3 quarterbacks who could replace Russell Wilson in 2023. Yes, 2023.

Derek Carr

It’s weird Derek Carr doesn’t get more love. No, he isn’t the best quarterback in his division (maybe third-best in the AFC West behind Justin Herbert and some guy named Patrick Mahomes) but he is one of the better QBs in the NFL. He hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2017 though arguably his best seasons have been in the last three. But there should be no doubt as to Carr’s leadership, and importantly, want to lead.

When all else was falling apart for the Raiders in 2021 – the coach getting fired, a receiver being involved in a brutal car accident – Carr tried to hold the team together. Las Vegas managed to go 10-7 when a lot of teams would have just folded. But Carr almost willed his team to keep it together and play as a unit.

Carr, though, beyond being a leader is a good quarterback. He has magnificent accuracy (67.3 percent and above since 2017), doesn’t throw a ton of interceptions (his career rate is 1.9 percent; Wilson’s is 1.8) and moves around in the pocket fairly well to avoid sacks. And while he will get paid quite a bit in 2023, he isn’t going to make $25 million on the open market which is what a lot of other quarterbacks would.

Carr will be 32 years old when 2023 begins but that should give him at least 4-5 years of being a very good quarterback and leader on the team. Like Mayfield, Carr isn’t Russell Wilson, but he could be Russell Wilson-light and that might be all Seattle needs to make for a quick rebuild.