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The Bengals cashed in by dealing Carson Palmer to the Raiders, as the NFP’s Andrew Brandt detailed today. However, when we look at this Oakland offense, this is a move that should upgrade Hue Jackson’s football team.

Here is a quick breakdown of what Palmer could bring to the field in Oakland…

ICON Palmer could give the Raiders more options from a play calling perspective.

– Vertical passing game. If Palmer can still drive the football, he brings in an added dimension. The Raiders see plenty of eight-man fronts. How do you counter that? Challenge secondaries that want to play press-coverage and use a single high safety in the middle of the field. Run the vertical route tree and test the top of the defense if you consistently see a safety dropping into the box. That’s what a big arm QB can do.

– Crucial game situations. I talk about it all of the time when I break down games on Sundays. Third downs, the red zone, two-minute, etc. Forget overall numbers here. Instead, you are looking for a QB that can make a key throw when you have to move the sticks—or score points to win a game. The Raiders have to see Palmer as an upgrade over what they had with Campbell and Kyle Boller.

– We will still see the off-tackle power game with RBs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush at the top of the call sheet on Sundays. However, considering the speed Oakland has outside of the numbers, do the Raiders work more out of the gun, use some spread looks and create some matchup issues? Game plan options with Palmer now in the mix.

Bottom line, this is a bold move here by a club that is looking to make a serious run this season. Let’s see how this plays out for the Raiders and the veteran QB.

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