Is Derek Carr too pricey for any other team?

On Thursday, Carr posted a farewell message to Raiders fans via social media. 

The list of teams that both have a need for Carr and can afford him is slim. Per Over The Cap, only eight teams have the space needed to fit Carr's $33 million cap hit in 2023. 

Of those eight, the franchise that makes the most sense as one that should kick the tires on a potential trade is the Atlanta Falcons.

Running back Tyler Allgeier and wide receiver Drake London showed this season that the cupboards aren't bare in Atlanta. As much as Carr loved throwing to tight end Darren Waller in Las Vegas, he could be instrumental in unlocking the best version of 2021 first-round pick (fourth overall) Kyle Pitts.

His numbers dropped significantly in 2022 before he tore his MCL in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears. After a successful operation on Nov. 30, head coach Arthur Smith declined to give a timetable for his return. (h/t NFL.com)

The team drafted QB Desmond Ridder in the third round (74th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft and he improved every game during his four-game audition to end the season. He went 2-2 and was 73-of-115 (63.5 percent) for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Falcons might be content to run it back and see how far Ridder can take them.

If the team believes Carr can get more out of the offensive talent on the roster, this would be the perfect time to make a move. The NFC South offers an easy path to the postseason; none of the four teams in the division finished with a winning record in 2022.

In the worst-case scenario for Las Vegas, the organization cuts Carr and gets nothing in return. 

Per ESPN, the franchise would only incur a $5.625 million hit to its salary cap by cutting him within three days of Super Bowl LVII. 

That sets Feb. 15, 2023 as the team's deadline to work out a deal to send Carr elsewhere. 

With what appears to be a lukewarm market, the Falcons could keep the eighth overall pick in April's draft off the table and still be in play for Carr via trade.

Any team considering trading for Carr can also call the Raiders' bluff and make a play for him as a free agent. There's some risk involved in that line of thinking as it opens the door for every QB-needy team to have a chance to attract Carr.

His current deal and no-trade-clause mean there aren't many viable suitors for his services. Without much demand, the Falcons could get a huge bargain.