Oakland Raiders: Five reasons to be pessimistic in 2017

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Jun 13, 2017; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) addresses the media at minicamp press conference at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

5. How will Derek Carr respond to new pressure?

I believe in Derek Carr as a franchise quarterback, so let me preface what I’m about to say by saying that.

How will he respond to the pressure he now faces as the highest paid player in NFL history? How will he respond after breaking his leg in his final game of 2016?

Will he rise to the occasion?

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Carr has had varying levels of success in his NFL career, 2016 representing the peak of that success. In his rookie season of 2014, he flashed signs of brilliance, and did the same in 2015 as he threw for 32 touchdowns while taking 31 sacks.

This guy looks like a superstar in the making, but to get the contract he did after just three seasons in the league and coming off of a broken leg is pretty wild. Still, it was a move the Raiders had to make. It will be interesting to see how their young franchise QB responds to the pressure of a huge contract, and how he comes back mentally from a scary injury.

In the end, I don’t know if any of these factors are big enough to prevent the Raiders from making the playoffs in 2017. Their roster is filled with young talent, and if the defense can make any sort of improvements on what the had last year, I think they will once again be among the favorites in the AFC West and a legitimate threat to go toe-to-toe with New England in the AFC.

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