The Biggest Free Agent Busts in the History of the Jacksonville Jaguars

Contract: Six years, $36.1 million
Years with team: One
Stats with team: 36 tackles, three pass deflections

Prior to his arrival in Jacksonville, the Waycross, GA native had made a name for himself as one of the top nickel corners in the NFL playing for the San Diego Chargers.

In the four years before he became a Jaguar, Florence recorded 36 pass breakups and 10 interceptions. It was thought that he would shore up the secondary, which was very important when going up against teams like Indianapolis and Tennessee.

But Florence never lived up to the hype, struggling through a 2008 season in which he had no interceptions. Jacksonville cut bait in February, and Florence signed a two-year deal with Buffalo in May.

Contract: Five-year, $22 million
Years with team: Two
Stats with team: 7.5 sacks

The Northern Iowa alumnus was respected as one of the most prolific pass rushers in the NFL during his prime. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and the Defensive Player of the Year in 1995.

He once had an 11-sack season in Green Bay and a 17.5-sack campaign in Buffalo, which was when he was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, the Jaguars brought Paup into the fold in 1998, thinking that he would be the key to taking them to the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately for Jacksonville, he never put up the numbers that he did in Green Bay or Buffalo. He did have 6.5 sacks in '98 (his second lowest output of his career at that point) before recording just one in '99, his last year with the team.

Contract: Three years, $8.1 million
Years with team: One
Stats with team: 0-for-2, 0 yards, two carries, -3 yards

With the first two moves on this list, at least fans could understand what the team was trying to do. Things just didn't go according to plan.

But with the Cleo Lemon signing, many fans were left scratching their heads.
Sure, Lemon had a decent season with the Miami Dolphins in 2007. He played in nine games and threw for 1,773 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Still, the fact that he even got to start for an NFL team is more an indictment of Miami's quarterback situation that season.

And why would the team give a backup QB (because he certainly wasn't going
to challenge David Garrard for the starting job) such a lucrative deal?
It didn't make any sense right down the line. And sure enough, the Jaguars cut Lemon last month.

Contract: Five-year, $27 million
Years with team: One
Stats with team: 3.5 sacks

Much like Paup, Hugh Douglas was known around the league as an incredibly effective pass rusher. He had spent time with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles before signing the fat contract with Jacksonville.

In the eight seasons before his arrival in the River City, Douglas had recorded 10 or more sacks four different times. He was fresh off a 12.5-sack season when Jacksonville signed him in 2003.

Despite playing in all 16 games, he only recorded 3.5 sacks, which was his second lowest total of his career. The only time he had fewer sacks was 1999, when he had two. But he only played four games that year.

What made matters worse was the fact that Douglas reportedly was a malcontent and a locker room cancer. Jacksonville jettisoned Douglas after one year, and he promptly returned to Philly.

Contract: Six years, $30 million
Years with team: One
Stats with team: 11 receptions, 181 yards, one touchdown

Like some of the other moves on this list, people could understand what Jacksonville was trying to do.

Since the departures of Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith, the Jaguars had lacked that go-to receiver. Apparently, Jacksonville thought Porter could be that guy.

But the move wasn't very logical. Porter was most successful when he was the No. 3 receiver in Oakland, alongside Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.

He was notorious for having a bad attitude, and actually just sat out for what about an entire season. The year before signing with Jacksonville, Porter had 44 catches for 705 yards and six touchdowns.
Sounds a lot like Dennis Northcutt to me.

Anyway, Porter only played in 10 games in 2008 and never got into the flow of the offense. Jacksonville turned him loose, along with Florence, in February.