Arizona Cardinals snap up veteran quarterback Carson Palmer

New York: The NFC West continued to be National Football League’s hottest division for offseason moves as the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers made major acquisitions on Tuesday.

The Cardinals acquired quarterback Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders for a conditional pick in the 2014 draft. The Raiders will receive a seventh-round draft pick if Palmer starts 13 games for the Cardinals in the 2013 season.

The 33-year-old veteran had refused the Raiders’ request to accept a pay cut from the $13 million (Dh47.7 million) he was owed in 2013.

CBSSports.com reported Palmer will make up to $20 million over two seasons with the Cardinals. NFL.com indicated that $10 million is guaranteed.

A Palmer trade was anticipated after the Raiders acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from Seattle on Monday.

Palmer was effective in 2011 in his first year as the Raiders’ starter, passing for 4,018 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games, but the team struggled in his two seasons.

In San Francisco, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the 49ers.

Asomugha can earn up to an additional $1.65 million in incentives. He will also be paid $4 million in 2013 by the Philadelphia Eagles, who released him earlier this offseason.

Asomugha, who was a disappointment after signing a five-year, $60 million contract with the Eagles two years ago, also visited the New Orleans Saints in free agency.