Carson Palmer to Raiders Trade: Why Mike Brown Was Smart to Break Down, Deal QB

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Carson Palmer is now an Oakland Raider:

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"Carson Palmer to the Raiders now official. Compensation expected to be a 1 in 2012 and a conditional 1 in 2013."

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Both teams definitely improve from the trade, but Cincinnati got the better end of the deal.

Sure it was tough for Bengals' owner Mike Brown to swallow his pride with Carson Palmer; however, Brown may have gotten the biggest laugh.

In an article on ESPN that included information from Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen, and John Clayton, Cincinnati would love for Oakland to win a playoff game in 2011:

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"The first first-round pick is in 2012 and the other is a conditional first-round pick in 2013. Palmer was in the Bay Area on Tuesday morning getting a physical before the deal could be completed.

According to a source, if the Raiders win a playoff game in the 2011 season, the Bengals would get a first-round draft pick in 2013. If the Raiders don't win a playoff game in the 2011 season then the Bengals would receive a second-round pick in 2013."

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So because of that, Cincinnati got the better end of a solid deal which helps both teams.

As for now, the Bengals are also 4-2 along with Oakland and it appears their future is now much, much brighter. The Bengals have a solid future with QB Andy Dalton, WR A.J. Green, and TE Jermaine Gresham to go with a Top 10 defense.

Now include potentially two additional first round picks. If you're a Bengals' fan, life is good.

There's a good chance that Cincy is in the playoff hunt this season, and let's hypothetically say that Oakland does win a playoff game.

That gives the Bengals two first-rounders in 2012 and 2013, for a total of four first-rounders.

If you don't improve from that within the next couple of seasons based on how well 2011 is progressing, Cincinnati will be a vehement disappointment.

Obviously all this remains to be seen and the worst-case scenario for Cincinnati from the trade is three first-rounders and two second-rounders in the next two drafts combined.

Either way they are in a great position, the question is whether these good decisions will carry over into drafting the right prospect.

Because as we all know, the NFL Draft is an inexact science that honestly cannot be understood since you never know how a pick is going to turn out.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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