The 50 Biggest NFL Free-Agent Busts of All Time, Ranked

Hope abounds at the start of NFL free agency. Teams have a chance to add what they hope could be the missing piece to their Super Bowl puzzle, like Saquon Barkley with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 or Sam Darnold with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.

But not every signing pans out as expected.

Some players get injured after signing big-money deals and never live up to their new contracts. Others underperform due to questionable scheme fit. Either way, their teams wind up flushing money down the toilet.

We assembled a panel of NFL analysts and editors to vote on the biggest free-agent busts in league history. Voters considered the size and length of each player's contract along with how they performed and how long they lasted on their new team.

Enjoy this trip down memory lane as B/R's Kris Knox, Moe Moton and Gary Davenport revisit the worst NFL free-agent signings ever.

To see who might crack this list in the future, check out The Biggest NFL Free-Agent Busts Waiting to Happen in 2026.

For more on free-agency history, read Ranking the 15 Best NFL Free-Agent Signings of the Last Decade and Ranking the Biggest NFL Free-Agent Signings of All Time.

50. Nate Solder, OT, New York Giants (2018)

Contract terms: Four years, $62 million ($34.8 million guaranteed)

Nate Solder, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, was a solid starter during his seven seasons with the New England Patriots. He started 95 games in New England and was a key cog in two Super Bowl-winning teams.

However, Solder was never a Pro Bowler, and when the New York Giants signed him to a four-year, $62 million contract in 2018, he was on the cusp of his 30th birthday. New York made Solder the league's highest-paid offensive lineman at the time, and it got a disappointing return on its investment.

The Colorado product started 16 games both in 2018 and 2019 before opting out of the 2020 season, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Solder and the Giants restructured his deal in 2021, and he started 16 games that season before his contract voided and he retired.

While New York did get 48 starts out of Solder across three seasons, he struggled in pass protection and had a role in a pair of four-win campaigns.

49. Devin Funchess, WR, Indianapolis Colts (2019)

Contract terms: One year, $10 million ($7 million guaranteed)

A second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2015, Funchess was a wide receiver with the size of a tight end. His career appeared to be headed in the right direction, too. 

Funchess posted a 63/840/8 stat line in 2017 and followed that up with 44 catches for 549 yards and four scores in 14 games in 2018. Those numbers aren't eye-popping, but it was enough for the Indianapolis Colts to give Funchess a one-year, $10 million prove-it deal in 2019. 

At the time, Funchess told reporters he was excited for the next chapter in his NFL career.

"So, all the excitement and all the fun comes in the next contract," Funchess said.

There was very little of either. Like three catches for 32 yards in one game with the team little.

Funchess broke his collarbone in his first game in Indianapolis, spent the rest of the year on injured reserve and never played another NFL game.

48. Trent Brown, OT, Las Vegas Raiders (2019)

Contract terms: Four years, $66 million ($36.25 million guaranteed)

Trent Brown exceeded early career expectations. As a seventh-rounder from the 2015 draft, he outperformed his peers to earn a starting role with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. Despite his strides, San Francisco traded him to New England, where he started 16 games in 2018. 

Once Brown became a free agent in 2019, he became the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman on a four-year, $66 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. 

In his first year with the Silver and Black, Brown made the AFC Pro Bowl roster, but he missed five games because of injuries. The following season, Brown only played in five games after a scary, life-threatening situation in which a pregame IV caused air to enter his bloodstream, which required him to be hospitalized.

The Raiders traded him and a seventh-round pick back to the Patriots in March 2021 for a fifth-round pick.

While Brown shouldn't be blamed for the pregame IV mishap, his 11-game Pro Bowl campaign in 2019 doesn't justify the return on a market-setting contract.

47. Cory Littleton, LB, Las Vegas Raiders (2020)

Contract terms: Three years, $35.25 million ($22 million guaranteed)

During his four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Cory Littleton benefited from quality coaching. Once he joined the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year contract in 2020, he played at a disadvantage due to subpar coaching.

Regardless, the Raiders didn't get the elite coverage linebacker who went undrafted in 2016 and worked his way up to a full-time starter and 2018 Pro Bowler. 

After consecutive standout seasons with the Rams in 2018 and 2019, Littleton struggled mightily in Las Vegas. He was ironically weak in coverage and open-field tackles, which were supposed to be his strengths. 

In 2020, he allowed 10.9 yards per reception and missed 17.2 percent of his tackle attempts. The Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther that year, but Littleton didn't improve much under interim play-caller Rod Marinelli or Gus Bradley in the following season.

The Raiders benched Littleton in the final quarter of the 2021 season and released him in March 2022. He spent two nondescript years in Las Vegas and never regained his status as a premier cover linebacker.

46. Antonio Brown, WR, New England Patriots (2019)

Contract terms: One year, $10.5 million ($9 million guaranteed)

During his nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown was regularly in the conversation for the NFL's best receiver. However, when the seven-time Pro Bowler landed with the Patriots in 2019, his reputation had taken a dramatic turn.

In early 2019, the Raiders acquired Brown via a trade. Following a wacky offseason—one that included a dispute over the approval of his helmet and a foot injury reportedly sustained in a cryotherapy session—he was released before he ever actually played for Las Vegas.

New England took a one-year, $10.5 million flier on Brown shortly after the Raiders released him. While Brown got a low-risk, incentive-laden deal, the experiment proved to be short-lived.

The Central Michigan product had 56 yards and a touchdown in his Patriots debut but was released after one game amid rape and sexual assault allegations.

After serving an eight-game suspension for multiple violations of the NFL personal-conduct policy, Brown reunited with Tom Brady and helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV. New England's swing on Brown was a massive miss, though.

