Titans among teams expected to show interest in recently released QB Derek Carr | Report

The Tennessee Titans have a new offensive coordinator and a retooled offensive staff. Could a new veteran QB be next?

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Titans are on a list of teams that are expected to be interested in released Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Carr, 31, was released Tuesday after nine seasons as the Raiders starting quarterback. Carr's 2023 base salary of $32.9 million and $7.5 million in future earnings would be guaranteed if he was on the roster after Tuesday's deadline. Carr was benched for the final two games of the regular season following a Christmas Eve loss to Pittsburgh that all but resigned Las Vegas to missing the playoffs. He can be signed at any time and does not have to wait for unrestricted free agency next month.

Titans starting QB Ryan Tannehill has a $36.6 million cap hit, but Tennessee could save $27 million on that number with a post-June 1 release or trade. He enters the final year of his current deal in the upcoming season. The cap savings and Tannehill's lack of term will put the Titans in the periphery of QB acquisition speculation more often than not this offseason.

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The question would be whether or not Carr would be a substantial upgrade on Tannehill. Tannehill will be 35 before the 2023 season, while Carr will be 32. Tannehill's yards per attempt (7.8) jumped back up after an up-and-down 2021, but the Titans passing offense was less explosive. Carr had his lowest yards per attempt and passer rating since his rookie year in 2022 despite the Raiders adding Devante Adams to the offense. Both quarterbacks are best when being ultra-efficient passers, though that doesn't always happen.

Given their ages, it would be unlikely that Carr and Tannehill would be on the same roster when the regular season begins in seven months, similar to Tannehill's addition as Marcus Mariota's backup going into the 2019 season. For one, Tannehill is scheduled to make more now than he and Mariota made together in 2019. Also, Carr is an established starter with leverage in free agency.

New offensive coordinator Tim Kelly worked with Tannehill last year as the team's passing game coordinator, so he'll be in a solid and knowledgeable position to maximize Tannehill in 2023.

Or whoever is the Titans starting quarterback next season.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans expected to show interest in Derek Carr, per report