NFL Trade Rumors: Should Seattle Seahawks Trade for Carson Palmer?

The NFL trading deadline is unlike many other sports in the sense that many big deals aren't typically completed in breakneck fashion like in baseball, for example.

That didn't stop NFL.com senior writer Gil Brandt from speculating on a few deals that "should" happen, however, with one of his headline trades being a move in which the Seattle Seahawks deal for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

In the trade, the Seahawks would acquire Palmer in exchange for surprising receiver Doug Baldwin and a couple of incentive-laden draft picks. Brandt argues that the Seahawks need a franchise quarterback and the 31-year-old Palmer fits the bill. 

In theory, the idea of the Seahawks trading for a quarterback makes sense, especially when you consider that starter Tarvaris Jackson could miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Seattle seems like a natural landing spot for Palmer, too, as he'd be reunited with Pete Carroll, his college coach at USC, and the Seahawks don't play in the AFC, which eliminates that roadblock for Bengals owner Mike Brown.

But even if Brown did a 180 and reversed his belief that Palmer shouldn't be rewarded for failing to fulfill his contract he signed with the Bengals, should the Seahawks go for a deal like the one Brandt laid out?

First, the price would have to be much steeper for the Seahawks to land Palmer. Picks that have incentives tied in probably won't do the trick, and as impressive as Baldwin has been in TWO career games, he's certainly not a tipping point for the deal. 

If the price is right, the Seahawks would have to consider such a deal, but it's not one I think they would or should pull the trigger on. 

At 31, Palmer has seen his better days as an NFL quarterback, and there's no guarantee that he's still capable of leading a franchise back to the playoffs. Since injuring his knee in the postseason a few years back, Palmer simply hasn't been the same. 

With a 2-3 record, the Seahawks aren't technically out of the playoff hunt. They are the defending NFC West champs and can still catch the 49ers, who are currently 4-1. But having the possibility and realizing the long shot in it all are two different things.

By trading for Palmer, the Seahawks would likely take themselves out of the running for a top quarterback in next April's draft. As dire a scenario as that sounds, it's the likely reality in Seattle. This team doesn't need an aging quarterback who quit on his franchise. They need high draft picks. 

And by all accounts, the chances of the Bengals reversing their hold on Palmer seems unlikely. So while Brandt lays out an interesting proposal, the chances of it happening are remote.

But if the chance does arrive for the Seahawks to get Palmer, the best move for their franchise would be to pass.