NFL Trade Rumors: Audacious Deal for Carson Palmer Proves Raiders Need a GM

The Oakland Raiders defied the odds by making one of the worst trades in years, and proving that they desperately need a general manager.

Hue Jackson has done a terrific job at the helm of the Oakland Raiders, but he is way out of his league acting as the general manager for this franchise.

According to Mike Freeman of CBS Sports, Jackson has complete control of all personnel decisions involving the Raiders. He needs to relinquish those duties immediately.

Yesterday, the Oakland Raiders pulled off an atrocious trade for Carson Palmer. They gave up a first-round pick and a conditional second-round pick that could turn into a first-round pick if the Raiders are to win a divisional playoff game.

Palmer is 32 years of age, and hasn't had a QB rating over 90 since 2006. That's right, it's been five years since Palmer has been one of the better QBs in the NFL.

He has only topped a 100 career passer rating once in his career, all the way back in 2005. There is no way Palmer is worth both a first and a second-round pick.

The Raiders were desperate after losing Jason Campbell for the season, and felt the need to pull the trigger on a QB. The worst part is that Jackson nearly came out and admitted that the Raiders were desperate in a radio conversation with KHTK in Sacramento with Grant Napear (via Sports Radio Interviews).

Jackson was asked if they would be having this conversation if Campbell hadn't got hurt, and Jackson admitted that Campbell would still be the QB.

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"Absolutely we would not be having this conversation. Jason was doing great and leading this team to where it needed to go, but down he went and so we had to step up and make the next best decision."

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Apparently the next best decision was mortgaging the team's future. Brilliant idea, Hue. Campbell has the potential to be the franchise QB for the Raiders, but that is no longer the case as he will be a free agent after the season.

No team in their right mind gives up that much for a QB who hasn't proven to be elite in years, and has been out of the game for nearly 10 months.

It may payoff for them, but who knows at this point. The simple fact is that you don't mortgage your future for a 32-year old QB. They could have used those picks to move up and acquire a player like Landry Jones in the draft if they were that desperate for a franchise QB.

The simple fact is that they panicked, and made a ridiculous offer for a QB who was simply not worth the price.

If Jackson continues to stay in an acting GM role, who knows how much of this team's future might be mortgaged for a quick fix.