Matt Flynn Trade Rumors: Raiders Smart to Pursue Castaway QB from Seahawks

The Oakland Raiders may have found their man in Matt Flynn.

Flynn's future in Seattle looked all but over with the emergence of Russell Wilson, who led the Seahawks to the playoffs in his rookie season. Flynn had just signed a deal with the team last offseason in the hopes of winning the starting role.

That obviously didn't happen, and Seattle is eager to move him. Oakland, in need of a quarterback, is a perfect fit, and according to Albert Breer of NFL Network, an agreement is close to being struck between the two teams:



Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reported that the Raiders would likely cut or trade Carson Palmer in the event Flynn arrives. Oakland doesn't have the cap room to keep both unless Palmer restructures his deal. That leaves the path clear for the five-year veteran to assume the starting role for the first time in his career.

Palmer is 33 years old and has been a bit of a disappointment ever since moving to Oakland in that one-sided trade with the Cincinnati Bengals. It's probably best that he find new surroundings for 2013.



Granted Flynn isn't entirely proven as an NFL starter, it's still much better to have him under center for next year rather than Palmer.

There are plenty of holes beyond QB on this Raiders team. It's foolish to think that Flynn would be able to solve every one of the team's problems and get it in the playoffs all by himself after last year's 4-12 debacle.



Trading for Flynn allows management to get rid of any temptation of drafting someone like Geno Smith with the third pick in the 2013 draft. Instead, Oakland can go after someone like Sharrif Floyd, who will help to strengthen a defense that finished a respectable 18th in total yards last season.

The draft has generally been extremely fertile when it comes to finding a franchise QB. This year's class looks very weak, however. There isn't one prospe...

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