7 Worst NFL Free Agency Signings and Trades

The only thing that stinks about free agency in the NFL is the number of new jerseys that are created each year. If a fan purchased a Chad Johnson Bengals jersey last year, it has now become a collector’s item, as the former Ochocinco is now a member of the New England Patriots.

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha bolted the black hole in Oakland for greener pastures in Philly to join the Eagles. But while spending money on new jerseys may irritate some fans, how will these new players impact their new teams?

Will Vince Young’s arrival in Philly signal the end of the Michael Vick era? Is Albert Haynesworth really going to fit in as a Patriot?

Here are the seven worst free agency signings and trades of the season so far.

Albert Haynesworth Traded to Patriots

I honestly think that Haynesworth has the chance to become the beast of a player he was in Tennessee. His last two seasons as a Titan produced 14.5 sacks and almost 100 tackles. He has the ability to be a hell of a player for the Pats, but there always seems to be a “but” inserted after someone says his name.

His last season in D.C., Haynesworth was on the outs with the coaching staff and had no desire to play in the 3-4 defensive scheme the ‘Skins switched to last season. He’s playing in the 3-4 this year in New England, and one has to wonder will Albert have a blow-up if things start slow in N.E.

I think Pats head coach Bill Belichick may have bitten off more than he can chew with this one, but only time will tell how well Haynesworth performs as a Patriot.

Trent Edwards Signed by the Oakland Raiders

Edwards was signed by the Raiders yesterday to compete for the back-up spot in Oaktown. Quarterback Jason Campbell is the starter, and the only way he’ll lose his job to Edwards is if he gets injured or stinks it up worse than former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell.

Edwards is mediocre at best, and his best season came in 2008, when he passed for 2,699 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Here’s why I think the signing was bad. Vince Young was available for Oakland to take, and the team never winked an eye toward Young. For his career, VY has 30 wins and 17 losses.

Can’t say the same for Edwards.

Matt Hasselbeck Signed by the Titans

Hasselbeck is old, slow and injury prone. The Titans were willing to let go of a young quarterback who has a ton of potential to go after a 35-year-old broken down quarterback?

OK, that last part may have been a little harsh, but you get the picture. Last season, Hasselbeck tossed 17 interceptions compared to 12 touchdowns. However, he did lead the ‘Hawks to the playoffs, beating the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints.

I understand that quarterback Jake Locker is the future in Tennessee, but Hasselbeck is the present. Once the season starts, the Titans will see just how well Hasselbeck performs for them and how big of a mistake the team made in signing him.

Kevin Kolb Traded to Arizona

If an NFL player can grab a $63 million dollar contract off of playing in about 17 NFL games, then more power to him. Kolb was traded from the Eagles to the Cardinals for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second round draft pick.

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young was still available and would have come cheaper. He's a proven winner, but he was passed on for the potential of Kevin Kolb.

Kolb is being labeled as the savior in Arizona. He has to play well if the Cards have any shot at keeping wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald long term.

The sample size on Kolb is to small to warrant the type of contract he received, but potential is what got him the deal. He is a little mistake prone and takes a few too many chances.

The Cardinals chose Kolb to lead them back to the playoffs, but this time next year, we return to have the same conversation. When will the Cardinals return to the postseason?

Kyle Orton’s Failed Trade to Miami

Orton is one of the NFL’s most underrated quarterbacks. He can be streaky at times, but he’s worth the risk, if there’s any associated with him.

He had a few games for the Broncs last season where he completed less than 45 percent of his passes, but then he turns around to complete 70 percent of them three times last season.

Orton only tossed nine interceptions in 2010, and if the Dolphins really want to compete in the AFC East, they would have moved a few mountains to trade for Orton.

Willis McGahee Signing with Denver

McGahee’s best days are long over. He signed a three year contract with the Broncos worth $3 million in guaranteed money. McGahee hasn’t carried a heavy load since his first season as a Raven, when he was stuffed with almost 300 carries.

McGahee’s production has tapered off since then, and he reached a career low last year, when he was only fed the rock 100 times, averaging a paltry 3.8 yards per carry.

Broncos head coach John Fox enjoys running the rock, so I think that Willis will get his chance to show that he still has some fuel left in those legs. In the end, his tank will remain on empty, and the Broncos will end up cutting the running back either before season’s end or soon after its completion.

Nnamdi Asomugha Choosing Philly over Dallas

Jerry Jones must ache with pain from the soles of his feet to the top of his lifted scalp. The Cowboys need help at the cornerback position and having Asomugha’s presence would have given a serious boost to the Cowboys unbalanced secondary.

What makes this signing even worse is that the ‘Boys will have to face the Eagles twice and possibly a third time in the playoffs.

The Eagles now have three top tier cornerbacks on the roster, and the Cowboys have zero. Philly’s pretty close to making a serious run at a Super Bowl, and Dallas just seems to tread water.