the 2005 NFL Draft. During the 2008 NFL Draft, General manager Carl Peterson decided to allow head coach Herman Edwards to select their 140th overall pick as a gift for his 54th birthday which fell on the day of the draft. Edwards immediately responded, "I want Brandon Carr! I promise you this; By opening day, he'll be starting!" 2008 season: Rookie year On June 11, 2008, Carr signed a three-year, $1.36 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $145,629. Throughout training camp, Carr competed against Brandon Flowers and Dimitri Patterson for a job as a starting cornerback. Head coach Herman Edwards named Carr the third cornerback and first-team nickelback to start the regular season, behind Patrick Surtain and Brandon Flowers. Carr made his NFL debut and first career start in the season-opener at the New England Patriots and recorded three combined tackles in their 17–10 loss. On September 21, 2008, Carr earned his first start as an outside cornerback after Patrick Surtain injured his shoulder the previous week against the Oakland Raiders. He finished the Chiefs' 38–14 loss at the Atlanta Falcons with a season-high nine solo tackles. The following week, he made two solo tackles, three pass deflections, and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Jay Cutler during a 33–19 victory against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Carr finished his rookie year with 73 combined tackles (70 solo), six pass deflections, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in 16 games and starts. He started the first two games at nickelback and last 14 games at left cornerback. 2009 season On January 23, 2009, the Chiefs fired head coach Herman Edwards after they finished with a 2–14 record in 2008. Carr and Flowers entered training camp slated as the starting cornerbacks under new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. Carr saw minor competition for his role from Maurice Leggett and Ricardo Colclough. Head coach Todd Haley officially named Carr and Flowers the starting cornerback duo to begin the regular season. In Week 4, Carr collected four solo tackles and a season-high three pass deflections in a 27–16 loss to the New York Giants. During Week 11, he recorded a season-high eight solo tackles during a 27–24 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carr finished his second season, with 62 combined tackles (56 solo), 19 passes defensed, two tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, and a