The Oakland Raiders are on the cusp of trading for "retired" quarterback Carson Palmer.  This is news in itself.  A big move from a team that few people expected to be very good this year.  This Raiders team has surprised many fans this year.  Wait 'til you hear what they are trading for him.

ESPN info men Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that Palmer will be sent west for 2 First-round Draft Picks.  The Bengals will get the Raiders first-rounder in 2012 and a conditional first-rounder in 2013.  The condition is winning a playoff game. If the Raiders don't win the playoff game or don't make the playoffs, the pick in 2013 is a second-rounder. 

So to sum up, the Raiders have traded at minimum a first and second round pick for a 31 year old quarterback who was 4-12 with a 61.8% Completion rate, 26 TD's and 20 INT's in 2010. 

All I can say is wow.

To top it off, look at the draft picks the Raiders have traded away for the upcoming draft.  Gone are their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th picks from 2012 and, at least, the second rounder for 2013. They will get Compensatory picks for Nnamdi Asomugha and Robert Gallery, but man what a price to pay.  

If they get the Pro-Bowl level QB that Palmer was when Hue Jackson was WR Coach in Cincinnati (04-06), there may be a case for the deal.  Oakland is only one game behind San Diego for tops in the AFC West.  They must think that there is a playoff run in the near future. 

I have to say this is a great sales job by the Bengals.  I can't imagine people were knocking down their door to trade Palmer.  They managed to get 2 first-round picks out of it.  I say it's the deal of the century for Mike Brown.

Only the Raiders.

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