Seahawks Trade QB Matt Flynn To The Raiders For Two Draft Picks

Update:

Jay Glazer is reporting that the Raiders and Seahawks have reached an agreement on a trade for QB Matt Flynn.

OAK has traded 2 picks to Seattle for Matt Flynn, will sign papers on it this AM & now trying to finalize Carson Palmer to AZ for late pick

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 1, 2013

The Seahawks have announced that they will receive a 2014 fifth-round pick and a conditional 2015 draft pick for Flynn.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Flynn restructured his contract so that his 2013 base salary increases from $5.25 million to $6.5 million, all of which is guaranteed. His 2014 base salary decreases from $6.25 million to $5 million.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie’s statement on the trade for Flynn:

“I’ve known Matt Flynn since 2007 and scouted him before and after he entered the NFL. Matt is a tough football player, and a talented quarterback. He will get the opportunity to compete to be a starter with the Raiders. I believe Matt has that potential, but I also know he hasn’t had enough experience. We’re going to let him compete and battle, and see what happens. We know Raider Nation wants a team that can compete for the playoffs year-in and year-out and we’re putting in the necessary work right now to make that happen. This is one of the many decisions in that process.”

Glazer adds that Oakland is still working on a trade that would send Carson Palmer to the Cardinals for a late-round pick.

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Update:

Peter King of SI.com expects to see the Raiders part with a 2014 “mid-round pick” and possible a conditional pick in 2015 in return for QB Matt Flynn as well.

King writes that it would make more sense for Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie to elect to trade for Flynn and pay him his $5.25 million in salary, than keep Carson Palmer and his $13 million for the 2013 season.

King admits that Flynn is unlikely to be their franchise quarterback, but believes he has a better chance of doing so that than Palmer, given where he currently is in his NFL career.

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Update:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that a trade between the Seahawks and Raiders for QB Matt Flynn is expected to be finalized “soon.”

Florio mentions that the two teams have “haggled over draft-pick compensation” in recent days. He adds that there’s still some question as to whether or not the Raiders could target Geno Smith at No. 3 overall.

• Jason La Canfora reported last night that a deal is “very much alive pending contractual closure.”

Previous reports have indicted that the Seahawks are likely to receive two draft picks in return for Flynn. There’s still some question as to whether or not this will include a 2013 selection.
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Update:

Albert Breer reports that the Seahawks and Raiders have reached a tentative agreement on draft compensation for a trade that would send Matt Flynn to Oakland.

• Ian Rapoport updates the situation involving Matt Flynn to the Raiders by tweeting that a deal is unlikely to be completed today, but adds that the two sides are close.
• Breer adds that the Flynn is working on a contract adjustment and will need to pass a physical before the deal is complete. A deal is expected to be reached in the near future.
• Ian Rapoport mentions that it doesn’t sound like Flynn will be happy about reworking the contract he recently agreed to in order to facilitate a trade to Oakland.
• The Seahawks will take on $4 million in dead money by trading Flynn.

A deal hasn’t been reached yet, so we’ll have to wait and see if the Raiders elect to go this route.

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Update:

Ed Werder reports that sources have informed him that the Seahawks are currently engaged in trade talks with an unknown team for backup QB Matt Flynn. Werder’s sources added that a deal appears to be “imminent.”

• Ian Rapoport reports that Seattle is “deep in talks” with the Raiders for Flynn, but are trying to work something out with QB Carson Palmer first.
• Adam Caplan reports that the Raiders are also considering QB Kevin Kolb as well.
• Jason La Canfora reports that the it “sounds like” Flynn will be traded to the Raiders.
• La Canfora adds that the Seahawks could target Tyler Thigpen as their backup quarterback.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Bills and Jaguars denied interest in Flynn yesterday, but he adds that the Raiders are an option. 
• Rapoport was also informed that the Seahawks are still willing to keep Flynn.

A previous report indicated that the Raiders, Jaguars and Bills could all be potential landing spots for Flynn.

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the Raiders in the past few days, now that Carson Palmer is reportedly unwilling to be return to the team. Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was with the Packers when they drafted and developed Flynn.

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Update:

Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports reports that a league source has informed him that the Raiders have “legitimate interest” in trading for Seahawks backup QB Matt Flynn.

• Silver adds that Flynn could be had for as little as a fourth-round pick.
• A separate source informed him that the Jaguars also have interest in Flynn as well.

In regards to the practicality of such a move for Oakland, Silver mentions that the Raiders would incur a $9.34 million cap hit if they were to release QB Carson Palmer and Flynn himself has a $7.25 million cap figure for the 2013 season. Palmer is reportedly unwilling to renegotiate his contract, so this could be an inhibiting factor for the Raiders.

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Update:

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports cites “several NFL source” who have mentioned that the Jacksonville Jaguars are the “most likely destination” for Seahawks QB Matt Flynn.

• La Canfora’s sources adds that the Bills and Raiders are also “in the mix” for Flynn as well.
• His sources have mentioned that a deal could come together before the upcoming NFL draft.

Jacksonville has said publicly that they intend to find competition for Blaine Gabbert this offseason. Chad Henne figures to be in the running for the job, but La Canfora’s source mentioned that they’re “exploring other options.”

Buffalo currently has Tarvaris Jackson as their starting quarterback, so they’re clearly in need of some additional help at the position.

ESPN’s Mike Sando mentioned that Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie could turn his attention to Flynn if they end up releasing Carson Palmer in the coming weeks.