NFL: Raiders and Derek Carr agree to groundbreaking contract

Oakland will keep one of the NFL’s rising quarterbacks around for a long time

Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders have agreed to a five-year, $125 million contract.

Carr’s new deal will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was the first to break the news of Carr’s contract, which the quarterback confirmed through his Twitter account Thursday morning.

Because the Raiders will be moving from California to Nevada, ESPN’s Adam Schefter predicts Carr’s contract will be backloaded to ensure the quarterback avoids paying California’s 13% income tax rate compared to a zero percent rate in Nevada.

The second-round pick led the Raiders to a 12 win Wild Card berth but suffered a broken leg late in the season. He’s expected to return for the start of the 2017 season with high expectations due to the franchise moving to Las Vegas in the coming years.

Carr’s new contract won’t be the first time he makes history as a Raider. Last season Carr became the third quarterback in NFL history with 500 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game.

At 26-years-old Carr is second in Raiders history with 11 games with at least 300 passing yards, just nine shy of Rich Gannon’s franchise record.

Carr is also 7,885 yards and 69 touchdowns short of passing Hall of Famer Ken Stabler for the most in Raiders history. His 12 fourth-quarter comebacks are fourth-most in team history after completing seven last season.

Oakland will now turn their focus to pass rusher Khalil Mack, who is also likely to receive a historic contract extension. He enters the final year of his rookie contract, but will likely play under a first-round team option worth over $13 million next season.

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Guard Gabe Jackson is also due for an extension from the Raiders, while veterans Donald Penn, Sebastian Janikowski, and Reggie Nelson enter the final year of their respective deals.