NFL Free-Agent Signings: Teams That Are Failing Miserably in Free Agency

The NFL free agency period isn't over, but it is far enough along that we can declare some massive losers. 

There are a number of ways a team can fail in free agency. They can let players leave that they should have retained, they can overpay for players, or they can fail to address positions they needed to address. 

Houston Texans

The Texans have taken a big hit. They were in a bad position to begin with considering the number of players that were free agents, but they still watched far too many players walk.

On the plus side, they re-signed running back Arian Foster prior to him hitting restricted free agency, and they also locked up center Chris Myers. 

But check out the list of some of the key players they lost: OLB Mario Williams, RT Eric Winston, RG Mike Brisiel, FB Lawrence Vickers, CB Jason Allen.

There are a lot of snaps in that group that now need to be replaced, and the Texans must rely on second-tier free agents and the draft to fill them. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have some cap space to work with, but they are remaining disturbingly idle. This is a team with some nice pieces, but gaping holes. To help shore those holes up, the only free agents of note that they've added are tight end John Calson and corner Zack Bowman. 

Carlson is a young decent, but injury-prone, tight end. He certainly isn't a piece you base your free-agent class around. 

The Vikings definitely needed to add to their secondary, but Bowman isn't going to offer a lot and they certainly don't want to count on him to start. 

Minnesota has fumbled this free agency period away. 

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are more on this list for the moves that didn't happen. They threw their hat in the ring for Peyton Manning and came up empty. Then they watched as their division rival the Seattle Seahawks signed QB Matt Flynn. 

Now they are stuck with QB Kevin Kolb, and neither party could have much confidence in the other at this point. 

They also watched as cornerback Richard Marshall walked away in free agency. He had a nice season last year as a part-time starter and nickel corner.

They replaced him with former Pittsburgh Steelers corner William Gay, which is a slight downgrade. They also grossly overpaid for center Adam Snyder. He is a decent piece that might compete for a starting job, but he reportedly signed a five-year contract worth $17.5 million and carried a $5 million signing bonus.

In all, things are looking rudderless in Arizona.