Carson Palmer Trade: Are Bengals Set for Future Super Bowl After Owning Raiders?

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to trade Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders. Since they're potentially getting two first-round picks in return, one has to wonder if they're headed for future Super Bowls? 

It's very early, but it's easy to see the Bengals are big-time winners in this deal, and if they draft well they're headed for great success.  

Fox Sports Jay Glazer first reported via Twitter the Raiders were about to make a deal for Palmer, and ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted the news once it was made official. 

I'll admit that I was wrong. I never thought Bengals' owner Mike Brown would deal Palmer. He has been so adamant about not trading him. 

But Brown finally stopped being so stubborn the day of the NFL trade deadline, and it was a very wise move on his part. 

How could Brown not take this deal? He's getting another first round pick for the 2012 draft. While it's a second-rounder for 2013, it can turn into a first-rounder depending on Palmer's play-time and other incentives. 

Of course the Raiders are going to play Palmer a ton, so it should be two first-round picks for the Bengals, and they would be very dumb to pass that up. 

The Raiders are basically throwing away the 2012 draft to hope that Palmer can carry them to the postseason. 

It's possible, but there's no guarantee.

Raiders' first-year head coach Hue Jackson has experience with Palmer, but it's uncertain if he'll be getting the Palmer he used to work with, or the one that's been on the decline. 

If Palmer turns out to play like he did around 2005, then this deal can be justified: Oakland will become a serious threat in the NFL. 

For the Bengals, they know they have Palmer's replacement in Andy Dalton, and now they get a great opportunity to build a stronger club.

Having two first-round picks two years in a row gives the Bengals a lot of room to play around and possibly trade up to get that one player they desperately need.

Sitting at 4-2 right now and second in the AFC North, the Bengals have yet to play the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens. They will have to play them in back-to-back weeks in the next month.

Several people expected the Bengals to be one of the worst teams in the league, but Dalton has proved his doubters wrong by playing some great football. Having a very reliable receiver like A.J. Green certainly helps.

A lot will depend on who the Bengals draft in the coming years, but being a threat in the division is not out of reach.

As far as future Super Bowls go, it's still very early on that one, but it's not out of the question.

Dalton will have to keep playing well and avoid the dreaded sophomore slump, as will Green. 

Cincinnati has a Top 10 defense right now, but they need to improve their pass rush. If they can do that and get a another big playmaker, then the Bengals will be back as one of the top teams in the league.