The NFL has kicked off their free agency period for 2019 with a bang. As deals were agreed to in principle during the legal tampering period, big money was flying around as teams tried to make themselves better for next season.
But not all deals agreed to and signed were the greatest. There’s the chance some of these contracts turn from Cinderella’s coach into pumpkins pretty quickly.
These 11 signings have the biggest potential to be the busts we talk about next offseason.
RB Le’Veon Bell, Jets
Though Bell didn’t get the same rate he was offered by the Steelers previously, New York still paid him handsomely. After a year sitting out and more than 1,500 carries over five seasons, there are question marks on if Bell will return to form in 2019. Even if he does play well next season, how long can he keep that up before his second-highest APY among running backs looks like a bad deal?
DL Za’Darius Smith, Packers
Smith had a breakout season for the Ravens in 2018, totaling 8.5 sacks as a rotational pass rusher. But his $16.5 million-per-year contract with Green Bay pays him like he’s one of the league’s best outside linebackers. Smith will be forced into the starting lineup immediately and be expected to produce from Week 1. Anything below double-digit sacks each season would be a huge disappointment.
QB Nick Foles, Jaguars:
Foles becomes one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league on a four-year deal worth $88 million. Though he’s a Super Bowl MVP, Foles hasn’t ever really been the leader of a franchise before like he will now. He’ll face even more scrutiny on a team with a stellar defense that should have Super Bowl aspirations quickly. Since Jacksonville is leaning heavily on Foles being their franchise quarterback, he’ll have to deliver immediately.
LB C.J. Mosley, Jets
Mosley became the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL by a wide margin. The five-year, $85 million deal far surpassed what many expected he’d get in free agency. While a consistent and healthy linebacker for Baltimore, he’ll have to step his game up massively in coverage to make this a good signing at this value.
WR Devin Funchess, Colts
Funchess has largely been a disappointment for the Carolina Panthers. In four seasons with the Panthers, he’s totaled 2,233 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns on 161 receptions. Even though the wide receiver free agent market was thin this offseason, Funchess’s one-year deal worth $13 million is far more than what we’ve seen for that level of production even this year. At that rate, Funchess will be asked to have the most productive season of his career.
OT Bobby Hart, Bengals
You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone super excited about this signing. Hart was downright bad for Cincinnati last season, which makes his re-signing a surprise. But a three-year deal at $7 million-per-season is starter money. It’s a contract that already has many ripping the Bengals at a time when the benefit of the doubt is at its highest.
DL Trey Flowers, Lions
Flowers was considered one of the top free agents this offseason and got paid like it. Detroit gave Flowers a five-year, $90 million with $56 million in guaranteed money. As one of the highest-paid defensive ends in the league now, Flowers is automatically on this list. He’ll have to do better than the 6.5 sacks he had last season for the New England Patriots to warrant that much money
LB Kwon Alexander, 49ers
Alexander is a solid inside linebacker when healthy. The problem is Alexander has missed 14 games over the last two seasons and is fresh off an ACL tear last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The first inside linebacker to agree to a deal, Alexander reset the market which eventually helped Mosley get an even bigger deal. But Alexander will have to not only start every game for San Francisco, he’s going to have to be at his best to warrant his $13.5 million-per-year contract.
WR Tyrell Williams, Raiders
Williams only marginally produced in the Los Angeles Chargers’ high-flying offense over the last two years. In the last two seasons, Williams has 84 receptions for 1,381 yards and nine touchdowns. Even when injuries forced him further up the depth chart in 2016, Williams barely reached 1,000 yards.
Paired up now with Antonio Brown, Williams is still going to have to fight for targets like he did in Los Angeles. With quarterback Derek Carr having the 20th-highest yards-per-attempt last season, Williams’ speed might not translate too well in Oakland.
S Landon Collins, Redskins
There’s no question Collins is talented but his six-year deal for $84 million by Washington makes him the highest-paid safety in the league. With a deep free agent group at safety this offseason, such a massive deal is ripe for becoming a relative bust. With no interceptions last season and only one forced fumble, Collins is going to have to become more productive on the stat sheet to warrant his pay grade against what other safeties got this offseason.
OLB Preston Smith, Packers
Much like Za’Darius Smith, Green Bay paid a premium for limited production at outside linebacker here. Preston signed a four-year deal for $52 million, which makes him the fifth-highest paid outside linebacker in the league, according to Over The Cap. But with just four sacks and 53 combined tackles last season, It seems to be more money than Smith has actually earned.
