The Oakland Raiders announced the trade of quarterback Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, just one day after they traded for Seattle quarterback Matt Flynn.
The Raiders had asked Palmer to restructure his contract and take a paycut but it quickly became apparent that he was unwilling to accept.
Palmer, who became the first Raiders quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season since Rich Gannon did it in 2002, only lasted one and a half seasons in Oakland after former head coach Hue Jackson traded a first-round and second-round selection for him. Jackson dubbed the trade “the greatest trade in football”.
In the trade, Oakland sends the 219th overall pick and Palmer to the Cardinals and obtain Arizona’s 176th overall selection and a conditional 2014 draft pick in return.
It was largely believed that the Raiders would outright release Palmer if he did not take the requested paycut, so getting anything in return for him can be looked at as a victory by Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie.
It is expected that Terrelle Pryor and newly acquired Flynn will battle it out for the starting gig, as well as any other quarterback the Raiders may bring in.
