2025 NFL Free Agents Who Signed With the Wrong Team

Spoiler Alert: Not every free-agent signing works out in a team or player's favor.

It's hard to reconcile that reality now, just a few of weeks into free agency. But a significant portions of the the NFL's recent signings won't be the difference-making additions an organization hoped they'd be. There will be trades and cuts a year or two down the road.

For every Saquon Barkley winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, there's a Kirk Cousins joining and losing his job with the Atlanta Falcons.

Individuals entering free agency try to mitigate their risk by picking the best possible situation for them. It doesn't always work out that way for numerous different reasons.

On the surface, every move can be rationalized to a certain degree.

Certainly, no one can blame defensive tackle Milton Williams for chasing the market's top deal. Conversely, no one can blame wide Chris Godwin for taking a lesser deal based on what's best for his family.

Still, a few situations still proved to be somewhat head-scratching based on other possibilities, to the point where those free agents may have signed with the wrong team.

QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

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Sam Darnold did what he should have this offseason: He parlayed a resurgent season into a massive free-agent deal and starting role.

Ultimately, Darnold chose to join the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million contract. Though the contract itself basically shakes down to a one-year deal depending on how the quarterback performs during the 2025 campaign.

Seattle still made plenty of sense because Darnold will continue to play in a similar scheme to one where he excelled with the Minnesota Vikings and his runway to become the Seahawks' long-term starter is significant.

However, the Seahawks weren't the best option for immediate success.

Seattle's offensive interior remains a mess. Furthermore, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are now gone. Yes, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdez-Scantling have been brought in as fellow free-agent signings. But the former has missed at least five regular-season games for three straight years, while the latter has never been a well-rounded threat.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to search for their starting quarterback, and they were also interested in Darnold.

"That brings us to what appealed about the Seahawks to Darnold, and that was that he’d legitimately get time to prove himself as a viable long-term option for a team," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer wrote. "There was doubt he’d get that with the Minnesota Vikings, and negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers gave him no assurance of it, either. The Seahawks are going to give him every chance to be that guy."

Maybe Pittsburgh didn't have the same pathway to remain the starter if Darnold didn't play as well this fall. But the Steelers do have a more stable organization, better coaching and superior supporting cast.

As a whole, Pittsburgh's offensive line is more talented. Metcalf and George Pickens form the league's most physically intimidating wide receiver duo. Pat Freiermuth is an outstanding target over the middle of the field. Running back Jaylen Warren is a chunk play waiting to happen as well.

If Darnold was going to a place where he could compete this year to prove himself as a long-term option, the Steelers were as good of a choice as any.

QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

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While Sam Darnold should have left after playing for the Minnesota Vikings last season, Daniel Jones should have stayed.

Essentially, Jones' decision came down to sticking with a Vikings team that signed him after being released by the New York Giants and serving as the backup to last year's 10th overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, or getting a chance to compete for a starting job in Indianapolis this fall as the Colts try to figure out what they have in Anthony Richardson.

In most instances, the latter seems like the logical choice. After all, Jones could legitimately emerge as the starter in Indy depending on Richardson's development, or lack thereof.

Here's the thing: If Jones doesn't claim the job outright at some point, then play relatively well, he'll be gone after this season anyhow, because A) he's operating under a one-year deal and B) the current Colts' regime is already on the hotseat from the front office down through the coaching staff. Whoever comes in will want to take their own swing at the game's most important position.

Furthermore, head coach Shane Steichen's passing attack is built around vertical concepts, which aren't exactly Jones' strengths as a passer.

Instead, the Vikings offered a far more stable setup, under one of the league's best head coaches and a better system fit. Yes, McCarthy will be given every opportunity to claim the starting job. But Jones would have been given time as the backup and become the failsafe to start on a better squad if Minnesota's young signal-caller doesn't prove up to the task.

WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Miami Dolphins

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Free agency is an opportunity for a player to maximize his personal financial worth. When an individual is coming off a career-year, it's a perfect time to to strike.

In the case of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, he seemingly failed to do so.

Westbrooki-Ikhine is one of the league's best pure vertical threats. Last season, he caught 32 passes for 497 yards and nine touchdowns. Obviously, those numbers don't peg the 28-year-old as a future WR1. But he has a distinct role in an offense, to which he agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins to join their vertical passing attack.

