Free agency is like game of risk and reward. In some cases, the investment doesn’t pan out.
Matt Flynn
The Seattle Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a three-year, $26 million deal in 2012. Flynn wasn’t able to beat out rookie Russell Wilson and the rest is history. Flynn was traded to the Oakland Raiders a year later and Wilson remains under center in Seattle.
Brock Osweiler
Brock Osweiler signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Texans in the 2016 offseason, but was benched in favor of Tom Savage in the team’s Week 15 matchup with Jacksonville. Osweiler had thrown 14 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. The Arizona State quarterback was owed $37 million in guaranteed money. After one season in Houston, Osweiler was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Neil O’Donnell
Neil O’Donnell led the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX, and cashed in when he became a free agent after that AFC championship, signing a five-year, $25 million deal with the Jets. He only lasted two years in New York, going 0-6 in his first year and 8-12 overall with a quarterback rating of 76.7.
Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith was a top defensive end while with the Atlanta Falcons, whom he helped lead to Super Bowl XXXIII following the 1998 season. Smith left the Falcons as the franchise’s all-time sacks leader to sign a a five-year, $21 million contract with the division-rival Panthers. An injury-plagued 2000 season saw Smith play in two games and then retire following the season.
Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia had three Pro Bowl seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before being let go following a down year in 2003. He was picked up by the Cleveland Browns, who signed him to a four-year deal worth $25 million. Garcia went 3-7 in 10 starts for Cleveland and was released after just one year.
Elvis Grbac
The Ravens had just won a Super Bowl, but they signed Elvis Grbac to be their starting quarterback, handing him a 5-year, $30 million deal in 2001. He lasted a year — the Ravens paid him $11 million.
Mike Glennon
In March 2017, Glennon was signed to a three-year, $45 million contract by the Chicago Bears. The Bears then drafted Mitchell Trubisky second overall and Glenon became an afterthought and was discarded.
Adam Archuleta
After five successful seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Adam Archuleta hit free agency as one of the top safeties available. Washington gave Archuleta signed a six-year, $30 million deal, which, at that time, was the most expensive contract given to a safety. Archuleta started seven of 16 games in his lone season and failed to register an interception or force a fumble. The next March Archuleta went to Chicago for a sixth-round pick. By 2008, Archuleta was out of the NFL for good.
Antrel Rolle
The Bears signed Antrel Rolle to a three-year deal worth $11.25 million in 2015. They got an aging veteran who appeared in seven games before he was released. In Chicago, he made 35 tackles and one pass deflection.
Javon Walker
During the early part of his career with the Green Bay Packers, it was obvious to anyone watching that Javon Walker had the potential to break out. He did in 2004, but injuries slowed him in 2005 and ’07 when he was with the Denver Broncos. Still, the Raiders gave the wideout a six-year, $55 million contract in 2008. Walker made 32 receptions for 196 yards and one touchdown, and then had to be talked out of retirement by Al Davis. Walker appeared in three games in 2009 before being released.
Orlando Pace
After what would be a Hall of Fame career with the Rams, the Bears signed Pace to a three-year deal worth $15 million in 2009. He started 11 games at left tackle before he suffered a groin injury. He was later released by the Bears and retired.
David Boston
The Chargers gave David Boston a seven-year, $47.4 million contract in 2003, and got one one year out of him. The Chargers won four games with Boston on the roster, and the receiver turned into a locker-room liability. He was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, and then dealt in 2004 to the Miami Dolphins.
Adalius Thomas
Adalius Thomas got a five-year, $35 million contract from New England and had a promising first year before things fell apart. Thomas’ issues with the coaching staff came to a head in 2009 when Thomas was he was sent home after arriving late for practice due to a snowstorm. “What do you do? It’s not the Jetsons, I can’t jump up and just fly,” he said at the time. “What the heck am I supposed to do?” The Patriots released Thomas the following offseason.
Robert Griffin III
The Browns took a two-year, $15 million chance on RGIII Griffin missed 11 games with injury and was ineffective. Griffin was released after the year.
