​The Las Vegas Raiders are eager to discover what their franchise’s rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza can achieve, and former Raider Derek Carr approves. Carr, who holds the distinction of being the Raiders’ all-time leading passer, offered a sincere endorsement of Mendoza, the team’s new first-round pick, while attending a charity golf event this past week. When asked about Mendoza stepping into the role as the franchise quarterback of the future, Carr delivered a response that could be described as nothing short of classy.
I love him, man. I hope he breaks all my records, Carr said. That simple, gracious sentiment has long been part of Carr’s character. He spent nine seasons with the Raiders and cemented his legacy as the most prolific passer in the franchise’s history. He’s not the type to be dismissive or bitter about a successor. He genuinely desires the best for the organization and has a genuine appreciation for Mendoza. The two share similar beliefs and a common faith, which has helped foster a mutual respect between them.
Carr’s Raiders career is defined by impressive production. Over nine seasons, he totaled more than 35,000 passing yards, thrown 217 touchdowns, and intercepted 99 times. Those numbers place him securely atop the Raiders’ career leaderboard. The next closest quarterback in Raiders lore is Ken Stabler, who totaled around 19,000 passing yards. Carr also leads Stabler by 67 touchdowns in the career passing column, a margin achieved while he threw fewer interceptions than Stabler’s 143. Stabler remains one of the most celebrated figures in franchise history, which only highlights how dominant Carr’s statistical achievements were.
Of course, context matters when assessing raw statistics. Much of Carr’s volume came during an era that favored the passing game, and he spent time leading an offense under Jon Gruden, one of the most offensively oriented coaches in NFL history. The modern game’s emphasis on the air attack inflated his numbers, and those numbers should be interpreted with that backdrop in mind.
A persistent challenge colored Carr’s Raiders tenure: the defense. Las Vegas never consistently provided him with a truly stout unit on the other side of the ball. That’s not to say this excuses postseason results, but it is a relevant factor. The Raiders often asked Carr to win games with his arm while hoping the defense could hold up, which is a difficult recipe for sustained success.
Mendoza steps into a different environment. If Las Vegas can assemble a competent defense around their new franchise quarterback, the ceiling for Mendoza could be substantial. Carr’s endorsement carries added weight because he experienced firsthand how difficult it is to win at the NFL level without solid support on defense.
The Raider Nation hopes Mendoza will shatter the records Carr set, and Carr himself shares that aspiration. The mutual goodwill linking the franchise’s past and its future signals a healthy trajectory for Las Vegas. Mendoza has the opportunity to create his own legacy while the organization honors what Carr accomplished, building a bridge between eras that could define the team’s next championship chapter.
This article originally appeared on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Former for better SEO.