Yet Westbrook-Ikhine only signed a two-year, $6 million deal. For context, his deal ranks 11th among free-agent wide receivers this offseason in total contractual worth. A core special teamer in Ashton Dulin re-signed for more with the Indianapolis Colts.

Once the New England Patriots struck out on signing Chris Godwin and didn't have a chance to make a run at Tee Higgins, the Patriots proved to not be as aggressive with the wide-receiver market. However, they could have easily invested more in Westbrook-Ikhine than the Dolphins did since New England had the league's most salary-cap space entering the offseason.

The Patriots' coaching staff also had a previous working relationship since head coach Mike Vrabel served in the same rule with the Tennessee Titans during Westbrook-Ikhine's first four seasons.

Quarterback Drake Maye could have certainly taken full advantage of the wide receiver's skill set, while potentially making more and being featured more.

OG Mekhi Becton, Los Angeles Chargers

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The grass isn't always greener, even if the paycheck turns out to be.

Mekhi Becton revived his career last season with the Philadelphia. Previously, he had been a first-round bust for the New York Jets, with lingering questions about commitment and desire.

In 2024, Becton showed he can be the tone-setting blocker that the Jets originally envisioned when New York selected the offensive lineman with the 11th overall pick in the '20 draft. To be fair, the 25-year-old previously dealt with multiple injuries that slowed his development at the onset of his career.

But the Eagles and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland found something when they decided to move Becton from his natural position of offensive tackle to guard. The 6'6", 363-pounder thrived working on the inside and helped create the most dominant unit in all of professional football.

Becton left the Eagles to join the Los Angeles Chargers on a two-year, $20 million contract. Obviously, money came into play here, because Philadelphia doesn't have nearly the amount of salary-cap flexibility as the Chargers do. Yet the Eagles still had enough to retain Becton depending on how the deal was structured.

The Chargers also place a heavy emphasis on trench warfare and consistently winning at the point of attack, which should help Becton. But his decision couldn't have been easy leaving the reigning Super Bowl champs, the game's best O-line coach and a truly elite unit.

DE Dayo Odeyingbo, Chicago Bears

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Dayo Odeyingbo signing with the Chicago Bears makes a ton of sense financially for the player, but the fit doesn't.

Odeyingbo came into the league as a developmental defensive lineman with immense physical upside. He's a 6'6", 286-pound base end, who often reduces inside as part of defensive sub-packages.

The 25-year-old veteran doesn't bring much different than what DeMarcus Walker did to the Bears lineup. Coincidentally, both finished last season with fewer than four sacks.

Two seasons ago, Odeyingbo produced a career-high eight sacks. He managed 8.5 through his other three campaigns. Does that warrant a three-year, $48 million free-agent contract? Probably not. But the upside of the defensive lineman's game remains tantalizing.

"We believe there's more room to grow, for him to continue to get better," general manager Ryan Poles told reporters.

Bears defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett did spend a year on Vanderbilt's staff while Odeyingbo went to school. But he's only in his second season as a full-time defensive line coach, having previously serving as an assistant at the NFL level.

Plus, the Bears need someone a little more explosive off the edge as Montez Sweat's bookend.

Instead, the Green Bay Packers were reportedly interested.

The Packers also have a young, talented core, with a history of developing raw pass-rushers, as the organization did with Rashan Gary. Unlike Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur is proven coach, with five playoff appearances in his six seasons at the helm. If Green Bay really did prioritize Odeyingbo at the start of free agency, the decision should have been more difficult than the free agent made it out to be.

S Jevon Holland, New York Giants

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Let's take a peak behind the curtain to better understand exactly what safety Jevon Holland wanted in his new team before signing as a free agent.

Holland laid forth his preferences:

1. "Detailed and supportive coach"
2. "Honest culture"
3. "Men-leading head coach, with goals and a standard he holds everyone to."
4. "A team that wants to win, with players that have like-mindedness"

What mattered the most in the end? A three-year, $43.5 million contract, even when the Houston Texans had interest in signing the 25-year-old.

"They had some interest in Jevon Holland," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show. "Jevon Holland goes to the Giants today [March 13] for a bag."

With Holland off the board, the Texans quickly pivoted and acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles. Clearly, Houston wanted to upgrade at safety. Holland was one of the top two safeties on the market.

According to Holland's own parameters, the Texans should have been considered a better fit with Demeco Ryans leading the way and Houston winning two-straight AFC South division titles. Clearly, the Giants came in with a bigger offer and Holland chose that option.