NY Jets could have serious competition for Derek Carr

The NY Jets are widely seen as perhaps the front-runner to trade for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr this offseason, but they likely won't be the only team interested.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Carr is expected to be traded, not released, prior to the self-imposed Feb. 15 deadline the Raiders have set. Schefter mentioned that the entire NFC South could be interested, and others figure to be as well.

It's very possible that the entire NFC South will be searching for a new quarterback if Tom Brady leaves. On top of that, teams like the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans will almost certainly be looking for QBs.

Now, this isn't to say that every one of those teams will be interested in Carr. The Athletic's Zak Keefer reported a couple of weeks ago that the Colts would not be pursuing a Carr trade, so that likely takes them out of the running.

Still, the Jets won't be alone in their pursuit. And when there's competition for a player, that player's value ultimately increases.

The NY Jets won't be able to land Derek Carr without a fight

Barring an unexpected Lamar Jackson or Aaron Rodgers blockbuster, Carr is probably the most appealing option for the Jets this offseason. The nine-year NFL veteran would help stabilize a quarterback position that was a disaster for the Jets in 2022.

The Jets ranked dead-last in completion percentage and quarterback rating this past season and ranked bottom-five in passing touchdowns and yards per attempt. They had almost unequivocally the worst quarterback play in the NFL.

Carr may not be perfect, but he has been a consistent top-15 quarterback for the majority of his NFL career. His winning percentage has been hampered by the fact that he's never had a top-20 defense during the entirety of his time with the Raiders. That's nine seasons.

He's also dealt with lackluster coaching staffs and underwhelming offensive lines, all the while still proving to be a very capable quarterback. His 33 game-winning drives since entering the league in 2014 are more than any other quarterback during that time.

It's easy to see why many expect the Jets to be interested, but the involvement of other teams could raise Carr's trade value. Carr also has a no-trade clause in his contract which means he can choose his destination.

The Jets figure to be one of the favorites to trade for Carr, but they'll have to convince the Raiders — and Carr himself — that they're the best landing spot.