Carson Palmer to Raiders: Grading Oakland Raiders' Deadline Move

Today's deal to send Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for two high draft picks is a dangerous move for a team that is intent on honoring the late Al Davis with a 2011 playoff run. The trade sends the Bengals a first-round pick in 2012 and another conditional first-rounder in 2013 for a 31-year-old quarterback coming off a mediocre 2010 season in which he threw 20 interceptions.

Clearly the move comes in response to Jason Campbell’s collarbone injury as the Raiders seek to continue momentum from their 4-2 start. Here are some factors that make this season's playoff chase paramount.

The Memory of Al Davis

Coach Hue Jackson's tearful salute to the late Al Davis following the Raiders' Week 5 victory in Houston shows how much the current leadership respects the former backbone of the organization.

This costly deadline deal to improve the quarterback position from Kyle Boller to Carson Palmer was reportedly driven by Jackson, who had coached Palmer as an offensive coordinator at USC and again as the wide receivers coach in Cincinnati. The coach wants to just win now (baby) and paid a large bounty to handpick his quarterback for the "In Memory of Al Davis" season.

From JaMarcus to the Future

The lowest point in Raiders history came as a result of selecting QB JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 draft (one spot ahead of Calvin Johnson) and rewarding him with a $61 million contract.

Russell's inaccuracy and lack of work ethic infuriated Raider Nation over the next three seasons as he compiled a 7-18 record as a starter before his release in the 2010 offseason. The team immediately rebounded to a respectable 8-8 finish behind Jason Campbell and now avoids any regression to the JaMarcus era by adding a capable shot-caller for the stretch run.

Darren McFadden’s Health

While much of Oakland's success on offense should be credited toward an improved offensive line, Darren McFadden has been absolutely phenomenal and must be healthy for the playoffs to become a reality.

The fourth-year back averages more than 100 rushing yards per game (5.5 per attempt), but has never surpassed 13 games played in a season. Opposing defenses have been able to focus on the run in past seasons of limited success through the air, and McFadden will need a capable passing attack behind him to remain in top condition.

Maturing Young Receivers

While Jason Campbell was a giant improvement from JaMarcus Russell, Campbell had few trustworthy targets to use in his first year guiding the Oakland offense.

Raiders receivers have pleasantly surprised this season, as the highly-touted Darrius Heyward-Bey (No. 7 pick in 2009) has emerged to become more than merely a speed threat. 2011 fifth-rounder Denarius Moore has also shown flashes of dependability, and the speedy Jacoby Ford could be further utilized with Palmer's strong throwing arm.

These unproven targets will certainly get more treasured experience with Palmer passing to them, so those traded draft picks could also be considered an investment in the current maturing roster.

Commitment to Excellence

The Raiders are the Team of the Decades, a proud franchise that suffered through the start of the 21st Century, but looks to reclaim their legacy with a move tailored toward this season.

With the "Just Win" mandate of Al Davis ringing in their ears, the Oakland brass decided to reward their finally optimistic fanbase with an investment in the NOW. With a future that looks brighter with every week forward, the Raiders believe in their own success and are ready to make us believe as well.