Matt Schaub is the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. That has been the assumed fact since the team made a trade for him at the start of free agency. However, Derek Carr is not looking to be viewed as the immediate backup for the team, operating under the idea that the job is wide open. Recent comments from Dennis Allen are leading some to believe the rookie stands a better shot at starting than originally assumed.
"He's a great competitor," Allen told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "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."
The Raiders named Schaub the starter in order to let their future of the franchise develop. Carr was drafted to eventually take over the Raiders, but after a string of unsuccessful draft picks at the position, sitting Carr for a year seemed like the best option. However, the rookie is progressing much faster than Oakland expected and is showing talent and intelligence that could get him that starting spot sooner than expected.
ESPN.com's Jim Trotter originally reported that it would take something catastrophic to overtake Schaub as the starting quarterback. However, NFL Media's Albert Breer is reporting that internally, the Raiders are loving Carr and he could push the veteran out by mid season.
"There is now an internal belief he'll be pushed by rookie Derek Carr, who has displayed the talent and intelligence early on to shed his red shirt and play right away," Breer said.
Schaub's contract contradicts this statement a bit. The veteran quarterback signed a deal that gives him $8 million in guaranteed money. If the Raiders bench Schaub after signing him to that contract a year after Matt Flynn signed a deal worth $6.5 million in guaranteed money and then was released, general manager Reggie McKenzie could find himself on a very hot seat. The Raiders traded for the veteran quarterback with the intentions that he would be a winning stop-gap player that could control the offense for a year or two before Carr.
Could pressure be coming from owner Mark Davis? According to ProFootballTalk.com, Davis wanted to use the No. 5 draft pick on Carr no matter what. The quickest way to please an owner is to start the player he wants on the field and that could be the rookie over Schaub. The Raiders are trying to avoid a quarterback carousel like they have had over the past few years. Carr would have to really perform well and Schaub would essentially have to blow it in training camp for him to not start Week 1. However, if the veteran shows any sign of struggle in those first few weeks, Carr will be the man in charge.
