NFL Free Agency: The Best Free-Agent Signing in Every NFL Team's History
Prior to the 2006 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints all but defined futility. They were abysmal in every sense—plagued by laughable offenses, overwhelmed defenses and head-scratching personnel decisions for the entirety of their existence.
But then they signed Drew Brees.
The Saints were reborn that day, and Brees soon led the league's hapless franchise to a Super Bowl.
With free agency on the horizon, every NFL team will soon be in search of the next Drew Brees—a player who can rejuvenate a slumping franchise or provide the final piece to the championship puzzle.
Few, if any, will succeed. However, each franchise has made a landmark signing at some point in its past, and each should take a page out of its own history book when investigating this year's crop of free agents.
Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner (2005)
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Hoping to install some stability at quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals rolled the dice on Kurt Warner before the 2005 season. Warner had just completed a mediocre one-year stint with the Giants (and was 0-7 as the Rams' starter from '02-'03) and figured to serve as a placeholder until Arizona could get its hands on a franchise quarterback.
Little did the Cards know Warner was that long-term solution.
He reclaimed the starting role from first-round bust Matt Leinart in 2007 and soon led the Cards to a pair of NFC Championship Games and the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance.
Atlanta Falcons: Michael Turner (2008)
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For the first four years of his NFL career, Michael Turner was relegated to back up duties for the San Diego Chargers. As LaDainian Tomlinson padded his Hall of Fame résumé, Turner received only sparse opportunities, but he made them count.
With Warrick Dunn in decline, the Falcons signed Turner to a six-year, $34 million deal during the 2008 offseason.
Turner immediately ascended to stardom in Atlanta, breaking the team's single-game rushing record in his debut. In three seasons with the Falcons, Turner has earned one All-Pro and two Pro Bowl selections, becoming a focal point in Atlanta's perpetual Super Bowl push.
Baltimore Ravens: Rod Woodson (1998)
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The Baltimore Ravens' 2000 defense is arguably the greatest ever assembled. Although they're remembered most vividly for Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa and a domineering front seven, that defense's most valuable asset may have resided in the secondary.
After an illustrious career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, future Hall of Fame safety Rod Woodson hit the open market in 1998.
Woodson and the Ravers were a match made in heaven, and both sides quickly agreed to a contract. Two years later, both Baltimore and Woodson had their first Super Bowl rings.
Buffalo Bills: Kent Hull (1986)
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Everybody remembers the Buffalo Bills' 1990s squads for their version of "The Triplets": Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. But Buffalo's offense would never have been so potent were it not for the impact of center Kent Hull.
Hull spent his first two professional seasons in the USFL but joined the Bills after the league folded in 1986.
He anchored Buffalo's offensive line through all four of the team's Super Bowl appearances, earning three Pro Bowl nods along the way.
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme (2003)
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Jake Delhomme's legacy with the Carolina Panthers was tarnished by his ghastly performance in the 2009 NFC Divisional Round Playoff game versus the Arizona Cardinals. But before that game sent Delhomme into Panthers infamy, he was the face of the franchise for seven seasons.
The New Orleans Saints, confident in Aaron Brooks' long-term prospectus, cut Delhomme prior to the 2002 season. The Panthers pounced on Delhomme, who dethroned Rodney Peete for the starting quarterback job in 2003.
Delhomme proceeded to lead Carolina to the playoffs three times, including the franchise's first and only Super Bowl appearance in 2003. His career ended may have ended tragically, but Delhomme will go down as one of the best players in Panthers history.
Chicago Bears: Steve McMichael (1981)
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Perhaps know more famously for his career as "Mongo," a dominant wrestler on both the WWF and WCW tours from 1995 to 1999, Steve McMichael was also an integral member of the Chicago Bears' 1985 championship squad.
Drafted by the Patriots in 1980, New England let the 6'2", 270-pound defensive tackle go into free agency following an unproductive rookie season. Mike Ditka picked up the Pats castoff prior to the start of the '81 season, and McMichael spent the next 12 years starring in a Bears uniform.
During those 12 seasons, McMichael was voted into a pair of Pro Bowls, eclipsed the 100-tackle mark in 1989, recorded double-digit sacks three times and captured a Super Bowl ring in '85 against the team that cut him.
Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Benson (2008)
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Miraculously, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted every starter on both their 1981 and 1988 Super Bowl rosters. It's almost incomprehensible considering how rampant player movement is today, but furthermore, it dwindles their list of impact free agents greatly.
Ultimately, that leaves Cedric Benson. The Chicago Bears drafted Benson with the fourth pick in the 2005 NFL draft, but he turned out to be a monumental bust. After three dreadful seasons, the Bears cut the troubled running back, and he signed with the Bengals prior to the 2008 season.
Benson completely rejuvenated his career and helped propel Cincinnati to the playoffs in 2008. In three seasons with the Bengals, he has rushed for 3,109 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now that he has finally hit his stride in the league, there's no telling how good Benson can eventually be.
Cleveland Browns: Otto Graham (1964)
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When people debate who the greatest quarterback of all time is, they usually argue over a distinct crop of players: Dan Marino, Joe Montana, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. But one player who is criminally excluded is Otto Graham.
Even though Graham played back in the '40s and '50s, he might be the single most dominant quarterback ever. Drafted by the Lions in 1944, Graham opted to serve in World War II and signed with the Browns upon his return from duty in 1946.
He proceeded to lead the Browns to an unheralded 10 consecutive championship games, of which he won seven. Graham's résumé is completely unrivaled as well. He was appointed to nine All-Pro First Teams, given five Pro Bowl nods, named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and voted into the Hall of Fame in 1965.
Graham is easily the greatest free agent signing in NFL history.
Dallas Cowboys: Deion Sanders (1995)
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Despite playing an acute role in the San Francisco's 1994 Super Bowl championship, Deion Sanders and the 49ers parted ways following his feud with Jerry Rice. The Sporting News coined the conflict the "Great Controversy," and once Sanders hit the open market, he became a scorching hot commodity.
Although the Raiders reportedly offered Prime Time the biggest contract, he accepted a seven-year, $35 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys that still made him one of the highest-paid players in the entire league. He was worth every penny.
In five seasons with Dallas, Sanders was voted into four Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pro squads. More importantly, he played a crucial role in the team's 1995 Super Bowl victory.
Denver Broncos: Rod Smith (1995)
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Super Bowl-deprived quarterbacks are usually plagued by their own teams. For example, at different junctures of his career Dan Marino lacked a reliable defense, consistent rushing attack and dangerous wide receiver.
For 14 championship-less seasons, John Elway was deprived of a great wide receiver. He didn't have a Jerry Rice or a Michael Irvin. That is, until 1997.
Three years earlier, the Broncos signed Patriots castoff Rod Smith. Three years later, Smith was Elway's primary receiving target on the team's 1997 and 1998 Super Bowl runs. Without Smith's sure hands and explosiveness, Denver may never have been able to reach the promised land.
Detroit Lions: Dick LeBeau (1959)
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Long before Dick LeBeau created the zone blitz and established himself as arguably the greatest defensive mind in NFL history, he was a lockdown defensive back for the Detroit Lions.
Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1959, LeBeau failed to make the roster but found a rebound job with the Lions. Fourteen years later, LeBeau had amassed 62 interceptions (seventh most all-time) and three Pro Bowl trips in 185 games played (fourth in Lions history).
Due to his wild success as a defensive coordinator, LeBeau will be remembered for his coaching prowess; however, his days as a domineering defensive back should not be forgotten.
Green Bay Packers: Reggie White (1993)
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Once he took the reins of the Green Bay Packers organization in 1992, Mike Holmgren was quick to make changes. After acquiring Brett Favre from the Atlanta Falcons, Holmgren sought out an even bigger (literally and figuratively) target: Reggie White.
The "Minister of Defense" was arguably the best defensive player in the league when he hit the open market during the 1993 offseason. White was wooed to Green Bay by a four-year, $17 million contract, making him the highest-paid lineman in NFL history.
The contract ultimately paid off when White anchored the Packers defense to the team's 1996 Super Bowl victory. Though he wasn't quite as dominant in Green Bay as he was in Philadelphia, White still might be the best defensive player in Packers history.
