Raiders draft countdown: Derek Carr is best No. 4 in team history

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Raiders draft countdown: Derek Carr is best No. 4 in team history

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Apr 19, 2026 9:24 AM ET

4 days remain until the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23-25, 2026. After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick as this daily countdown continues through the franchise’s best players by jersey number.

Today, April 19, 2026, the number is 4.

Derek Carr, No. 4

Derek Carr is the easy pick at No. 4, and it is not close. He became the face of the franchise in the Oakland to Las Vegas transition and still holds a majority of the Raiders passing records.

Carr played for the Raiders from 2014-22 and started every game he appeared in. Over nine seasons, he carried a heavy load and kept the offense competitive through constant change.

This pass by Derek Carr when he was on the Raiders

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Why Carr gets No. 4

Carr is the best No. 4 because he produced at a franchise level for nearly a decade. He threw for 35,222 yards and 217 touchdowns as a Raider.

Meanwhile, he was durable and ever-present, starting 142 games for the team. That combination of volume and longevity separates him from every other No. 4 option.

Draft and background

Carr was born March 28, 1991, in Fresno, Calif. He attended Bakersfield Christian High School in California and Clements High School in Texas, then played at Fresno State.

The Oakland Raiders drafted him in the second round (No. 36 overall) in 2014.

Other notable No. 4s

Aidan O’Connell, 2023
Jerry DePoyster, 1971-1972
Fred Steinfort, 1976
David Hardy, 1987

Career check

Carr set a modern standard for Raiders quarterback play and ownership of the record book. For No. 4, the production and era-defining role make it decisive.

Next up tomorrow: No. 3.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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