Derek Carr will enter the 2015 season without a quarterback competition ahead of him. After winning the job as a rookie, Carr comes into the new year as the man in charge. The Raiders released Matt Schaub while bringing on Christian Ponder as a backup to the second-year pro. However, if Carr is going to capitalize off a promising first season in the NFL, he is going to need some offensive weapons to work with. The Raiders are preparing to make that happen.
Carr is filled with confidence heading into 2015. The quarterback might have only one three games last season, but he did throw 21 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions and the Raiders believe that will only get better in year two. With spring workouts getting underway for the team, Carr believes that this year holds big things for him.
"There's nothing to worry about, like 'When am I ever going to play? Is it this year? Next year? Three years?'" Carr said, via ESPN.com. "It's your team. It's your turn to be the leader, be yourself, because when I came in, out of respect I can't go out and just be the alpha male, dominant leader, because it really wasn't my team yet. I was going to come in and be myself, but I couldn't assert my leadership role and all that. Now, it's really nice and it's going to make it a lot easier to go out and be myself. I don't have to come in and hold back a little bit. I can come in and be myself from the beginning and lead our team."
The Raiders are planning on adding bodies to make him successful this upcoming year. The team is taking great interest in Michael Crabtree. According to Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have Crabtree in for a visit on Tuesday after the wide receiver left the Miami Dolphins without a contract in place. Sources say the wide receiver is looking for a contract worth upwards of $4.5 million per season. The Dolphins only offer $3 million, but the Raiders could technically afford to give him the demands he is asking for.
If the Crabtree contract is denied, the Raiders will turn to the NFL Draft where ESPN's Todd McShay has them selecting Amari Cooper in the first round. The Raiders could also look at Kevin White. Both players are interchangeable at this point, ready to start Week 1. They would both be critical to helping Carr in his second season.
The Raiders will likely not be taking a glance at Adrian Peterson or Matt Forte this offseason. Peterson told ESPN.com that he is looking for a change once reinstated, but that will not come from Oakland. The same can be said for Forte who is viewed as a short-term option for any title contending team. The Raiders will not waste draft picks on an aging running back.