The Steelers could be blessed with a bevy of veteran options to replace Ben Roethlisberger next season. And former Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark has just the man in mind.
In an interview Wednesday with the “PM Team,” Clark said the Steelers should target Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, assuming the three-time Pro Bowler becomes available.
“I would take Derek Carr yesterday. This is a mid-level playoff team with Derek Carr,” Clark said.
Carr, 30, is at an apparent crossroads. The Raiders are 50-76 in his 126 career starts and have reached the playoffs just once with him under center. The climax of his career came in 2016, when he led the Raiders to a 12-3 record before suffering a gruesome leg injury in the second-to-last game of the season. They’ve gone just 44-67 since then.
A win Sunday night against the Chargers would propel the Raiders back to the playoffs.
The Raiders and Carr haven’t talked about an extension, even though the veteran has just one year left on his deal. That’s led to some speculation that Las Vegas could move on this offseason. Carr, who’s due to make $19.7 million next year, doesn’t have a dead cap charge in 2022.
He’s completed 69.2% of his passes this season for a career-high 4,618 yards with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
There’s little doubt the Steelers would be more explosive with Carr under center, but then again, that’s not saying much. Roethlisberger has struggled to move the ball.
There will be a lot of variables at play when the Steelers sort out their post-Roethlisberger future. NFL Insider John Clayton told the “PM Team” Wednesday he thinks Pittsburgh could acquire Aaron Rodgers for a 1st- and 3rd-round pick, which isn’t a very steep price to pay for one of the greatest of all-time who’s still at the top of his game. Kirk Cousins could be available as well, though he’s set to make $35 million in 2022.
With Mike Tomlin seemingly unwilling to start over with a rookie, it seems like the Steelers are primed to bring in a big name. It’s just a matter of who might be available, and how much they’ll cost.