NFL Trade Deadline: Why Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals Were Biggest Winners

If there's a good time to be a Bengals fan in the 21st century, now is the time.

Yeah it was probably nice winning two AFC North titles in 2005 and 2009, but bowing out in the wild card round didn't make the division title seem any more special.

And now that Carson Palmer is finally out of Mike Brown and the City of Cincinnati's grill, they can move on with the very, very prosperous future.

Right now the Bengals are playing solid football at 4-2, especially with a rookie starting QB (Andy Dalton) and WR (A.J. Green), as well as a second year TE in Jermaine Gresham.

Now include their Top 10 defense, and despite a tough second half schedule this season, Cincinnati should still be able to finish around 9-7 or 10-6.

They have an outside shot at the postseason, but are still about one year away from really coming onto the scene as an AFC title contender.

Which is where the Carson Palmer trade of 2011 comes in.

For Palmer, Cincy is receiving a 2012 first round pick from Oakland, and a potential first round pick in 2013.

So in the next two consecutive NFL Draft's the Bengals have stock-piled four first round picks, because each team obviously still has their own picks.

The Bengals won this trade—although Oakland did okay too—and won over all other NFL trades this season.

Owner Mike Brown has a team that could potentially make the postseason in 2011, then have two first-rounders for the 2012 draft, then do even better in 2012.

Then, there's still two more first round picks to use in the 2013 draft, which will bode well for the 2013 season. By then you have to anticipate that Cincinnati will be one of the better teams in the AFC.

That being said, there's going to be added expectations/pressure on them to succeed both on the field as well as off the field in drafting the right player.

If the Bengals do end up disappointing, that generalization will be the understatement of professional football in the 21st century.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

And, you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.