So, inevitably, we’ll have to listen to plenty of discussion on who got the better end of the deal.

Naturally, that argument is all Oakland for the moment. Palmer might not ever be worth what he was traded for but as of now he’s actually helped Oakland win a game or two and is a proven commodity. Kirkpatrick comes with plenty of promise and some concerns as well but the proof is on the field in pads, not on a stage in New York when guys wear ball caps and suits.

For those that want to play the What-if game keep in mind if Jackson didn’t push that panic button then chances are the Raiders would have been picking a little higher than 17^th. But for argument’s sake we’ll entertain the Raiders drafting in the slot they gifted to the Bengals.

During the NFL Combine the Raiders did interview Kirkpatrick who plays a position of need for Oakland. It stands to reason that Reggie McKenzie might have gone the same way had he still owned Oakland’s original pick. Supposedly McKenzie also valued another Alabama defender in pass rusher Courtney Upshaw. Perhaps that is the man Oakland would have gone with though he’s still available as the second day of the draft starts.

This entire process is just one big guessing game with no right answers. But that won’t stop the talk.

Just wait until you go through your daily routine on a Sunday morning in November. There will be the obligatory split screen images of Carson Palmer warming up and Kirkpatrick stretching while the broadcast team rambles on about the trade. That will be just one of many plotlines discussed when Palmer returns to his former home.

And the best part of all is that we get to do this all over again next year when the Bengals use their second round pick they got from Oakland. Get ready to hear all of this rehashed next time with a little more clarity on the Palmer-Kirkpatrick comparison.

Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Reggie McKenzie has recently stated that if he had the opportunity to use the Raider’s long lost 17th overall pick, he would’ve chosen Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. This is no surprise as the Raider’s recently lost their top OLB, Kamerion Wimbley. It also makes sense since they will be dabbling with a 3-4 defensive scheme with Allen as the new head coach.

Although Courtney Upshaw would be a perfect fit for the Raider’s new scheme, the problem is we don’t have that pick at number 17 overall. Oakland’s first pick comes at 95th overall, the last pick that will air on your television sets on day 2. So what can we take from McKenzie being quoted on liking Upshaw at 17? He may want to select an OLB with pick number 95. Who can mirror the size, intelligence and tackling ability of the Alabama standout? Probably no one but there are some mid to late round picks that could fill the position for the Raiders. Here are a list of the few players the Raiders may have the opportunity to take at pick #95.

Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia: This guy will most likely fit in playing as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme as opposed to playing as a DE. He posted a quick 40 yard dash of 4.5, about .2 seconds faster than McKenzie’s dream pick, Upshaw. He also has an inch on Upshaw but weighs about 25 pounds less (explaining the difference in speed). This guy is projected to go anywhere from late 2nd round to anywhere in the 3rd round so the chances that he falls in the arms of the Raiders is slim, but possible. I can’t imagine McKenzie and the Raiders passing on this prospect if he was to be there at the end of day 2. Smart and safe pick this late in the draft.

Sean Spence, OLB, Miami: Spence could be the next great linebacker to come out of the U, following in the footsteps of Ray Lewis, D.J. Williams and others. Sean Spence is a guy with very solid leadership qualities, physical ability and a great football IQ. Standing at just under 6’0 and weighing around 230 lbs., he is slightly undersized for an NFL OLB but he makes up for it with his play. Great decision maker, plays sideline to sideline and has a lot of pop on his tackle for his small size.

Bobby Wagner, OLB/ILB, Utah State: Wagner is a physical specimen who runs a 4.46 40 yard dash and had a 39 1/2 inch vertical leap. Very physically strong player with a lot of power behind his tackles but falls into the same size category as Spence at just 6’0 234 lbs. Undersized for an inside linebacker so he will most likely move to a permanent OLB at the next level. Wagner has a lot of developing to do with his football IQ but is a natural tackler and is great in pursuit. He might just be one of those draft gambles that can pay off or leave you burying your head at the craps table.

Overall, I think Irvin would be the best pick for the Raiders if he’s there at 95. Wagner and Spence would also be good pics but may not be ready to start right out of the gate. Reggie has been quoted saying that he will take the best player left on the board regardless of the position, leaving me to think that if Irvin is gone, McKenzie could go after a TE, CB, RB or a number of other positions. I can’t help but wonder if McKenzie is going to stick to his strategy or if his draft day excitement will have him picking by positional need.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Reggie McKenzie is playing the ‘what if’ game. As in what if the Raiders still owned the 17^th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Turns out mock drafts aren’t done only by obsessive fans and Mel Kiper. McKenzie told the Chronicle that if the Raiders had their first round selection that Alabama pass rusher Courtney Upshaw would have been the pick.

But the pick Upshaw wouldn’t have been a slam dunk.

McKenzie goes on to say that Upshaw would have been the choice by barely beating out Stanford guard David DeCastro.

This game of fantasy drafting doesn’t mean much but it does indicate what McKenzie is thinking.

DeCastro has the look of a guy that will start every game of a very productive pro career. To plug him in with Stefen Wisniewski would have the Raiders set on the interior of the offensive line for the next decade. But DeCastro ultimately wouldn’t have been a Raider, unless Upshaw came off the board first.

That is where McKenzie’s game of fantasy draft falls apart. There is no telling what would happen on draft day. For all we know McKenzie might not have even had the chance to grab DeCastro or Upshaw.

Still, that Upshaw is that high on Oakland’s board says a lot.

Most see Upshaw as a hybrid, 3-4 player that would lineup outside being able to rush from both a standing position and with one hand in the dirt. Clearly the Raiders are looking for a pass rusher to replace Kamerion Wimbley and there are strong indications that Dennis Allen is going to be running some form of the 3-4. That much is very obvious by the type of prospects the Raiders have been looking at leading up to the draft. Now comes McKenzie’s mock to further that speculation.

While McKenzie’s mock is little more than a brief conversation piece it does show just where Oakland’s priorities are with the 95^th pick. But like McKenzie, we’ll all have to wait it out until the Raiders are officially on the clock Friday.