Carson Palmer Raiders: Why Mike Brown Is Laughing at the Raiders Right Now

The Cincinnati Bengals have sent Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for a 2012 first-rounder and second-rounder in 2013 that can turn into a first-rounder based on performance.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has made it official after Jay Glazer sent the initial report to his Twitter followers. 

Yikes. 

Well, I guess Oakland really  wanted a quarterback—and to be fair, they needed one. 

But at that price?

Make sure you re-read what the Raiders are willing to give up for Palmer. 

Yeah—a first-rounder in the 2012 draft and possibly a first-rounder in 2013. 

With this trade complete, Oakland won't make a selection until the fifth round next year.

Both teams are 4-2—you tell me which club is moving in the right direction. 

I know their young players are starting to live up to their potential, but seriously, the Raiders aren't the Patriots just yet.

In fact, New England is always stock-piling their draft picks, not giving them away.

Remember that the Raiders are receiving Carson Palmer in this deal, not Aaron Rodgers.

Palmer has battled a multitude of injuries and is coming off a year in which he was booed continuously in his own stadium.

Then he quit on his team prior to this season and demanded to be traded.

Not exactly going to Oakland with tons of momentum.

And he turns 32 in December.

I know they've displayed flashes of something great this year, but will the Raiders ever look at the future?

Bengals owner Mike Brown has got to be loving this. He already has his quarterback of the future and star wideout for the next decade in Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.

Now, his team has two first-round picks in the 2012 draft and possibly an extra first in 2013. 

What more could you want for a guy who wasn't even playing for you?

Things are looking up in Cincinnati—they're above .500, and the future looks tremendously bright after this lop-sided deal.

Also, the Raiders will assume the remaining $7.44 million of Palmer's 2011 salary (as John Clayton points out, Oakland will need to do some restructuring).

Brown hasn't exactly been the most popular person in Cincinnati over the years, but the collective opinion of him should be changing today. 

For the Raiders, they must think that reuniting Palmer with his assistant coach from 2004-2006 could get them to the playoffs and beyond. 

Because if it doesn't happen, they'll look like the same old dysfunctional Raiders once again. 

For the Bengals, a deal for the ages. 

You'd better believe Brown is chuckling at his desk right now.