022.