Update:
Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports that the Matt-Flynn-to-Oakland deal is done. The Seahawks will receive 2 draft picks from the Raiders. Earlier reports had them as a 2014 mid-rounder and a conditional pick in 2015. The Raiders are now looking to trade Carson Palmer to Arizona, per Glazer. That will leave Flynn as the favorite to start in Oakland.
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After the emergence of Russell Wilson, Seattle has been openly shopping backup-QB Matt Flynn to a few NFL teams this season. The deal, which was described as “imminent,” may finally be coming to fruition in Oakland.
The troubled saga between Carson Palmer and the Raiders has been out in the open for a while now. Palmer had no problems telling the media that he would rather play for a contender than for the Raiders in 2013. He even went as far to reject a contract of $10 million, nearly triple what he would likely receive at any other destination.
Still, Oakland seemed more than content to let Palmer walk if they were able to find a quality option in free agency.
Enter Matt Flynn.
Seattle is deep in discussion with the Raiders at the moment, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. If the deal is to get done, Oakland would likely cut Palmer immediately after. The deal is rumored to be so close to completion that teammates are saying their final goodbyes to Flynn via Twitter. Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin tweeted,”Wishing Flynn the best in Oakland. Excited for his opportunity. Great QB, even better man.” For Flynn, this would be his third team in three years in his young career; he spent the two previous seasons with Green Bay and Seattle.
Assuming Baldwin is right and the deal gets finished up, Palmer would likely begin talks with Arizona about their vacancy at QB. The Cardinals have been actively pursuing any and all options after their disastrous situation at the position last season.
Seattle would certainly stand to benefit from the release of Flynn. With the success Russell Wilson and the team had last year, there was no need to have a backup that commands starter-money like Flynn.
Seattle has had a habit of signing highly touted backups with no proven NFL experience. San Diego Charger backup Charlie Whitehurst signed a two-year deal worth $8 million, despite never playing a snap that season. Additionally, Seattle gave up a 2011 third-round pick and swapped second-round picks 2011 with Seattle, which were used to get Ryan Mathews. In exchange, the Seahawks got three very unsuccessful starts in the regular-season starts out of Whitehurst, who was eventually benched in favor of Tarvaris Jackson. Ironically, after a failed run with the Seahawks, Whitehurst was sent back to his backup role with the Chargers.
After the Whitehurst miscue, head coach Pete Carroll rebounded in 2012 with another questionable off-season signing. Carroll signed Packers reserve Matt Flynn, who started one game the entire year. Though Flynn threw a record-setting 6 TDs in a game, it came in a game in which Green Bay was resting for the Playoffs. In just one start, Flynn had apparently proven enough to Carroll that he was starter-material. As a result, he was offered a $26 million with over $10 million guaranteed.
In the 2012 NFL Draft, the team later went on to draft a kid by the name of Russell Wilson out of the University of Wisconsin. Little did Seattle know that they would get a future franchise player with their third-round choice. Wilson wowed in camp and eventually took over the starting job, leading the team to the NFC Championship game in the process.
Speaking of unhappy, one player that is less than content with the projected move is Terrelle Pryor. Pryor was set to become the leader of the Silver and Black in Palmer’s absence, a scenario that is now seemingly unlikely. But don’t worry Terrelle, if it’s any consolation, the Raiders could draft Geno Smith and start him over Flynn like Seattle did last season with Wilson.
