© Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
After spending nearly a decade with the Green Bay Packers, Jordy Nelson has found his new home with the Oakland Raiders. After signing a two-year deal with the Raiders on March 15, Nelson told Tolbert & Lund on Tuesday afternoon that quarterback Derek Carr played a major factor in his decision to join Oakland.
“That had a huge impact, especially being a receiver,” Nelson said. “You need a quarterback that can throw you the ball and put it where it needs to be.”
Over the last nine years, Nelson formed a deadly quarterback-wide receiver duo with Aaron Rodgers. In Nelson’s first year as Green Bay’s starting wide receiver in 2010, he helped lead the Packers to a Super Bowl championship. Nelson went on to make six Pro Bowl appearances with two first-team All-Pro nominations.
Although there are few in the NFL at the same level as Rodgers, Nelson is confident in Carr’s ability at quarterback.
“Obviously, having a quarterback at the caliber of Derek [Carr] and what he can do on the field with the ball and the way he can control an offense,” Nelson said. “Seeing him play a little bit and honestly, talking to James Jones, who was out there for a year with Derek, and Davante Adams, who played with Derek at Fresno State. I talked to those guys right away when I knew Oakland was interested to get the deal on the kind of guy Derek is and what he can do as a quarterback. It confirmed everything that I had seen.”
Since being selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr has only missed two games over his four years in the league. Although he was expected to be out for as many as six weeks with a back fracture last season, Carr only missed one start in 2017 and received the third Pro Bowl nomination of his career.
Other factors played a role in Nelson signing with the Raiders, but having a quarterback like Carr made his choice much easier.
“I think a lot of things,” Nelson said when asked what influenced his decision to sign with the Raiders. “Obviously, the whole organization and what coach Gruden and his assistant coaches are trying to do there.
“I think another part of it too, our receiver coach in Oakland now was the same receiver coach I had years ago in Green Bay with Edgar Bennett,” Nelson added. “That familiarity is key. I don’t have to worry about that going to Oakland. I know what I’m going to get in that meeting room and the expectations.”
To listen to the full interview check out the podcast below, and skip to 2:43 for Nelson on the Raiders.