Houston Texans: Arian Foster (2009)
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For a franchise so young and unaccomplished, the Texans have been extremely efficient and shrewd with their personnel moves. One area in which they have struggled, however, is free agency. But one diamond in the rough can overshadow a decade of inconsequential signings, and Arian Foster has proven to be that gem.
Houston signed Foster as an undrafted free agent after the 2009 NFL draft but relegated him to practice squad duty for a majority of the season. It wasn't until the 2010 season that Foster burst onto the scene as one of the NFL's best running backs.
Last season alone, he rushed for a league-leading 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. Foster might be the final piece of the Texans' playoff puzzle.
Indianapolis Colts: Johnny Unitas (1956)
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According to folklore—and Dan Rooney's book—Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Walt Kiesling deemed Johnny Unitas too brainless to become a successful NFL quarterback and promptly cut the future Hall of Famer.
The Baltimore Colts signed Unitas in 1956, and he fell into the starting job in his first season. You know the rest.
Unitas currently ranks among the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, and his three championship rings, eight MVP awards and 10 Pro Bowl nominations—and his 48-game touchdown streak—provide him with an unparalleled résumé.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Keenan McCardell (1996)
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Because the Jaguars have become so stale over the past couple of seasons, people are quick to forget how good they were in the 1990s.
From 1996-1999, Jacksonville boasted a destructive aerial attack that anchored the team to four consecutive playoff appearances. But had it not been for the signing of wide receiver Keenan McCardell prior to the '96 season, the Jags would have never been so successful.
In six seasons with Jacksonville, McCardell surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark four times and became one of Mark Brunell's most trusted targets. McCardell and teammate Jimmy Smith formed one of the league's best receiving tandems.
Kansas City Chiefs: Len Dawson (1961)
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In 1953, Purdue University assistant football coach Hank Stram lured highly touted quarterback recruit Len Dawson away from Ohio State. After a stellar collegiate career, Dawson projected as a sure-fire pro player, and the Steelers drafted him with the fifth overall selection in the 1957 NFL draft.
However, he completely flopped in Pittsburgh and proved equally incompetent after a trade to Cleveland. After five unproductive seasons in the NFL, Stram once again lured Dawson his way, this time to the Houston Chiefs of the AFL.
Dawson clicked under Stram's watch and became one of the league's all-time most efficient and accurate passers. He led the Chiefs to three AFL championships and their first and only Super Bowl title. Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Miami Dolphins: Bob Kuechenberg (1970)
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Like so many of his 1970s Dolphins teammates, Bob Kuechenberg came out of nowhere. Literally.
One year after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted the offensive lineman with their 1969 fourth-round pick, Kuechenberg quit. He proceeded to play one season in the semi-pro Continental Football League, whose games were played in empty stadiums.
Don Shula scooped Kuechenberg up as a free agent in 1970, and it became a landmark signing for Miami. Kuechenberg earned six Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro selections and won two Super Bowl rings in his 14-year career, spent entirely with the Dolphins.
Minnesota Vikings: John Randle (1990)
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At 6'1", 287 pounds, Texas A&I defensive tackle John Randle had a minute change of making an NFL roster in 1990. In fact, minute is an understatement. He projected, at best, as practice squad fodder.
But from the get-go of his career, Randle defied all odds. He earned a spot on the Vikings roster in 1990 and became a serious contributor in '91, when he registered 9.5 sacks in eight starts. Once Randle cracked Minnesota's starting lineup in 1992, he became the league's most feared sack artist, posting double-digits sacks in a whopping eight straight seasons.
Randle was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, and his intensity, desire, charisma and zaniness remain unrivaled to this day.
New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel (2001)
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Mike Vrabel is the ultimate Belichickean player. In fact, if the word Belichickean is ever inscribed into the dictionary, Vrabel's picture will accompany it. He doesn't have jaw-dropping measurables; rather, he has impeccable intangibles.
The Steelers drafted Vrabel out of Ohio State in the third round of the 1997 draft, but after four years lost in Pittsburgh's star-studded linebacker rotation, he reportedly contemplated retirement. However, the New England Patriots offered Vrabel a starting role, and he signed with the team in 2000.
