Jason Campbell: Oakland Raiders get QB in trade with Washington Redskins - ESPN

Oakland Raiders get quarterback Jason Campbell in trade with Washington Redskins - ESPN

The Oakland Raiders, after making a deal that shipped out their leading tackler for the past four years, added a possible starting quarterback Saturday in a deal with the Washington Redskins for Jason Campbell.

In acquiring Campbell, the Raiders added a year to his existing contract, the quarterback told ESPN.com's Matt Mosley. He will make $4.5 million in 2011.

"I look at this as getting to start over," Campbell told Mosley via phone. "I talked to Mr. [Al] Davis, and he wanted me for two years. He wants me to help their team to a new level."

Campbell had already signed the Redskins' tender offer worth $3.1 million for 2010. Campbell said he and his agent, Joel Segal, had received interest from the Carolina Panthers on Friday until they selected Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen with the No. 48 overall pick.

When asked if he was promised the starting position by the Raiders, Campbell said he "got that feeling."


“
"Had I stayed [in Washington], there was no guarantee I was going to be the backup. Now I have a chance to go play for a team that really wants me.

”
-- Quarterback Jason Campbell

"I'm going to work hard to make sure that happens," said Campbell, who will compete with former No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who was benched last season.

The Redskins, who earlier this month acquired Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles, received a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

"Had I stayed [in Washington], there was no guarantee I was going to be the backup," Campbell told Mosley. "Now I have a chance to go play for a team that really wants me."

Campbell started 52 games for Washington since being a first-round pick in 2005. He has thrown for 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a career passer rating of 82.3. Campbell has been sacked 102 times since the start of the 2007 season, tied for third-most in the NFL in that span, behind Ben Roethlisberger and David Garrard.

Campbell is coming off his best season, completing 64.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 86.4. But the Redskins went 4-12 last season and coach Mike Shanahan was brought in to turn the team around. Shanahan decided to go with McNabb instead of Campbell.

Campbell has been hurt by the constantly changing offensive coordinators and schemes since his time in college at Auburn. Campbell will be playing in his ninth different offensive system and under his 10th coordinator since entering college.

Russell completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating that was the lowest in the league in 11 years. He has struggled with his weight and questions about his work ethic throughout his career and never developed into the franchise quarterback the Raiders expected when they drafted him in 2007.

In 31 career games, Russell has completed 52.1 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a 65.2 passer rating.

Russell has already been paid more than $36 million since being drafted in 2007. The Raiders still owe him $3 million in guaranteed money. If he makes the team, Russell will be paid $9.45 million next season.

The Raiders currently have five quarterbacks on the roster, with Russell, Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye and Kyle Boller.

Gradkowski had been expected to compete with Russell for the starting job before the trade for Campbell. Gradkowski hurt himself lifting weights this offseason and recently had surgery. He is expected to be fully recovered by training camp.

Meanwhile, the Raiders sent their starting middle linebacker, Kirk Morrison, to Jacksonville as the bartering got heavy in Round 4.

Oakland selected one of the draft's fastest players, wideout Jacoby Ford of Clemson, with the pick acquired from the Jaguars.

After the Raiders drafted Rolando McClain in the first round to take over at middle linebacker, Morrison became expendable.

"For me, it's a new beginning. I feel like I was drafted all over again," Morrison said. "I definitely didn't see a slip in my play. Now I can move to Jacksonville and show what I can do."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.