Carson Palmer Trade: 5 Reasons Cincinnati Got the Better End of the Deal

Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that the Cincinnati Bengals are on the verge of trading Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for a 2012 first round pick and a conditional 2013 first round pick.

This is huge return for a player on the downside of his career that never really brought Cincinnati the kind of success expected of him.

Palmer has been voluntarily semi-retired for the entire 2011 season and will be taking over an Oakland team in desperate need of a quarterback.

The emergence of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green made Palmer more than expendable for Cincinnati. Most people didn’t expect the Bengals to trade him and nobody expected them to receive not just one, but two first round picks.

The recent Brandon Lloyd for a sixth round pick shows you exactly how valuable the Raiders consider Palmer to their future plans.

The Bengals will now be the third team to have two first-round picks in the 2012 draft, joining Cleveland and New England.

Here are five reasons the Bengals just got the best of the Oakland Raiders.

1. Carson Palmer Isn't That Good

Anybody that watched Palmer throw the ball last year knows that he is just not that good. He threw 20 interceptions last season, but could have easily had over 30 if not for so many dropped interceptions by opposing defenses.

Last year at least had Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley.

Quick, name the leading receiver for the Oakland Raiders.

2. There Wasn't Any Guarantee That the Bengals Would Receive Anything for Him

The Bengals were in a situation where they may not have received anything for Palmer.  Palmer was set to never play again, and the emergence of Andy Dalton has made Palmer and his bloated contract more than expendable.

3. Bengals Now Have Two Picks in a Loaded Draft

The Bengals should now receive two mid round draft picks in a loaded 2012 draft.

Potential defensive stars like Quinton Coples, Vontaze Burfict, Luke Kuechly, Manti Te’o, Zach Brown, Jared Crick, Morris Claiborne and Andre Branch should all be options the Bengals consider to help bolster a defense that is already one of the best in football.

4. No More Shadow over Andy Dalton

Dalton has been playing in Palmer’s shadow all season long. Everyone has quietly wondered what would happen if Palmer came out of retirement. Would the Bengals just give him back the starting job? Has Dalton played well enough to retain it?

All of those questions are gone now and there is not any doubt that this is Andy Dalton’s team; for better or worse

5. Brandon Lloyd Was Only Worth a Sixth Round Pick

We’re living in an NFL world where Brandon Lloyd was just traded for a sixth round pick, yet the Bengals were able to get two first round picks from Oakland. This is an amazing haul for a mediocre player. The Raiders have mortgaged their future on a player that literally just quit on his team.

Good luck with that Oakland.

Who Dey!