NFL Week 4: 5 Players Who Already Look Like Free Agency Busts in 2024 Season
Whenever an NFL team finalizes a signing in free agency, the franchise is hoping for a best-case scenario with the player.
Reality, unfortunately, is not always so kind.
Worse yet, it might not take us long to start worrying about a signing. After spotlighting six low-cost standouts last week, we're flipping the script. This time, the focus is high-priced disappointments.
Each player included signed a contract worth at least $7 million and for multiple years. In other words, there's no easy out.
All salary information from Over the Cap.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
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For some reason, the Chicago Bears sprinted to the table with a three-year, $24 million offer for D'Andre Swift. It was literally one of the first reported free-agent signings in 2024.
Didn't seem great then, doesn't look better now.
Look, the offensive line is brutal at times. We can start with that acknowledgement, one that is all-too-familiar in Chicagoland.
Through three games, though, Swift has mustered 68 yards on 37 carries. He's handled 10-plus attempts in each outing yet maxed out at 30 yards. Swift's tendency to bounce outside in hopes of a more explosive run has become both prevalent and problematic.
Smith may soon be sharing more snaps with Roschon Johnson unless this trend changes quickly.
Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Similar to Swift in Chicago, the issues with Gabe Davis run deeper in a struggling Jacksonville Jaguars' offense. Again, it's only fair to immediately point that out.
Nevertheless, he inked a three-year, $39 million contract that seemed risky at the moment and certainly hasn't changed.
Davis has logged a position-high 88 percent of snaps yet has only reeled in eight passes for 123 yards on 16 targets.
That is role-player production at a very expensive rate.
Trevor Lawrence's early struggles have undoubtedly been a contributing factor, but Davis—and Christian Kirk, for that matter—is being paid like a major pass-catching weapon. That needs to start showing up.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Buffalo Bills
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One of the receivers added in the wake of the Buffalo Bills trading Stefon Diggs and not re-signing Gabe Davis, Curtis Samuel has been a non-factor in the earliest weeks of 2024.
Yes, there may be a reasonable asterisk with a turf-toe injury that has slowed him since mid-August.
But is that actually a factor?
Despite being active each weekend this season, Samuel has appeared in just 26.9 percent of snaps. Mack Hollins (66.7 percent), rookie Keon Coleman (62.0) and Khalil Shakir (57.9) are well ahead, and even Marquez Valdes-Scantling (38.6) has been more involved.
Buffalo surely didn't envision Samuel only rounding out the rotation when it signed him for three years and $24 million.
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Bryce Huff, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
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In fairness, the logic made sense. Bryce Huff played well as a situational piece with the New York Jets last season, tallying 10 sacks and 33 pressures in a mere 42 percent of snaps.
So far, not so good.
Huff landed a three-year, $51.1 million pact to join Philly, and the initial returns are nearly nonexistent. Heading into Week 4, he's made one assisted tackle. That's it. No sacks, no pressures, nothing else.
Brandon Graham, the beloved 36-year-old veteran in his final NFL season, currently holds a larger role. Given that he hasn't provided much either, that's a particularly rough sign for Huff.
It's early, sure, but Philly may be having some regrets about moving on from Haason Reddick this offseason.
Bilal Nichols, DL, Arizona Cardinals
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Since the Arizona Cardinals are still retooling the roster under second-year coach Jonathan Gannon, it's important to not overstate the impact of a few disappointing outcomes.
Simultaneously, a mix of injuries and underperformance are plaguing the Cards' highest-paid additions in free agency.
Offensive tackle Jonah Williams (knee) and defensive lineman Justin Jones (triceps) are both sidelined, while Bilal Nichols has made a minimal impact. He's registered four tackles with little disruption.
Arizona expected more from him on a three-year, $21 million deal.
Jones' injury may keep Nichols in the rotation, but the veteran isn't a lock to remain ahead of Darius Robinson. The rookie lineman is dealing with a calf issue but is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 5.
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