David Carr’s comments on brother’s future is good news for Washington

If we’re being realistic, the Washington Football Team is more likely to draft a quarterback and sign or trade for a placeholder rather than trade for a superstar like Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, or Deshaun Watson.

While those studs are at the top of the wishlist for every QB-needy team this offseason, it feels like Derek Carr is in the second-tier all by himself.

After all, he’s a cut above the rest of the available options, i.e. your Jimmy Garoppolo’s, Jameis Winston’s and Mitchell Trubisky’s of the world.

The only thing about Carr — kind of like Wilson and Rodgers, to an extent — is that Washington has to wait and see if he becomes available.

On a positive note, the Raiders hiring Dave Ziegler, formerly the Patriots’ director of player personnel, as their new general manager will expedite that process. With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels following Ziegler to Las Vegas to be the team’s new head coach, we could have an answer sooner than later.

However, don’t expect those hires to confirm Carr’s return.

During a Friday appearance on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, Carr’s brother, David, now an analyst for NFL Network, made it pretty clear what the Raiders need to do to convince Carr to stay for the long haul.

How David Carr’s comments on his brother Derek’s future is good news for the Washington Football Team.

There’s a lot to take away from this segment, but it sounds like Carr is tired of carrying the Raiders on his back. We also get the sense that the three-time Pro Bowler is fed up with the perpetual dysfunction engulfing the organization.

Between Jon Gruden’s unceremonious exile for the hateful emails he exchanged with former Washington president Bruce Allen, and a pair of former first-round picks — Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette — getting released for disturbing non-football related issues, this is clearly taking a toll on Carr.

That speaks volumes given Carr has kept a low-profile over his career. However, coming off another elite season and his first career playoff appearance, he’s finally speaking like a quarterback who knows what he wants.

The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and he’s earned a handsome extension. That’s likely where the elder Carr’s “commitment” comment can be connected to, but money and winning seem to be on a level playing field.

Carr has been outspoken about wanting to bring a championship to the Raiders organization, which hasn’t been to the top of the mountain since 1983, but he’s entering his age-31 season and has just two playoff appearances (one start) to show for it in eight seasons since he was drafted back in 2014.

In other words, Carr is sensing he’s on the proverbial back nine of his career and wants some assurance from the Raiders that they’ll push the envelope to build a winning foundation (front office, coaching staff and roster) around him.

While the Ziegler and McDaniels hires seem like good moves on the surface, the Raiders have a long way to go to earn Carr’s trust back.

For Washington, that means the door is still open.