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The Worst Trade For Every NFL Team In History

By Erik Lambert

31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /
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ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Kevin Kolb #4 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts after being sacked during the game against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome on October 4, 2012 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Kevin Kolb #4 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts after being sacked during the game against the St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome on October 4, 2012 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

An NFL team can be made or broken for years to come if they make the wrong trade. It can set them back for any length of time.

That’s why they’re so hesitant to make bold moves. They’re too afraid of being wrong. Then again there are also those who tend to be too aggressive for their own good, giving up astronomical packages in the name of landing what they think is a star. No doubt the Oakland Raiders and their Khalil Mack trade will be heavily scrutinized for the next several years.

That brings up an interesting question. People always talk about the best trades teams ever made. What about the once they wish every day they could take back? The ones that burned the franchise both publicly and on the field. Trades that may have even cost them a chance at a Super Bowl. There are plenty such examples on this list.

Arizona Cardinals

1. player. 32. . QB. Arizona Cardinals. Kevin Kolb

Losing a Hall of Fame quarterback is always a big problem that isn’t easy to get over. The Arizona Cardinals felt it for the first time in their history when Kurt Warner chose to retire before the 2010 season after three great years with the team in which he led them to the playoffs twice and the Super Bowl in 2008. They soon learned what they were losing.

That year the Cardinals crumbled to 5-11 and had the second-worst passing offense in the league with Derek Anderson and John Skelton. Still feeling they had a window to compete, they had to find a quarterback going into 2011. Not wanting to start over with a rookie in the draft, they instead sought out trade options and eventually settled on Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb.

The former 2nd round pick had spent most of his career behind Donovan McNabb but after the ascent of Michael Vick the year before, it became clear he’d never get his shot. So Arizona pounced, sending a 2nd rounder and Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to Philadelphia in exchange. What did they get?

Kolb managed to start just 14 games in two years, battling injuries and inconsistency the whole way. He did have four comebacks in the 4th quarter and an 83.2 quarterback rating. Yet after what they had with Warner it wasn’t good enough and wasn’t worth what they lost.

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