Carson Palmer Trade: Will Former Bengals QB Resurrect Career with Raiders?

Proving that they are serious about contending this year, the Oakland Raiders have done what most fans and analysts thought impossible by acquiring quarterback Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals for one guaranteed first-round draft pick and a conditional first-round draft pick. 

The news was first reported on Twitter by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.com. 

This is a major coup for the Raiders, who were desperate to find a quarterback after Jason Campbell went down with a broken collarbone, but you have to wonder how much Palmer has left in the tank and if he will be able to help this team this season. 

Despite being retired, Palmer has been working out all season and staying in football shape in case a trade did happen. That being said, he will not be able to come right in and play at the level that he is accustomed to. 

There has been a lot of talk from fans and analysts that Palmer was on the decline after throwing 20 interceptions last season. Don't buy into that, though, because all of his other numbers were at or near the level he has been throughout his career.

Palmer's completion percentage (61.8), yards (3,970) and touchdowns (26) were his best since 2007, and he did that with no receivers to throw to. Chad Ochocinco was the only proven pass catcher on the team, and he was hurt most of the season. 

Talks of Palmer's demise have been greatly overblown. Drew Brees threw 22 interceptions last season, two more than Palmer, and no one was asking if he was on the decline. 

The Raiders have a better group of receivers this year—led by Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford—than the Bengals did last year, and they have more speed at the position than any other team in the NFL, so Palmer will be able to throw the ball down the field in a way that he hasn't been able to for a long time. 

Don't expect Palmer to start right away because he has been off so long, but when the Raiders come back from the bye in Week 9 he will be in the lineup.

Palmer's career is far from over, in fact, this is a new beginning that will have him energized and excited about football in a way that he hasn't been in a long time. Oakland is the perfect situation for him and it came along at the perfect time because they are ready to contend for the playoffs now.