Instead of releasing Carson Palmer like they intended to, the Oakland Raiders found a way to get something out of the Arizona Cardinals for the declining quarterback, who’ll probably be the starter for the team in 2013, while the San Francisco 49ers finally ended the negotiations with Nnamdi Asomugha, coming out as the winner for the cornerback out of the variety of chasers.

Meanwhile, the Raiders kept busy by signing Tracy Porter to improve their cornerback situation, and the Bufallo Bills added defensive tackle, Alan Branch, to try and get them out of the AFC East cellar.

Palmer Trade

Palmer was due to make $13 million next season with the Raiders, which would have cut him if they wouldn’t have managed to find a trading partner. In came the Arizona Cardinals, who did acquire Drew Stanton, but Bruce Arians knows it wasn’t enough. Palmer was traded for the Cardinals sixth round pick (one of two), while the Raiders sent a seventh round pick along with the quarterback. Furthermore, the Raiders will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2014 draft if Palmer starts 13 games for Arizona in 2013.

Palmer signed a new contract with Arizona, taking a paycut that takes him to $16 million for a couple of years, with the option to cut him after the first season if things don’t work out, or the offensive line is as bad as it was last season.

Nnamdi Asomugha Finds a Team

He was going to take a huge pay cut in order to find a team, but Nnamdi Asomugha isn’t that bad of a player, despite the last couple of disappointing seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. After having plenty of teams chase him around, the former Pro Bowler signed a one year deal worth $3 million with the San Francisco 49ers, hoping that in their system, he’ll look like one of the best defensive backs in the NFL once more.

Asomugha is due to earn a base package of $1.35 million with salary and bonuses, and could make an additional $1.65 million in incentives for playing time, awards such as the Pro Bowl and reaching the playoffs.  He had been scheduled to make $15 million this season, including $4 million guaranteed, after signing a $60 million, five-year deal with the Eagles in 2011.

Tracy Porter and Alan Branch

Porter, a five year NFL veteran with a Super Bowl win on his resume from his time with the New Orleans Saints. After signing with the Denver Broncos, a preseason seizure derailed his career and the trust in him, giving him limited playing time during the 2012 season. Now Porter hopes that the Raiders, showing renewed faith in him with a contract worth $2.5 million, will get to see the guy that impressed for the Saints.

Alan Branch, who did a decent job for the Seattle Seahawks over the last couple of seasons, changed conferences, joining the Buffalo Bills, signing a one-year contract worth $3 million, with $350,000 in incentives. He has started 31 games over the past two seasons for Seattle, registering 64 tackles and four sacks, including a career-best three in 2011. Joining a talented defensive line with Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus, the Bills are hoping Branch can fix their leaky run defense, ranked 31st in the NFL last season.