Larry Csonka
Another Hall of Famer who was a whiff as a free agent. Larry Csonka signed a three-year deal for around $2 million with the Giants and endured three losing seasons. In his first season, the Giants lost their first nine games and Csonka played in 11 before injuring his knee. He was also later involved in one of the franchise’s most infamous plays when QB Joe Pisarcik was instructed to run a play rather than take a knee — an attempted handoff to Csonka — and it resulted in the fumble that the Eagles recovered and scored in what is famously known as “Miracle at the Meadowlands.”
Lavar Arrington
Lavar Arrington signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Giants in 2006. He was injured in Week 7 and missed the rest of the year with a ruptured Achilles. He played six games and made 14 tackles with one sack, and ended up being released 11 months after his signing. Arrington never played in the NFL again.
Shawn Springs
The Patriots gave DB Shawn Springs three years and $10.5 million when he was 34. Springs played in 12 games in 2009 and finished with 40 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception. The Patriots opted to part ways with him after that season.
Jerry Porter
Joey Porter had some bright moments as a Raider. He also found trouble in Oakland. Still, he signed a six-year, $30 million deal with the Jaguars in 2008. Porter made 11 receptions for 181 yards and one touchdown through 10 games and was cut after the season. He never played in the NFL again.
Sam Bradford
The Cardinals signed oft-injured Sam Bradford to a $20 million conteact for the 2018 season. Bradford played terribly in three games before getting cut. As a result, the Cardinals were forced to feed rookie Josh Rosen to the wolves.
Drew Bennett
The Rams tried to replace Isaac Bruce by giving Drew Bennett a six-year, $30 million deal ($10 million guaranteed) in 2007. In his first year, he recorded 375 receiving yards, and in 2008, he recorded just one catch for four yards. He was released in 2009.
DeMarco Murray
Coming off a league-leading 1,845 yards rushing for the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, the Eagles signed the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year to a five-year, $40 million deal. Murray’s production dropped to just 702 rushing yards in 2015. After that season, the Eagles traded Murray to the Tennessee Titans.
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart was benched in Pittsburgh before signing a two-year deal worth $5 million with the Bears. He saw action in nine games with seven starts, going 2-5 in the process. He passed for just 1,418 yards with seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions before he was released at the end of the year.
Albert Haynesworth
After signing a seven-year, $100 million deal with the Redskins in 2009, Haynesworth showed up to camp overweight and out of shape, and he clashed with the coaching staff over the team’s defensive scheme. By the end of 2010, the Redskins were done with Haynesworth’s act. He was suspended for the final four games of the season and then traded to the New England Patriots. The Redskins received only a future fifth-round pick. Haynesworth made almost $50 million from Washington. He had 6.5 sacks in 20 games.
Dana Stubblefield
Dana Stubblefield anchored a San Francisco 49ers defense that helped the team capture its fifth Lombardi Trophy following the 1994 season. In 1997, Stubblefield earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Washington gave Stubblefield a six-year, $36-million contract. Stubblefield, who had 15 sacks in his great 1997 season, recorded seven sacks in three seasons.
Sean Gilbert
The Panthers signed Gilbert to a $46.5 million offer sheet in 1998, which Washington did not. The Panthers gave up two first-round picks. Gilbert recorded 140 tackles and just 15.5 sacks during his five years. Ooof.
Fred Smoot
Fred Smoot signed a six-year, $34 million contract in 2005. That was not to be, as the corner was heavily involved in the Vikings’ “Love Boat” scandal, and was involved in a single-car crash in 2006, where he broke his jaw in five places. Smoot was released that offseason.
Cody Parkey
Cody Parkey was signed to a four-year contract with $9 million guaranteed that year. He went on to miss 11 kicks and was released by the Bears in March 2019 after the double-doink against the Eagles. However, $3.5 million of that was guaranteed for 2019 season, meaning the Bears were still paying for the man who many believe cost them their season.
Nnamdi Asomugha
Nnamdi Asomugha was a shutdown corner during his early years in Oakland. After making the Pro Bowl three straight years, the Eagles signed him to a contract for five years and $60 million with $25 million guaranteed. He was repeatedly beaten, and the Eagles did not make the postseason in either of his two years with the team. After not agreeing to a restructured contract before the 2013 season, he was released.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders signed a seven-year, $56 million deal with the Redskins in 2000. He recorded 38 tackles, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. Sanders would retire immediately following the season.
