Steelers Trade for Derek Carr in Latest PFF Mock Draft

Pro Football Focus has gone bold with their latest mock draft, projected the Pittsburgh Steelers will trade their first round selection for their next franchise quarterback in Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

PFF projects the Steelers to deal the 20th overall pick for Carr. In the mock trade, Pittsburgh also sends them next year’s first-rounder and their 2022 third round selection in the deal. The Steelers would then inherit Carr’s remaining one-year, $19.8 million contract.

“Las Vegas trading veteran quarterback Derek Carr became an increasingly unlikely scenario when the team hired Josh McDaniels to be its next head coach this offseason, but the Steelers could ultimately make an offer the Raiders’ brass can’t refuse,” PFF’s Austin Gayle writes. “Pittsburgh’s roster is in a better position to win with Carr than Las Vegas’ squad, as evidenced by their playoff berth with the version of Ben Roethlisberger (PFF’s 33rd-ranked quarterback) we all witnessed this past season.”

Selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr has spent his entire eight-year career with the Raiders franchise. Carr passed for 4,804 yards and 23 touchdowns with 14 interceptions this past season, while leading Las Vegas to its first playoff appearance since 2016. He is the Raiders’ all-time leader in passing yards (31,700), touchdowns (193) and completions (2,896).

The Steelers have traded their first-round draft pick for a player just once in over 50 years, but that was recently, when the team traded its first-round selection in 2019 to Miami for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

PFF has the Steelers making their first selection of the mock draft in the second round, as they take Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon at No. 52.

A more-than-willing tackler, Gordon has no reservations about being a factor in the run game. He had 45 total tackles last season with the Huskies. Gordon also had a pair of interceptions and seven passes defended in 2021. He was named First-Team All-Pac-12 last season.