No. 81: Derek Carr

The Raiders haven’t had a winning season since 2002. That should change. Oakland is this year’s trendy breakout candidate, thanks to a wave of astute drafting.

The Raiders haven’t had a winning season since 2002. That should change. Oakland is this year’s trendy breakout candidate, thanks to a wave of astute drafting. Perhaps no player epitomizes that like quarterback Derek Carr, the 2014 second-round pick from Fresno State whose development has been a marvel. Carr has a quick release and powerful arm, especially on deep throws—and he should be throwing deep more in 2016. If Carr adds that, plus more running plays, to his repertoire, the Raiders should be darting toward success sooner rather than later.

— Emily Kaplan