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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joseph McBride

Derek Carr explains why he blocked Las Vegas Raiders trade before signing as free agent

New Orleans Saints signed Derek Carr on a four-year $150million deal earlier this week after the quarterback was released by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Before the end of the season the Raiders decided to part ways with Carr, and were hoping to negotiate a trade in order to receive some crucial draft picks. Carr paid visits to the New Orleans Saints and was also linked with the New York Jets, but decided not to negotiate while still signed with the Raiders.

Carr's stance angered some Raiders fans, and it's likely that it didn't go down too well within the franchise either. Carr was subsequently released and then signed for the Saints as a free agent, but he's explained why he opted out of being traded.

The new Saints quarterback took part in his first press conference on Saturday, where he spoke to reporters for 45 minutes after being officially unveiled. Of course a lot of the conference was centred around his future with the Saints, but Carr used the opportunity to clear the air about how things ended at the Raiders.

"I was very willing to accept a trade," Carr said. "But I was only able to talk to one team. I was only given permission to talk to one team.

"As much as I love and respect those guys, Dave and Josh over at the Raiders, how do I make that decision when it's the only time in my career that I've been, or could possibly be free? I can't possibly make that decision without being able to talk to other people.

Carr wanted freedom as he pondered the next chapter of his NFL career (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"But I still almost made the decision. I felt so much love here. Like, I still almost did it. But at the end of the day, I just felt like I knew that when I sat here, I wanted to be able to look my kids in the eye, look my wife in the eye, and know that I did everything in my power, I asked every question, I went through every process to make sure I tried to make the best decision for our family, for us together.

"So, I wasn't closed off to it all, which was maybe shocking to some people. But I wasn't closed off, I was willing to work, but I just was only able to talk to the Saints. But it worked out."

The Raiders are still looking for a quarterback themselves, although they're doing so on a budget. They distanced themselves from any negotiations with Aaron Rodgers, and have reportedly ruled themselves out of the running for Lamar Jackson too.

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