ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The expected contract extension for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr could be coming sooner rather than later.
Carr, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday, is close to finalizing a multi-year agreement that could pay him an average of $25 million per season.
Should the deal reach the $25 million threshold, the fourth-year quarterback out of Fresno State would become the NFL's highest paid quarterback in terms of yearly average salary. According to spotrac.com, Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts is the top earner at $24,594,000.
Carr said on his official Twitter account there was no deal as yet.
Both the Raiders and Carr have expressed optimism of reaching a deal before the players report to training camp in Napa on July 28. Carr said he would not deal with a contract extension after that date because it would interfere with preparation for the 2017 season.
A potential complicating factor was that Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford is also in the process of negotiating a contract, with the possibility that each side would wait for the other to finalize a deal first and set the market.
Carr is on the record as saying he wants to finish his career as a Raider.
Given that the Raiders have the fifth most salary cap space in the NFL at more than $32 million according to overthecap.com, there is plenty of maneuverability by general manager Reggie McKenzie to not only get Carr into the fold, but also guard Gabe Jackson, whose contract will also be up following the 2017 season.
With the Raiders having exercised their fifth-year option on defensive end Khalil Mack, the thinking is that they will extend his deal at dollars similar to what they will pay Carr next offseason.
