Jacksonville Jaguars: The 7 Worst Free-Agent Signings in Jaguars History

There are times when the Jacksonville Jaguars made the right decisions in choosing free agents. And then there were times when the team wanted to forget even approaching these players, who did not pan out as players.

Some of these guys even caused the team nightmares.

But with the right moves, all is forgotten.

But with the need to improve an offense that was worst in the NFL and many holes to fill at receiver and some on the offensive line, there is a little bit of trepidation. Can the management team make the right calls like it did last year with selecting a defense?

But for now, we have no idea who the Jaguars are looking at and who will get a call once the free-agent period begins. We do know, there are deficiencies at receiver, defensive line, defensive back and offensive line.

And if you are looking at mistakes made by this team, here are some trouble spots in the free-agent pool over the last 16 years.

Jerry Porter

In 2008, Porter was signed to a six-year, $30 million deal, $10 million was guaranteed. The Jaguars thought hey had their next Jimmy Smith.

In May, he underwent surgery on his hamstring which he injured in the offseason. He missed the rest of training camp and that preseason, and should have been back for the season opener against the Titans in game four.

It was a sign of things to come.

On February 11, 2009, Porter was cut by the Jaguars.

Hugh Douglas

Douglas played in Jacksonville for one season.

One season was actually enough.

Douglas was signed to help with pass rush as both a defensive end and linebacker. He did not give the team the effort or leadership that was thought to be coming to Florida when the team signed him in 2003.

Douglas is one free agent that took the money and ran from the team.

Marcellus Wiley

Wiley played the final two years of his career in 2005-06 with the Jaguars.

At 6'4" and 275 pounds, Wiley was a good fit in Buffalo when he was the second-round pick out of Columbia and also spent time in San Diego and Dallas before he came to Florida.

Wiley, who is now a football commentator, was another one of those guys who came to Florida and the Jaguars way after his prime and did not fit the profile of the player the team hoped they were getting.

Andre Rison

Rison was thought to be a player who could help the offense move vertically.

All it did was prove he did not want to follow rules in 1996 and crossed paths with then-head coach Tom Coughlin.

Not surprisingly, Rison's stay was extremely short and he was cut by the team. Rison then signed with the Packers, where he earned a Super Bowl ring (with former Jaguars' returner Desmond Howard).

Rison's ability was never questioned. His effort in getting game-ready always came into question.

Bryce Paup

After Paup looked like the premier sack master in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, the Jaguars were quick to make a move to sign him.

Paup signed with the team in 1998 and never lived up to his former NFL Defensive Player of the Year status in 1995.

Another defensive player who could not take his results with another team and translate it to success in the Jaguars' scheme.

Mike Sims-Walker

He is on this list because of how he came back to the Jaguars and is now out of football.

Sims-Walker was a third-round selection out of Central Florida in 2007. He was injured his first year in the league and played in half the season in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, he showed he could play in the league, being one of the leading receivers on the team.

After the 2010 season, Sims-Walker was released and then re-signed midway through the 2011 season in October when the Rams released him.

Sims-Walker again injured his leg after being placed on the Jaguars roster, and was placed on injured-reserve and later released again by the team.

Torry Holt

I think this pick is questionable, but he is still added.

Holt is one of the better possession receivers ever to play football and signed with the Jaguars in the later part of his career.

He was brought in to be a possession receiver after spending his first 10 seasons in St. Louis to teach the younger guys how it is done. Holt is a model citizen and great locker room presence.

In his only season with Jacksonville, Holt caught 51 passes and no touchdowns.