The 2014 NFL Draft was a phenomenal one for the Oakland Raiders. They hit on several picks, earning three day one starters several role players. However, two players, Derek Carr and Khalil Mack, stand above the rest. They’re the foundation of the Oakland Raiders franchise, and whether or not the Raiders win a Super Bowl in the next 15 years leans heavily on them. Having said that, which Raider star means more to the team?
Khalil Mack vs. Derek Carr
It’s a purely hypothetical question, but a fun one. Hopefully, both men will spend the entirety of their fantastic careers as members of the silver and black, but if push came to shove, which player means more to the team?
It’s a Passing League
The secret is out, the NFL is a passing league. Nine of the last ten league MVPs have been quarterbacks, and three of the last four have played in the Super Bowl. Having a MVP quarterback seems to guarantee success in the NFL.
However, that doesn’t automatically mean Carr is more meaningful than Mack. After all, it’s not like Derek Carr is the only franchise quarterback in football. The New England Patriots have dominated the AFC over the last ten years, and that’s because teams struggle to stop Tom Brady. How do you stop an opposing quarterback? With a fierce pass rusher. So which player means more to the team?
Derek Carr
Derek Carr is the first franchise quarterback that the Oakland Raiders have had since Rich Gannon, and the first one that they drafted since Ken Stabler, almost 50 years ago. He’s already top ten in passing yards and touchdowns in Raiders history after only three seasons, and he’s just getting started. Carr has only gotten better with each season he’s played and the team is still improving. Many people believe the Raiders would’ve faced the Patriots in the AFC Championship if Carr’s fibula hadn’t broken last season.
Now that Carr’s personal friend, Todd Downing is the offensive coordinator, it’s likely that the 26 year old quarterback will play a bigger role in designing the game-plan for next season. Add pieces like Cordarrelle Patterson, Jared Cook, and a certain tailback, and the offense could be even better in 2017.
Khalil Mack
On the other hand, Khalil Mack is arguably the most disruptive pass rusher in football. He has the most sacks in the NFL (26) over the last two seasons, and he’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, not only did he register 11 sacks, but he forced five fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown from the defensive end position.
While Derek Carr had help from the likes of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, Khalil Mack was on his own. While Mack registered 11 sacks, the Oakland Raiders as a team were dead last. Mack had to overcome double and even triple teams just to pressure the quarterback. For him to have the season that he did is only a testament to his greatness.
If the Oakland Raiders hope to unseat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots as kings of the AFC, they’ll need a superhuman effort from Khalil Mack. However, if there’s any player in the NFL that candle the weight of an entire defense, it’s Khalil Mack.
The Decision
Unfortunately, this article needs a conclusion, so which player is it? Is it Derek Carr, the best young quarterback in football? Or is it Khalil Mack, the most disruptive playmaker in the NFL? There’s no question that both young playmakers are elite, and it’ll take both of them to win a Super Bowl, but we may have already gotten our answer late last season.
When Derek Carr went down with an injury, the Oakland Raiders collapsed. Connor Cook and Matt McGloin failed miserably to fill his shoes, and no matter how hard he tried, Khalil Mack couldn’t make the difference. The Oakland Raiders lost both games without Derek Carr and failed to resemble a playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl contender.
So while Mack is obviously the best player on the defense, and perhaps the entire team, he doesn’t mean as much to the squad as Derek Carr does. It’s a passing league, and Oakland’s bright young passer is what makes them a legitimate contender.
But again, it’ll take the best of both men to elevate the Oakland Raiders. The duo make up the best tag team this side of the Hardy Boys, and together they’ll earn the silver and black at least one more Lombardi trophy.
Purely hypothetical question here, I’m just curious to see how everyone feels…
Which player means more to the Oakland Raiders?— Raider Nation Rising (@LWOS_Raiders) April 6, 2017
