Derek Carr Showing Signs of Being Raiders' Answer at QB

His career win-loss record is 1-10, but of all their current pieces, rookie quarterback Derek Carr may be the most solid foundation upon which the Oakland Raiders can build their future.

In one way, Carr faced one of the more difficult rookie scenarios when he was selected by Oakland in the second round of the draft. The Raiders were coming off of a 4-12 record in 2013, their 11th consecutive season below .500, and former head coach Dennis Allen was already on the hot seat five months before the draft. 

And here came Carr, thrown into the starting job in Week 1 while draft classmates Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles all sat at first to learn their respective systems. Given his first opportunity to make a statement in the NFL, Carr was essentially set up to fail, or at the very least have his spirit crushed. 

In another way, however, this season may turn out to be a great scenario for the rookie. The 1-10 Raiders are not destined for the playoffs. While there is always pressure to win, there is not the same pressure on Carr that is placed on almost every other starting NFL quarterback this season.

Carr can show off his skills, develop chemistry with his teammates and trust that the Raiders have seen something in him and will surround him with the coaching staff and teammates he needs to be successful in the future.

And with the mood in Oakland turned victorious after the Raiders earned their first win of the season in a nail-biter at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, that may be exactly what happens. 

The poise Carr displayed on his game-winning drive was instrumental to the win. 

Set aside Carr's 1-10 win-loss record for a moment. The rookie is completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,249 yards and has thrown 14 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Compare those stats to his fellow rookie peers. 

Player	Starts	Att.	Comp.	Comp. %	TDs	INTs
Derek Carr	11	406	240	58.8	14	9
Teddy Bridgewater	6	225	137	60.9	4	6
Blake Bortles	7	278	176	63.3	8	14

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said prior to the season that Carr was the furthest along among the rookie class and noted his great arm. That has proven to be the case so far in 2014; Carr has demonstrated an ability to take care of the football—notice that Carr's and Bortles' touchdown-to-interception ratios are nearly inverted—and his mental acuity has been obvious. 

"He has so many things you love to see in a quarterback," Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group wrote in October. "Zip. Touch. Accuracy. Pocket presence. Quick release. Good feet. Feistiness. Smarts. And perhaps above all else, an almost maniacal dedication to detail."

What does the future look like for Carr in Oakland? Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported in October that Raiders owner Mark Davis wants to build around Carr, and because his play has only improved since then, that's likely still the case. 

The report also came after Allen was shown the door, and Carr may just be special enough that he can help lure a top head coach prospect to Oakland (or, by that time, perhaps Los Angeles). 

Many new coaches prefer to draft their own quarterback, but Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie have made it clear that they believe Carr is the future, and coaching prospects would almost certainly need to be on the same page. 

"We are in really good shape, based on the way Reggie put all the contracts together and everything else," David told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport on Thursday prior to the win.

"We have a new face on offense, which Derek could be the face of the future. We have a face on defense with Khalil Mack. Gabe Jackson might be a player. We have something to start building around. I don't know that we've had the ability to say that over the past few years."

The Raiders have a formidable remaining schedule with matchups against the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos, but they also face the Chiefs again in three weeks. If they can keep the momentum going from tonight's win, they may be able to sweep them. A Week 16 matchup against the Buffalo Bills could also be an opportunity for Carr and the Raiders to pad their win column.

But regardless of how many wins are next to his name at the conclusion of this season, the future is bright for Carr, and the Raiders with him.