The Craziest Contracts of 2016 NFL Free Agency so Far

"Craziest" is a bit of a loose term here.

For me, the term can be used in a few different ways. Whether it be just the exorbitant amount of money that makes me respond with, "that's insane," when I'm looking at the contract details or a player who got paid way more money than they should have.

With the salary cap increasing exponentially over the past few seasons and still going, these big-money contracts will become more and more common.

However, for now, they are crazy.

There were nine contracts this offseason that were crazy to me one way or another.

Let's start by taking a look at a signing in the wide-receiver position. 

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Atlanta Falcons

John Minchillo/Associated Press

This contract is just plain insane.

While Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu does have talent and is indeed probably more than just a gadget player, five-years and over $32 million is just way too much.

In 2015, Sanu had 36 receptions for 411 yards—including playoffs—and did not score a single touchdown.

What the Falcons most likely saw while offering this deal to Sanu, was not only the barren wasteland that is the wide receiver free-agent class, but Sanu's 2014 season.

With fellow wide receiver Marvin Jones out for the season, Sanu managed to catch 59 passes for over 800 yards and five scores—again, including playoffs.

While that's a pretty good overall stat line, it does not warrant $6.5 million a year with a $7 million signing bonus and $14 million guaranteed.

If the Falcons make it to year three of this contract with Sanu, then I'll be fine with it. However, if they cut him before then, mark this contract up as a loss.

Hey, we understand; the Falcons needed someone to line up opposite Julio Jones, but man, oh man, this is way too much for Sanu.

Spotrac has Sanu estimated as a $4.3 million a year player. That sounds about right.

Marvin Jones, WR, Detroit Lions

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Another former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver getting paid. This time, it's the newly signed Detroit Lions wide receiver, Marvin Jones.

While this contract is crazy, it's understandable.

This offseason, the Lions lost one of the best wide receivers the league has ever seen in Calvin Johnson.

Of course, the Lions were not all that ready for his departure, and thus, needed to fill a hole that, well, can't really be filled.

That's where Jones comes into the mix.

Jones signed a five-year pact with the Lions worth $40 million with half of that being guaranteed—sheesh.

As a result, this deal made Jones the 11th highest paid wide receiver in all of football in total value of contract.

Jones' contract is also worth more than Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson and New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker. I'm aware, it's not wise to compare current contracts to past ones, but hey, it's interesting.

For a receiver who missed the entire 2014 season and posted a line of 65 catches, 816 yards and four touchdowns, $8 million a year is a bit over the top.

But hey, with as much as quarterback Matthew Stafford launches the ball, Jones could see his numbers skyrocket and this deal could maybe look like a steal.

With Jones and fellow wide receiver Golden Tate set to start opposite each other, the Lions now have themselves two solid No. 2 wide receivers but will have to wait a bit longer before they find someone even close to that of Johnson.

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

With so many teams needing help at the quarterback position—including the Houston Texans—we all probably expected quarterback Brock Osweiler to get paid handsomely, but $18 million a year? Holy smokes.

Earlier this offseason, the Texans and Osweiler agreed on a four-year, $72 million deal with $37 million guaranteed.

In his career, Osweiler is 5-2 as a starter with quality wins over teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.

However, Osweiler had the best defense in the entire NFL, and he had only two multi-touchdown games.

Furthermore, in the games Osweiler started (Weeks 10-17), he was 19th in the league in yards per attempt with 7.2, tied for 18th in the league in passing touchdowns and tied for the fourth-most interceptions in the league during that span.

One of the claims to fame for Osweiler is that he can throw the ball really, really, really far. While that may be the case, he was horrendous in doing so. Over that same seven-game span, Osweiler completed just 7 of 30 passes on balls that sailed 20 yards or more.

"Well, his receivers probably had some drops!"—nope, there was only one dropped pass and he threw two interceptions.

The incoming quarterback crop from the 2016 class is not the most sensational—we know that. The two best quarterbacks by most draftniks are Cal's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz.

The Texans would likely not be able to get their hands on either one of them, so they instead opted to go with Osweiler.

$18 million a year is a lot, but the market dictates it, unfortunately.

Mark Barron, S/LB, Los Angeles Rams

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

Credit to Los Angeles Rams linebacker Mark Barron for finding his place on the field and cashing in.

