Carson Palmer, Drew Bledsoe, and Relocating Franchise Quarterbacks

The Patriots traded away Drew Bledsoe, and then beat up on him for the next three years.

There are plenty of reasons to criticize the Raiders for their blockbuster Carson Palmer trade yesterday, and by now you've probably heard most of them.  Palmer hasn't been an elite quarterback since 2006, the last time he had a passer rating over 90.  Past injuries to his knee and elbow have sapped most of his throwing ability.  Hue Jackson doesn't realize how far Palmer has fallen in the five years since they last worked together.  After holding out for over two months, there's no way Palmer can learn a playbook and get in football shape in a few days. 

(Sidenote: It shocks me that Palmer's reputation hasn't taken a bigger hit for holding out.  He deserves as much criticism as Osi Umenyiora, Logan Mankins, and any other veteran who has selfishly refused to honor his contract.  I assume it's a combination of the country's apathy towards the Bengals and its sympathy for the prototypical "All-American" white quarterback.)

The Raiders now have zero picks in the first four rounds of the upcoming draft.  They haven't come close to the playoffs in years, yet they've mortgaged their future to win now.  Will it work?

 

Anyone who's been reading this blog knows that I love drawing historical comparisons for current league developments.  In this case, I am reminded of the Bills trading a first round pick to get Drew Bledsoe in 2002.  Like Palmer, Bledsoe was a No. 1 draft pick who had given way to a young successor.  Like Palmer, Bledsoe, once considered a franchise quarterback, had declined in recent years.  The Patriots considered Bledsoe enough of a non-threat to deal him to a division rival, and the Bengals just traded Palmer to another wild card contender.

We all know how things went in Buffalo.  Bledsoe had moderate success in three seasons there, throwing for 55 touchdowns and 43 interceptions .  But his record was a middling 23-25, and the Bills drafted J.P. Losman in the first round just two years after the trade.  With Buffalo's first pick, the Patriots drafted defensive end Ty Warren, who became a staple of their defensive line for the next seven seasons.  Bledsoe went 1-5 against his former team before he was cut.

I understand why the Raiders made this move.  For the first time since 2002, they have a real chance of making the playoffs.  They're trying to get a new stadium, and there's no better way to sell tickets than acquiring their first franchise quarterback since Rich Gannon.  But once-elite quarterbacks rarely recapture their glory in a new setting.  In the long-term, the player rarely outweighs the picks.  Given how much the Raiders gave up for him, I'd be surprised if Palmer bucks that trend.

Image found here.