In terms of accolades and statistics, Vrabel might be the least accomplished player on this list. But he was a staple in the Pats defense (and offense) for three Super Bowl championships.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees (2006)
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Imagine how different the NFL landscape would look had the Miami Dolphins signed Drew Brees instead of Daunte Culpepper. It's an agonizing thought for the Dolphins, but one that New Orleans can laugh at while the Vince Lombardi Trophy glimmers in the background.
In 2006, both Brees and Culpepper became free agents. Both were rehabbing from major injuries, and the Dolphins essentially had first dibs (New Orleans had just been hit by Katrina; Dolphins were contenders, hence could have which QB they wanted).
In a tragic miscalculation, Miami's medical staff deemed Culpepper's torn ACL favorable to Brees' surgically reconstructed soldier.
Brees landed with the Saints and has since established himself as one of the league's most prolific passers and leaders and perhaps a Hall of Fame candidate.
New York Giants: Plaxico Burress (2005)
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A great free-agent signing does not have to be a transcendental one. He doesn't have to become the face of a franchise or break records so long as he helps boost the team to a Super Bowl.
That's exactly what Plaxico Burress did.
Following a highly productive five-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Burress hit the open market when his rookie contract expired in 2005. The Giants lured the 6'5" receiver to New York with a six-year, $25 million contract, and he immediately proved he was worth every cent.
In four seasons with the Giants, Burress caught 244 passes for 3,681 yards and 33 touchdowns. Most important, however, was his role in New York's 2007 Super Bowl run. Burress caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, and without him, the Giants would have never even reached that game.
New York Jets: Curtis Martin (1998)
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From 1987 to 1997, the New York Jets were plagued by an unstable and ineffective rushing attack. They shuffled through a slew of different backs, but none of them proved to be long-term solutions. Consequently, they made the playoffs only once over that span.
But in 1998, the Jets signed ex-Patriots running back Curtis Martin to a six-year, $36 million deal—a move the Jets hoped would end their playoff spell and cure their running back woes.
Over the next eight seasons, New York made five playoff appearances thanks in large part to Martin's dominance. He topped 1,000 yards rushing in seven consecutive seasons, earning three Pro Bowl trips along the way.
Oakland Raiders: Jim Otto (1960)
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There's a long list of players who embody the nastiness of the 1960s and '70s Oakland Raiders, but few do so to the extent of Jim Otto. The University of Miami center was undrafted in 1960 but landed in the AFL with the Raiders.
Otto and his trademark "00" became a cornerstone in Oakland's franchise for 14 illustrious seasons. He strung together an incredible, accolade-studded career that included 12 Pro Bowl and 10 First-Team All-Pro selections. Perhaps most impressively, Otto played in 308 consecutive games.
Otto also won an AFL championship with the Raiders in 1967 and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jon Runyan (2000)
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When the Philadelphia Eagles reached four straight NFC Championship Games during the 2000s, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook were revered for their unwavering consistency and production. But the glue to those offenses was right tackle Jon Runyan.
During the 2000 offseason, the Eagles made the former Tennessee Titan the highest-paid lineman in NFL history with a six-year, $30 million contract. Although he reached the Pro Bowl only once during his nine years in Philadelphia, Runyan is what you might call a "man's man."
In 2006, he was voted the second-dirtiest player in the NFL, and one of Philly's signature plays was a screen pass to Westbrook, led by a pulling Runyan. Why was it so effective? Because in 2008, facing Runyan on a screen pass was voted one of the single scariest things in the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers: James Harrison (2004)
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The Pittsburgh Steelers were always keen on James Harrison's potential. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Harrison bounced around Pittsburgh's practice squad, but after two seasons of underwhelming play, he was cut.
He spent a short stint in Buffalo before resurfacing with Pittsburgh in 2004. Thanks to an assortment of injures to a few Steelers linebackers, Harrison gradually received valuable playing time and eventually ascended to a starting role when Joey Porter left in 2007.
Since then, Harrison has become one of the most feared, if not the single most feared, linebackers in the league. His ferocious hits and 44 sacks in five seasons have catapulted Harrison to stardom and aided the Steelers to two Super Bowl appearances.
San Diego Chargers: Antonio Gates (2003)
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Despite averaging 16 points per game for the Kent State Golden Flashes (who he led to the Elite Eight in 2002), Antonio Gates' skill set did not project well to the NBA. So Gates, one of Nick Saban's recruits at Michigan State, decided to give football a shot.
