Las Vegas Raiders April Fools: 5 worst free agent signings in history

Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks threw for 238 yards as the Houston Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders by a score of 23 to 14 at McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, California, December 3, 2006. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks threw for 238 yards as the Houston Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders by a score of 23 to 14 at McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, California, December 3, 2006. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
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KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Aaron Brooks #2 of the Oakland Raiders scrambles against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 19, 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 17-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Aaron Brooks #2 of the Oakland Raiders scrambles against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 19, 2006 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 17-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

3. Aaron Brooks, QB, New Orleans Saints

Aaron Brooks was a perfectly capable quarterback with the New Orleans Saints that was never elite. He was a great athlete with a big arm and Al Davis must have envisioned him leading the Raiders back to glory with all of the physical tools at his disposal.

In six years with the Saints, five of them as the starter, Brooks put up solid numbers and threw for nearly 4,000 yards on two occasions but was never what you would call an accomplished passer. After being released by the Saints in 2005 the Raiders gave Brooks a two-year, $9 million to replace Kerry Collins and in a what could have been moment pursued him over Drew Brees.

Brooks was saddled with a poor supporting cast in Oakland and never came close to replicating the success he had in New Orleans. He always struggled with accuracy with a career completion percentage of just 56% and that continued in Oakland. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns, 8 to 3, in eight starts with the Raiders and was released after just one season.

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