As a Raiders fan I'm okay with this trade even though we overpaid. Our track record with 1st round picks over the last 10 years has been spotty at best. So far, only two of those picks have turned into stars: McFadden and Asomugha....the verdict is still out on McClain.
Hell, I would gladly package any combination of 2 or 3 of the remaining 7 for Palmer.
As for Palmer being on his last legs.....keep these in mind:
Kurt Warner...was much oldere than Palmer
Jim Plunkett...1 year older than Palmer and had been out of the league 1 year.
Daryle Lamonica
All of these guys had been written off as past there prime, etc and proved everyone wrong.
I say give Carson a chance before he's written off.