Derek Carr reportedly offered richest deal in NFL history

A NOBODY who was overlooked in the NFL Draft has reportedly been offered the richest deal in the history of American football.

Paid.

OAKLAND Raiders quarterback Derek Carr reportedly is closing in on a new contract worth $25 million a year — and if he hits that number he’ll become the NFL’s highest-paid player.

According to Sportrac, the 14 highest-paid players in the NFL are quarterbacks, and Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck is currently on top at $24.594 million. Arizona’s Carson Palmer ($23.35m), New Orleans’ Drew Brees ($24.25m), Washington’s Kirk Cousins ($23.9436m) and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco ($22.133m) round out the top five.

For his part, Carr says the deal isn’t quite done yet.

Raiders and Derek Carr are close to finalizing a deal expected to pay their quarterback about $25 million per year, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 21, 2017

Raiders and Derek Carr are close to finalizing a deal expected to pay their quarterback about $25 million per year, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 21, 2017

Derek Carr fell to 2nd round and started his NFL career 0-10. Now on brink of becoming one of highest, if not highest, paid player in game.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 21, 2017

Nothing done yet... trust me you will hear it here first.

— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) June 21, 2017

Carr, 26, had his best NFL season in 2016, throwing for 3,937 yards and 28 TDs with just six interceptions before a broken leg sideline him in Week 15.

The Raiders lost to the Texans in the first round of the playoffs without Carr, but he has been a full participant in the team’s off-season activities.

Quite a recovery.

Carr suffered a broken fibula deep into the 2016 season and required surgery in the off-season.

It has done nothing to shake the franchise’s faith in his ability to be the face of the Raiders.

His new deal will be the envy of the entire NFL.

It is a stunning tale of exceeding expectations.

In the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr wasn’t even considered good enough to be selected in the first round.

He slipped to No. 36 in the draft.

Now he’s soon to be the top earner in the sport.

He said last month the size of his deal isn’t his top priority in the drawn out negotiations which are now threatening to drag into the start of the team’s pre-season.

“I have an agent who is in charge of that and I am confident that he and (Raiders general manager) Reggie McKenzie will work it out,” Carr said, according to The Fresno Bee.

“I am only focused on becoming a better football player and helping my teammates become better players.

It’s good!

“I have complete faith it will get done before training camp. These things take time. The Raiders know I want to be here; this is my family, and I know they want me to be their quarterback.”

In the entire league, only Luck will look at Carr’s offer and not feel a hint of jealousy.

Luck was earlier this month named the sixth richest athlete on the planet, according to Forbes, after he also received a one-off signing bonus to compliment his healthy salary with the Colts.

Including his signing bonus on the new deal he inked in 2016 and $3 million in endorsements, Luck earned an estimated $50 million in 2016.

Carr’s reported contract may be the envy of everyone else in the NBA, but it won’t necessarily stay that way.

The NFL’s quarterback market is about to explode.

Washington’s Kirk Cousins and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford are also negotiating new deals which are expected to see them rival Carr as the richest players in the league.

Originally published as Derek Carr reportedly offered richest deal in NFL history