This offseason, the Rams re-signed linebacker Barron to a five-year, $45 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.

When fellow Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree went down with an injury, Barron stepped in and excelled mightily, ranking as the No. 24 overall linebacker from week five and on.

But come on, $45 million to a recently converted weak-side linebacker? A little excessive, no?

While Barron played well in his new-found role, this amount of money is a tad too much. The one bright side is the guaranteed dollar, though—it's manageable.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

Coveted as arguably the best available defensive back in free agency, New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins found a home rather quickly.

One of the few players that was at the epicenter of the Giants offseason spending spree, Jenkins received a five-year contract in the amount of $62.5 million with nearly $29 million guaranteed.

While that amount floats right around the average annual salary for a top-level cornerback, Jenkins has drawn speculation that maybe he isn't the elite or soon-to-be elite cornerback some are dubbing him.

Throughout his four-year career, Jenkins has allowed a minimum of five touchdowns in each season, with a high of seven.

His touchdowns can be a product of his desire to make the big play and doing himself in, though. Jenkins is known as a playmaking cornerback and that can sometimes be his kryptonite.

Jenkins is not the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but $12.5 million annually and nearly $29 million in guarantees is a risky, crazy contract.

Olivier Vernon, DE, New York Giants

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Phew—five years, $85 million and $52.5 million guaranteed.

That's a ton of money for any player.

However, New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon is a fantastic player, so it is warranted.

According to Pro Football Focus, Vernon finished as the top overall 4-3 defensive end, while amassing 7.5 sacks, 30 quarterback hits and 41 tackles in 2015.

The other thing on Vernon's side is his youth—he's 25 years old.

With the re-signing of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and defensive tackle Damon Harrison, the Giants defensive line will be even more lethal adding Vernon.

This contract is just an insane amount of money, but the player deserves it in terms of his production and youth.

Kelechi Osemele, OL, Oakland Raiders

Nick Wass/Associated Press

With the Oakland Raiders re-signing left tackle Donald Penn, newly-signed offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele will most definitely go back to his former position of guard.

If the Raiders had signed Osemele as a left tackle, the contract makes sense. However, paying a guard $58.5 million over five years is a ton. 

In terms of total contract value, Osemele is averaging $11.7 million annually and $25.4 million in guarantees, which is more than the second-highest paid left guard, Mike Iupati, of the Arizona Cardinals.

For what it's worth, Osemele has been a young, dominant offensive lineman throughout his career, earning fantastic Pro Football Focus grades—specifically excelling in run blocking.

Running back Latavius Murray and quarterback Derek Carr are grinning from ear-to-ear knowing what their offensive line will look like in 2016, though.

While Osemele is a fantastic young guard, he got overpaid. But hey, good for him.

Chase Daniel, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

George Bridges/Associated Press

If the Philadelphia Eagles planned on starting quarterback Chase Daniel, then there are no complaints about his contract.

However, the Eagles already paid one quarterback, Sam Bradford, in the amount of $35 million over two years.

After that signing, most speculated that the Eagles were done addressing the position—but nope—they signed Daniel to a three-year, $21 million deal including incentives that could be worth up to $15 million.

Now, that's not necessarily backup money. But according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has said Daniel is the backup.

The only way you could sell me to corroborate this deal is that the Eagles and Pederson have seen how valuable a backup quarterback is, and in the event that oft-injured Bradford suffers another injury, they have one of the best backup options in the bullpen.

Either way, strange amount of money.

J.R. Sweezy, OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Yeah, this one had me completely baffled to be honest.

Five years. $32.5 million. $14.5 million guaranteed.

What?

As mentioned in the intro slide, the cap numbers are rapidly rising, so more obscure contracts will come to the forefront, but come on.

Apparently, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't look at Pro Football Focus.

According to PFF, the Buccaneers newly-signed guard J.R. Sweezy was ranked as the No. 69 overall guard amongst 82 qualified guys.

Sweezy also ranked as the 64th overall guard in terms of pass block.

On a total value basis, this puts Sweezy's contract as the fourth-largest contracts amongst all guards in the NFL.

The Buccaneers do need to upgrade the offensive line, but Sweezy is a questionable addition to the team for that amount of money.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Contract details courtesy of Over the Cap and Spotrac, unless otherwise noted.

Follow me on Twitter—@RichardJanvrin.