It might sound like blasphemy to compare a Carr to a Manning, but Derek has given the Raiders a foundational player to build around, with Cooper and second-year pro Khalil Mack at outside linebacker also falling into that category. There's really only so much guidance that aging veterans like Tuck and safety Charles Woodson can offer at this point of their careers. They've won their Super Bowl rings and played in plenty of Pro Bowls. The true measure of how far the Raiders can go revolves around how quickly their younger generation can grasp the idea that this franchise can't be cursed with futility forever.