NFL Rumors: 10 QBs for the Cincinnati Bengals If Carson Palmer Leaves
The Cincinnati Bengals are in a bind.
Their franchise quarterback Carson Palmer wants out of town according to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Big time.
Palmer has let the management and ownership know that if he wasn’t traded, he would retire. Cincinnati television station WCPO also reported that he has put his house on the market to be sold.
I don’t think he will go anywhere but if the management decides to move him, there are plenty of players who would fit into their scheme just fine.
The following list is of the top 10 replacements for Carson Palmer on the Cincinnati Bengals.
10. Troy Smith
Troy Smith got to show some of the talent that he has this season with the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers have high draft picks so if new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh wants to make a huge splash, he could move either Smith or picks to Cincinnati for Palmer.
It would be a wild deal but Palmer is from California so he would go along with it if the management of the Bengals approves it.
9. Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick may not be a big name in college football so a lot of people may not know who he is coming into the NFL draft.
Kaepernick is not a joke though. He is 6’6” and a powerful force on the field.
ESPN draft Guru Mel Kiper Jr. has Kaepernick as the fifth best quarterback available in this draft.
The Bengals could trade down to draft Kaepernick and send Palmer elsewhere to address other key problems that the team is facing.
8. Cam Newton
To utilize a term used in hockey a lot, Cam Newton is an enigma.
For those unclear what I mean, we have no idea what kind of player Cam Newton will be.
He has all of the size and strength you could ever want in a quarterback but he has had so many distractions and troubles follow him that he could be a bust.
Cincinnati loves taking chances on players and Newton might be a good fit.
7. Alex Smith
With the success of Aaron Rodgers, the 49ers organization must look down on Alex Smith and cry.
They will be trying to move him at all costs and, as I said with Troy Smith, Palmer is from California and would love that move.
He could slide in and work with new head coach Jim Harbaugh to instill a good mindset and work ethic.
6. Ryan Mallett
Ryan Mallett is one of the better prospects in this 2011 NFL draft and he is not getting the love he should be.
That might be a good thing for the Bengals as they could trade down or address another issue with their first-round pick.
Mallett had 3,869 passing yards this season for the Arkansas Razorbacks and added 32 touchdowns.
5. Donovan McNabb
After an ugly breakup with the Washington Redskins seems to be coming to a final end, Donovan McNabb will probably be running away from the east coast.
The Bengals have quality wide receivers and McNabb would come in and be solid for the Bengals.
McNabb had a down season with just 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
If Terrell Owens leaves, the transition from Palmer to McNabb would be relatively easy.
4. Jake Locker
Jake Locker may be a little shorter than Carson Palmer but their style of play is very similar.
Locker has a big, strong arm and can be more mobile than Palmer at times. The one glaring weakness in pre-combine workouts has been accuracy.
Last season for the Washington Huskies, Locker had 2,265 passing yards and added 17 touchdowns to finish off an impressive college career.
3. Chad Henne
The Miami Dolphins may be looking to make a big move this offseason at quarterback and Carson Palmer might be an intriguing move for them.
That would put Chad Henne on the Bengals and that might bring the best out of Henne.
Henne dealt with Brandon Marshall in Miami and that might be a good way to deal with Chad Ochocinco.
2. Matt Hasselbeck
Pete Carroll is the head man in Seattle. Before that, he was the head coach at USC for years and had Carson Palmer as his quarterback.
With all of this said, Matt Hasselbeck would look good in black and orange.
This deal putting Hasselbeck on the Bengals would be hard to pull off but Seattle could make an interesting package up if Carroll wants Palmer that badly.
1. Kevin Kolb
Kevin Kolb could be had if the price is right for the Bengals.
The Bengals are looking to rebuild and Kolb would be a great piece to build around. You could deal Palmer for picks and use those picks to acquire him from the Eagles.
Palmer could land in Arizona or San Francisco and their picks could end up in Philadelphia.