Revisiting the Raiders-Bengals Trade for Carson Palmer

The NFL trade deadline doesn't always live up to the hype, but in 2011, football junkies were treated to a headline-grabber like no other.

Following a 2010 season in which the Cincinnati Bengals finished 4-12, quarterback Carson Palmer turned the league upside down by threatening to retire from football if Bengals owner Mike Brown didn't trade him. Cincy famously responded by dealing Palmer to the then-Oakland Raiders at the deadline. Now, with the sports world at a standstill, it's only right that we take a stroll down memory lane and determine who won this blockbuster deal.

Raiders-Bengals Carson Palmer Trade Details

• Raiders Received: quarterback Carson Palmer
• Bengals Received: a 2012 first-round draft pick and a 2013 second-round draft pick

In 2011, the Raiders were looking to light a spark under a team that had playoff aspirations. Trading for Palmer, a two-time Pro Bowler at the time, seemed like the best way to do just that. However, it didn't exactly pan out for Oakland.

The Raiders faltered with Palmer under center, losing four of their last five games and missing out on the playoffs with an 8-8 overall record. While the spotlight was on Oakland and Palmer, the Bengals actually managed to sneak into the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the AFC at 9-7 with Andy Dalton under center.

Cincinnati would go on to draft cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 17 overall) with that 2012 first-rounder they acquired in the trade. Though he never made a Pro Bowl, Kirkpatrick was productive for the Bengals. In eight seasons with the organization, the Alabama product logged 254 solo tackles, 10 interceptions, and 65 pass deflections. Ironically enough, Kirkpatrick was released just this week.

With its second-round pick acquired in the deal, Cincinnati drafted running back Giovani Bernard, one of the best pass-catching RBs the league has to offer. He remains with the team today.

Who won the Raiders-Bengals Carson Palmer Trade?

The Bengals ended up absolutely fleecing the Raiders, and it's not really up for debate. With no starting QB in place, Cincinnati selected Dalton in the second round of the 2011 draft, and though it didn't seem like it at the time, trading Palmer was crucial to the team's five-year playoff run from 2011-2015.

Palmer, on the other hand, finished 8-16 in two seasons with Oakland, throwing 35 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. The Bengals made out like bandits in this 2011 deadline blockbuster, period.