The Oakland Raiders were one of the teams experts thought might target a quarterback with their top-10 pick. They resisted and instead drafter Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack. In the second round they were able to pick up Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, and Raiders head coach Dennis Allen had positive things to say about him, including calling him “one of the smartest quarterbacks that I have had an opportunity to interview.”
“He’s a great competitor,” Allen told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday, via the San Francisco Gate. “He’s very fiery, which you can see on the tape. Although he may not be fiery off the field. And, he’s incredibly intelligent, one of the smartest quarterbacks that I have had an opportunity to interview.
“We were very fortunate that he fell to us in the second round.”
Carr might not be penciled in as the starter either right away, the Raiders traded for Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the offseason. That could give Carr time to adjust and learn the NFL game at the NFL speed before being thrown onto the field. It could also alleviate some of the pressure of the young quarterback early in his career and preparing him to start later.