Matt

Flynn

Perhaps the Seahawks will get something for Flynn, after all. Silver reports Flynn is available for “as little as a fourth-round pick,” though putting his $5.25 million base salary on the books would create more cap issues for Oakland, even after releasing Carson Palmer. (The Palmer cut would save just under $6 million in cap room.) The Jaguars were previously reported to have interest in Flynn. Per Silver, Jacksonville has “little inclination” to swing a trade.

Flynn has drawn zero interest via trade even in a down quarterback market. However, Sando mentions that Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie was in Green Bay with Flynn, and he could be a stopgap solution. Oakland would likely rather just draft a quarterback or plug Terrelle Pryor under center than trade for Flynn and his $5.25 million salary. Flynn is expected to remain in Seattle.

Per reporter Jason La Canfora, a trade could happen before the draft. Considering how quiet Flynn’s market has been, it’s surprising to see him connected to three teams in one fell swoop, so it’s possible the report is agent-driven. Nevertheless, Jacksonville, Oakland, and Buffalo are all QB-needy teams and could decide to part with a late-round pick instead of gambling an early-rounder on a project in a weak quarterback class. New Jaguars coach Gus Bradley was on Seattle’s staff last year, when Flynn was beaten out by Russell Wilson. We don’t see the Raiders trading for Flynn because GM Reggie McKenzie needs to keep his seven draft picks.

The Raiders have been most heavily connected to a Flynn trade, but former Packers personnel man Reggie McKenzie is their GM. A deal makes sense on the surface because of McKenzie’s quarterback need and Flynn familiarity, but he’s not going to give up a high or even middle-round pick for a passer he’s deemed incapable of starting-caliber performance. We’re still skeptical that Flynn will be traded ahead of the draft for anything more than a sixth-round pick.

Werder concedes the trade partner is “unknown,” but the Raiders have been most often linked to Flynn because of ex-Packers personnel man Reggie McKenzie’s familiarity with Aaron Rodgers’ former backup. If Oakland is indeed Flynn’s destination, Carson Palmer’s release would soon follow. Other clubs potentially interested in Flynn may include Jacksonville, Buffalo, the Jets, and Cincinnati.

La Canfora didn’t cite sources, so he may be reading the tea leaves. All signs continue to point toward Flynn being traded to Oakland. La Canfora also confirms any Flynn acquisition would mean Carson Palmer is “on his way out” of Oakland, perhaps to Arizona. La Canfora mentioned Tyler Thigpen as a potential 2013 backup for Russell Wilson. Thigpen is an unrestricted free agent.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora adds that the deal “remains very much alive pending contractual closure.” Oakland is expected to cough up two draft picks for the 28-year-old career backup. The two parties are still talking contract.

It means that the Raiders won’t have to surrender any 2013 selections, of which they have just four before the 205th pick. An agreement will likely be finalized some time over the next 48 hours.

Per Breer, Seattle has “done its part” in the Flynn deal. The draft-pick compensation is agreed upon, and it’s now up to Flynn and the Raiders to “push it over the goal line.” It sounds like Oakland and Flynn are in contract talks.

The trade is turning out to be not so “imminent.” Rapoport does report the sides are “nearly there,” and most signs still point to Oakland acquiring Flynn, ostensibly for two draft picks -- one in 2013 and another in 2014. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Vic Tafur confirms the deal remains in a “holding pattern,” and Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie is “in no rush.” McKenzie would be smart to sleep on this one. He’s sitting on the NFL’s weakest roster, has only three draft picks in the Top 171, and can’t afford to give up any of his seven overall selections. Signing free agent Kevin Kolb would be a better option than mortgaging more of the Raiders’ future for a similarly backup-caliber quarterback like Flynn.