Buffalo Bills: 5 Recent Free-Agent Flops

The Buffalo Bills finally did something that once seemed nearly impossible—they signed a perennial Pro Bowler. They heavily invested in a proven player and should benefit from Mario Williams being a Bill for many years to come.

However—and I shouldn't need to remind you—Buffalo hasn't always been successful in free agency. They have dished out money only to see overpaid men fail.

This isn't meant to take away from Mario Williams' arrival in Buffalo. This slideshow shows five Bills who did not live up to their contracts. Bills fans should be rejoicing because they will never see these players in Bills' jerseys again.

Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey are the real deal. They have sold Buffalo to free agents and brought proven talent back to the Bills.

However, what preceded them was quite a mess.

Here are five Bills who flopped after being acquired in free agency.

Kawika Mitchell

Again, Buffalo tried doing itself a favor by signing a Super Bowl hero.

Kawika Mitchell signed a five-year, $17.5 million contract with the Bills. He had a decent career coming into Buffalo, but only played 21 games over two seasons. Though he started in 20 of the games he played in, he only recorded 109 tackles and four sacks in those two seasons. While Mitchell was supposed to play a significant role in the Bills defense, he was mediocre at best and things never really panned out for him in Buffalo.

Derrick Dockery

When Derrick Dockery was signed from Washington in 2007, he was made the third-highest paid guard in the NFL. He signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with a $18 million signing bonus.

However, he was released after playing only two seasons. The Bills wasted over $20 million on Dockery and he was a complete bust in Buffalo.

Dominic Rhodes

Though his two-year contract was mostly incentive based, Dominic Rhodes was supposed to provide a spark in Buffalo's run game.

He had rushed for 113 yards in Super Bowl XLI and probably should have been the game's MVP. As a Bill, he was supposed to be an elusive, pass catching back who could contribute on special teams. However, he never even made a regular season appearance for the Bills.

He was a flop because he had a history of being a solid player but failed to even make Buffalo's roster.

Langston Walker

The Bills completely failed to bolster their offensive line in 2007.

Langston Walker signed a five-year, $25 million contract with $10 million guaranteed as a signing bonus. Though he started all 16 games with Buffalo in 2007 and 2008, the Bills released him before the 2009 season.

He lasted only two years as a Bill, but received a lot of money for it.

Robert Royal

The Bills signed Robert Royal from the Washington Redskins in the 2006 offseason. Though he had potential to be a difference maker in the passing game, Royal struggled to make an impression.

He played in 47 games over three seasons, starting 37 of them. He had a combined 81 catches for 832 yards and seven touchdowns. Many tight ends have had better individual seasons. Royal was never a threat in Buffalo's offense and was a waste of money.