The Raiders and Seahawks completed a trade Monday morning that sends backup quarterback Matt Flynn to Oakland for a pair of draft picks, neither this season, according to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com. The Seahawks disclosed they have acquired the Raiders’ fifth-round pick in 2014 and a conditional draft choice in 2015.
Word broke Friday that the Raiders and Seahawks were close to a deal for Flynn, who appeared in three games in his first season in Seattle after signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract as an unrestricted free agent a year ago.
A 2008 seventh-round selection out of Louisiana State by the Green Bay Packers, Flynn received just over three dozen offensive snaps last season, completing five of nine passes for 68 yards in relief of rookie Russell Wilson, who surprisingly won the starting job in training camp.
Flynn has two seasons and $11.5 million remaining on his contract, including a $5.25 million base salary, $2 million of which is fully guaranteed, for the 2013 season. By trading Flynn, the Seahawks will save $5.25 million in cash and $3.25 million in cap space, some of which may be used to pay another backup quarterback. Another use for the money is to begin extending the contracts of big contributors. First in line is likely safety Kam Chancellor.
Wilson is the only quarterback on the roster. One backup option is Tyler Thigpen, an unrestricted free agent who spent the last two seasons as the backup with the Buffalo Bills. Thigpen has the athleticism to run the read-option if Wilson can’t go. The Seahawks also could draft a backup later this month.
In addition to acquiring Flynn, Glazer reported the Raiders are attempting to trade Carson Palmer, their starting quarterback the last two seasons, to the Arizona Cardinals for a late-round draft choice.
Palmer, 33, has refused to reduce his $13 million base salary but would play for less, and in a lesser role, on another team, Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports reported. Trading, or flat-out releasing. Palmer will save the Raiders $13 million in cash and $5.995 million in salary cap space this season.
1 Comment
Without a #2 QB and Flynn so well thought of by Pete and John just a year ago, I am amazed they let him go for essentially nothing in return.
They have done such a great job rebuilding the team I expect they have another rabbit in their hat, yet this just doesn’t make sense.
It seemed with Flynn they had a great #2 if Wilson goes down and as a mobile QB, chances are he will.
And for a 5th round and another pick in 2 years, they really received nothing back for Flynn.
This seems really strange.
As for Flynn, he’d better bulk up because the Raiders’ O-line is HORRIBLE, so he’ll get beat up bad.