NFL roundup: Cardinals deal for Palmer; 49ers sign Asomugha

The NFC West continued to be NFL's hottest division for offseason moves as the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers made major acquisitions Tuesday.

The Cardinals acquired quarterback Carson Palmer from the Oakland Raiders for a conditional pick in the 2014 draft, while the 49ers and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract.

The Raiders will receive a seventh-round draft pick if Palmer starts 13 games for the Cardinals in the 2013 season.

Palmer met with the Cardinals on Monday night after earlier reports that a potential deal hit a snag. The 33-year-old veteran had refused the Raiders' request to accept a pay cut from the $13 million he was owed in 2013.

CBSSports.com reported that 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.

Asomugha can earn up to an additional $1.65 million in incentives, and 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.

In signing with the 49ers, however, he returns to the Bay Area, where he went to college at Cal and later emerged as one of the top cover corners in the NFL as a first-team All-Pro selection in 2008 and 2010 while with the Raiders.

--Cornerback Tracy Porter agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Raiders.

Porter, 26, played in only six games last season for Denver after he suffered a seizure in August. He has started 43 games during his five-year career and has been cleared to play in 2013.

--Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina was released by the Chicago Bears on the first day of offseason workouts at Halas Hall.

Toeaina started 24 of 36 games in which he played over five seasons in Chicago but played in only three games last season (two starts) before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

--The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on one-year contracts with wide receiver Kevin Walter and offensive lineman Chris Spencer.

Walter, 32, caught 41 passes for 518 yards and two touchdowns while starting 13 games last season for the Houston Texans.

Spencer, 31, has a chance to be a starter with the Titans after playing in 12 games, including five starts, for the Bears last season. He had been a regular starter for the Bears the previous six seasons.

--Running back Tashard Choice re-signed with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced. Contract terms were not disclosed.

Choice joined the Bills in November 2011 after the Washington Redskins released him. His best game with Buffalo came last year against the Cleveland Brwons in a 24-14 win when he rushed for 91 yards on 21 carries.

Since entering the NFL as a four-round draft pick by Dallas in 2008, Choice has run for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns on 326 carries and caught 76 passes for 559 yards.

--Defensive tackle Alan Branch agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills that could be worth as much as $3.35 million.

Branch was a critical cog in the Seattle Seahawks' defense in 2012 and was considered a priority to bring back. Branch also visited the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he would've been reunited with first-year head coach Gus Bradley. Bradley was previously Seattle's defensive coordinator.

The Bills also announced that tight end Dorin Dickerson signed a contract tender. He had nine receptions for 117 yards in 11 games for Buffalo in 2012.

--The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed unrestricted free agent kicker Nate Kaeding, defensive tackle Derek Landri, running back Brian Leonard, defensive end George Selvie and wide receiver Steve Smith.

Kaeding, an All-Pro selection in 2009, played in San Diego for nine seasons before he was released last October and then signed by the Miami Dolphins for the final two games of the 2012 season. He ranks second in NFL history in field-goal accuracy, making 181 of 210 attempts (.862) and trailing only Mike Vanderjagt (.865).

Smith has 245 receptions for 2,641 yards and 12 touchdowns in six NFL seasons. The former New York Giants receiver was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009 after a setting a team record with 107 receptions. He spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Rams.

Landri has started 23 games in six NFL seasons and has 197 career tackles and 8.0 sacks. Leonard, a six-year veteran, played in Cincinnati the past four seasons, rushing for 646 yards on 174 carries and catching 113 passes for 814 yards. Selvie was with the Jaguars in 2012 and for a portion of the 2011 season.

--The Jaguars signed defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks to a one-year deal.

Marks, a 26-year-old unrestricted free agent, had 41 tackles in 14 games with the Titans last season. The fifth-year pro was considered one of the top remaining free agent defensive tackles on the market.

--Veteran safety Usama Young and linebacker Chris Gocong were released by the Cleveland Browns, who also signed kickoff specialist Brandon Bogotay.

Gocong was on injured reserve all of last season. He ruptured his right Achilles in training camp. Acquired from the Eagles in 2010, Gocong started 32 games and had 141 tackles and 5.5 sacks with the Browns.

Young signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2011 and had 19 starts in two seasons. He was a third-round pick in 2007 and spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

--A doctor has written a letter to NFL teams clearing Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to pursue a football career "without restrictions."

Lotulelei, considered a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft later this month, was prohibited from working out at the Scouting Combine in February after a heart condition was discovered during testing.

Dr. Josef Stehlik of the University of Utah believes the abnormal test was caused by a viral infection.