He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003, and eight seasons, 115 catches, 69 touchdowns, seven Pro Bowls, three First-Team All-Pro rosters and a Hall of Fame résumé later, it's safe to say he made a sound decision.
San Francisco 49ers: Deion Sanders (1994)
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In 1994, pressure on the San Francisco 49ers to win another Super Bowl had reached dire levels. Steve Young was desperate to escape from Joe Montana's shadow, and head coach George Seifert needed to prove that he could lead his own team to a Super Bowl (after winning the 1989 Super Bowl with Bill Walsh's roster).
The Niners needed to slay the Dallas Cowboys in order to reach their goal, and the team signed former Falcon corner Deion Sanders to get them over the hump.
Sanders had arguably the best season of his career, intercepting six passes and returning three for touchdowns. He also recorded an interception in San Francisco's Super Bowl win over the San Diego Chargers.
Seattle Seahawks: Dave Krieg (1980)
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Set aside an AFC Championship Game appearance in 1983, the Seattle Seahawks meddled in mediocrity from 1983 to 1991. But had it not been for the play of quarterback Dave Krieg, the Seahawks might have been totally irrelevant over that span.
Undrafted out of Milton College in 1980, Krieg signed with the Seahawks and slowly worked his way up the depth chart. In 1983, Krieg took over the starting role for Seattle and led the team to the AFC Championship Game.
Although he never got the 'Hawks farther than that, he threw for over 26,000 yards and 195 touchdowns as the team's starting quarterback from '83 to '91. Because Seattle was not a prominent franchise over that period, Krieg has fallen off the national radar, but he is one of the best players to ever don a Seahawks uniform.
St. Louis Rams: Kurt Warner (1998)
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From the University of Northern Iowa to the Iowa Barnstormers to grocery store bag boy to the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl MVP, nobody can rival Kurt Warner's roller-coaster road to NFL stardom.
You've probably heard his story before, and it's still unbelievable to this day.
Warner led the Rams' historically amazing passing attack, coined the Greatest Show on Turf, to the franchise's first and only Super Bowl title in 1999. In just three full seasons as the team's starter, Warner tossed 102 touchdowns and amassed 14,447 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hardy Nickerson (1993)
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Ironically, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' greatest free-agent signing left the team just prior to their 2002 Super Bowl title. But a player who racks up 680 tackles in seven seasons and anchors a defense for that span deserves the title.
Steelers linebacker Hardy Nickerson had amassed a combined 208 tackles in the final two years of his rookie contract, suggesting he was primed for a breakout. Nickerson leveraged his success into a big contract with the Bucs, and he only continued to thrive there.
Under Tony Dungy's watch, Nickerson captained a young Bucs defense that included budding stars Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp.
Tennessee Titans: Warren Moon (1984)
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For decades, perhaps in fear of the unknown, NFL teams and scouts seemed reluctant to embrace a black quarterback. Doug Williams opened the door when he led the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII, but even his accomplishments pale in comparison to those of Warren Moon.
Despite great collegiate success with the Washington Huskies, Moon went undrafted in 1978 and landed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. Moon continued his pattern of success, winning a remarkable five consecutive Grey Cup championships.
In 1984, Moon finally garnered an NFL contract with the Houston Oilers. He quickly dispelled all preconceived notions about African-American quarterbacks, earning nine Pro Bowl selections in his 16 year career—and of course, he was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Washington Redskins: Joe Theismann (1974)
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If an uninformed fan were to glance at the Redskins' long list of recent free-agent signings, he would be inclined to assume that one of those players became a landmark signing. But for Washington, there has been no such luck.
Adam Archuleta, Albert Haynesworth, Dana Stubblefield, Jeremiah Trotter, Deion Sanders—the list of free-agent failures goes on and on.
In order to find the team's greatest signing, you have to go all the way back to 1974 (pre-Dan Snyder, of course), when the 'Skins signed future franchise quarterback Joe Theismann.
Theismann was actually drafted by the Dolphins in 1971 but chose to play in the CFL instead. After three productive seasons, he signed with the Redskins and led them to a Super Bowl title eight seasons later.
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