Derek Carr gets $70 million guaranteed

Derek Carr receives massive guarantees in new contract extension with the Oakland Raiders.

In the new five-year, $125 million contract extension that Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr agreed to, he will receive up to $70 million in guarantees. Carr enters the 2017 season as the highest-paid player in league history on a per yearnasis and will help be a steadying force for an organization that is headed towards Las Vegas.

In the NFL, the only thing that matters is the guaranteed money. While his contract holds a higher AAV then any player in league history, the new deal has less total guarantees than that of Andrew Luck’s contract with the Colts ($87 million).

It is also worth noting that Carr’s contract simply is the most recent to be signed. Matthew Stafford in Detroit and Kirk Cousins with Washington are the next signal-callers in line for new contracts. Both players are set to hit free agency after the 2017 season and both are likely to approach if not exceed Carr’s numbers, in either guarantees or the average yearly payout.

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There certainly is a level of risk in the contract for the Raiders past simply a large amount of money. Despite his numbers, Oakland’s record and Carr’s performance against division rivals Denver and Kansas City are sub-par. The Raiders have defeated the Chiefs once in the past three years, and have only defeated Denver twice in that span.

For Oakland, it had to do this deal. With the impending move to Las Vegas in 2020, and the uncertainty that surrounds an organization during a relocation, having a quarterback under contract is a must. Now, the organization will turn it’s attention towards star pass-rusher Khalil Mack.

With the guarantees in Carr’s contract with the Raiders, it stands to reason he will be the quarterback for the organization for years to come.