Cards acquire Raiders’ Palmer
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have acquired quarterback Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders.
The Cardinals gave up a conditional 2014 draft pick and swapped one of their sixth-round picks this year for Oakland’s seventhround selection.
Palmer reworked his contract as part of his move to the desert, agreeing to a two-year deal worth up to $20 million, with $10 million guaranteed.
New Arizona coach Bruce Arians gets a starting quarterback at a bargain-basement price.
But at least the Raiders were able to get something for the quarterback rather than just release him. Oakland acquired quarterback Matt Flynn on Monday in a deal that sent two draft picks to the Seahawks.
The 33-year-old Palmer put up big numbers with the Raiders last season but the production didn’t translate into sufficient wins.
In 15 games in 2012, Palmer threw for 4,018 yards, becoming the second quarterback in Raiders history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season. He threw for 22 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.
His abilities f it the “throw long downfield” philosophy of Arians, who inherited a team with a woeful situation at quarterback.
Last year, Arizona had four starting quarterbacks — John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer. They combined to throw for 3,383 yards with 11 touchdowns and 21 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 63.1 in an offense that ranked last in the NFL. The Arizona quarterbacks were sacked 58 times in 608 pass attempts. By contrast, Palmer was sacked 28 times last year in 585 throws.
The Cardinals have released Skelton and Kolb and have signed Hoyer to a tender offer. They also have signed free agent Drew Stanton, the backup last season to Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, where Arians was interim head coach.
Palmer was the first overall draft pick in 2002 by Cincinnati and was with the Bengals until his trade to Oakland two years ago. In two seasons with the Raiders, he started 24 games, completed 61 percent of his passes for 6,771 yards and 35 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. His career passer rating is 85.5.
For his career, Palmer has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 29,465 yards and 189 touchdowns with 132 interceptions.
He would be the fourth different starting quarterback to open the season with Arizona since Kurt Warner retired in 2009.
DEVELOPMENTS
Bucs sign five players: Tampa Bay Buccaneers got active Tuesday in free agency by signing five players: kicker Nate Kaeding, defensive linemen George Selvie and Derek Landri, running back Brian Leonard, and wide receiver Steve Smith.
None projects as a likely starter for Tampa, which has made only one impact signing so far in free agency by adding All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson.
Kaeding’s career field goal percentage (.862) ranks as second in NFL history to Mike Vanderjagt’s .865. Kaeding has played eight NFL seasons, first with San Diego, then with Miami. In his career, he has made 181 of 210 field goals and 352 of 354 extra points (.994).
Kaeding will try to unseat Connor Barth.
Heading into his seventh season, Smith has been plagued by injuries in recent years with St. Louis and Philadelphia after making the Pro Bowl with the Giants in 2009.