One of the names I mentioned in Sorting the Sunday Pile for the Raiders in their search to replace Jason Campbell was retired Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. But even though the Raiders were reportedly trying to get Palmer, it seemed a highly unlikely end result, given the stubborn nature of Cincy owner Mike Brown.
But Oakland found a way to pry Palmer away from the Bengals, dealing a 2012 first-round draft pick and a 2013 conditional first-round pick to the Bengals for the no-longer-retired quarterback. Reports indicate that the 2013 conditional pick is a first-round pick only if Oakland wins at least one playoff game.
CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman confirms that the trade -- as originally reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports -- is a done deal. Glazer noted that Hue Jackson's close relationship with Brown -- Jackson was the former wide receivers coach in Cincinnati -- helped grease the wheels.
What likely helped grease the wheels more? The first-round draft pick that the Raiders gave the Bengals ... because they had to. As Ryan noted yesterday, the Raiders aren't exactly stocked with draft picks these days, having already given up their second-, fourth- and seventh-round picks in trades, and used their third-round pick on Terrelle Pryor.
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In other words, the Raiders only had one real pick of value in 2012 to give up, and they were apparently willing to move it in order to make themselves a contender for the remainder of the year.
More than anything, though, Mike Brown deserves a tremendous round of applause for absolutely crushing this scenario with Palmer. He called the quarterback's bluff, refused to deal the quarterback, landed a new franchise guy in Andy Dalton, and then when a team got really desperate, received two first-round picks in exchange.
The conditional pick is likely something that involves the Raiders making the postseason and/or riding Palmer to the Super Bowl; at least one would hope anyway. Otherwise, Oakland has, once again, undervalued draft picks.
It's worth noting, though, that the Raiders are anticipating a slew of compensatory draft picks in 2012, because free agents Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery and Thomas Howard all departed the Bay Area.
Also worth noting: Jason Campbell's time as a Raider is now finished, for all intents and purposes. He's a free agent after this season and given the committment Oakland gave to Palmer plus Campbell's injury, it's hard to imagine him playing another snap for Oakland.
They are, at least now, all in on Carson Palmer.
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