2. Carson Palmer
During the 2011 season, a few weeks after Legendary owner Al Davis passed away, the Raiders found themselves in tough spot after QB Jason Campbell broke his collarbone 6 games into the season. First year head coach Hugh Jackson who was also making player personnel decisions, decided to go after recently retired Bengals QB Carson Palmer.
Palmer essentially told Bengals owner to trade him or he would retire. After rookie QB Andy Dalton balled out and showed promise, the team granted Palmer his wishes and traded him to the Raiders. In return they received Oakland’s 2012 1st round pick and 2013 2nd round pick that could turn into a 1st if the Raiders won a playoff game the previous year.
The Raiders bet the farm on Carson Palmer and it did not pay off. They finished that season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. The following year they went 4-12 and Palmer ended his tenure in Oakland with 6,771 yards, 33 TDs and 30 INT.
He was later traded to the Cardinals for pennies on the dollar, flip flopping a 7th with Arizona’s 6th round pick in 2013 and gaining a 7th rounder in 2014.