45. Dante Fowler Jr., Edge, Atlanta Falcons (2020)

Contract terms: Three years, $45 million ($29 million guaranteed)

Dante Fowler Jr. had a rough start to his career. He sat out his entire 2015 rookie season because of a torn ACL and never found his groove in a starting role with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After the Jaguars traded Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams, he had a career resurgence. He registered a career-high 58 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 35 pressures in 2019. 

The No. 3 overall pick from the 2015 draft had finally shown signs that he could be an elite pass-rusher, and the Atlanta Falcons rewarded him with a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency in 2020.

Fowler projected to be a good fit in head coach Dan Quinn's defense since he was a versatile edge-rusher who could line up with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end and outside linebacker. However, he posted mediocre numbers in 2020, logging only 23 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and 23 pressures.

In his second season with the Falcons, Fowler lost his starting job under head coach Arthur Smith and had only a marginal increase in his production. Atlanta released him in 2022. 

Ironically, Fowler reunited with Quinn in Dallas and Washington, and he recorded 10.5 sacks with the Commanders in 2024. Atlanta paid the highest price for him but got the least amount of production.

44. Trey Flowers, Edge, Detroit Lions (2019)

Contract terms: Five years, $90 million ($56 million guaranteed)

Trey Flowers never had more than 7.5 sacks in a season. But when he joined former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in Detroit on a five-year, $90 million contract in 2019 right after winning Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots, it wasn't a jaw-dropper of a deal. 

Edge-rushers get paid. So it goes.

Flowers had a solid first year in Detroit, finishing with 51 total tackles and seven sacks. Injuries limited him to just seven games and two sacks in 2020, but he was the team's nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

However, those injuries were a harbinger of things to come. 

In 2021, Flowers was once again limited to just seven games. The Lions released him in March 2022, and after a cup of coffee with the Miami Dolphins, Flowers was out of the league altogether.

For $56 million in guaranteed money, the Lions got 10.5 sacks in 29 games.

43. Larry Brown, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (1996)

Contract terms: Five years, $12 million

Between 1994 and 1995, Larry Brown had a few standout years with the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded 10 interceptions across those two seasons, including two pick-sixes. He also won Super Bowl XXX MVP after picking off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell twice.

Brown turned those flashy numbers into a significant raise in 1996 when he inked a five-year, $12 million deal with the Oakland Raiders. However, his production nosedived with the Silver and Black. Even worse, the rising cornerback quickly fell into a backup role and became a locker room distraction.

Brown played only 12 games across his two seasons with the Raiders. He started in only one game and logged one interception with the team.

During his first year in Oakland, the coaching staff benched him and later suspended him due to conduct detrimental to the team.

The Raiders released Brown during the 1998 offseason. In the following campaign, he suited up with the Cowboys for the last four games of his NFL career. 

42. Malik Jackson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (2019)

Contract terms: Three years, $30 million ($17 million guaranteed)

Defensive tackle Malik Jackson actually had two instances of being a free-agent disappointment, though the second was worse than the first.

After helping the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl in 2015, Jackson inked a massive six-year, $85.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he was a dependable contributor for the Jags and made the Pro Bowl in 2017, he didn't meet expectations and was released after only three seasons.

The Philadelphia Eagles then scooped up the 29-year-old Jackson on a three-year, $30 million deal with $17 million fully guaranteed at signing. Even then, that felt like a risky move given Jackson's age and status as a good-not-great defender.

The Tennessee product played just one game in 2019 before suffering a season-ending foot injury. While he returned to play 15 games in 2020, he only had 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles.

The Eagles released Jackson after two seasons. In guaranteed money alone, they ended up paying him more than $607,000 per tackle.

41. Jonas Jennings, OT, San Francisco 49ers (2005)

Contract terms: Seven years, $36 million

Even semi-capable offensive tackles regularly hit it big on the open market. And back in 2005, Jonas Jennings was arguably the No. 1 tackle available. He parlayed that into a seven-year, $36 million contract that included $12 million in bonuses.

That might not sound like much now, but back then, it was big bucks. At the time, head coach Mike Nolan told reporters that he expected Jennings to anchor the offensive line in San Francisco for years to come.

"Jonas will help rebuild an offensive line that needs rebuilding," Nolan said.

But just three games into his tenure with the Niners, Jennings wound up on injured reserve. He went on to start 13 games for San Francisco in 2006, but he would again miss most of the 2007 campaign due to multiple injuries. He then played only two games in 2008 before a shoulder injury ended his season—and his career.

All told, Jennings played 23 games over four seasons with the 49ers.

40. Alvin Harper, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995)

Contract terms: Four years, $10.6 million

Alvin Harper's transition from the Dallas Cowboys to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a classic case of a solid No. 2 wide receiver who struggled to become the go-to target.

In Dallas, Harper was the big-play threat alongside Michael Irvin. He averaged 20 yards per catch during his five seasons with the Cowboys. 

As a free agent in 1995, Harper signed a four-year, $10.6 million deal with the Buccaneers, who needed a top-flight receiver. Although he produced explosive plays in flashes, the big-bodied wideout lacked consistency and didn't show up in the red zone. 

With the Buccaneers, Harper caught only 65 passes for 922 yards and three touchdowns in 25 outings. He battled injuries and lost his starting job in his second year with the team. Tampa Bay cut him during the 1997 offseason.

Even in Harper's productive first year with the Buccaneers, he was No. 2 behind Jackie Harris in both catches and receiving yards.

39. LaVar Arrington, LB, New York Giants (2006)

Contract terms: Seven years, $37.5 million

Early in his career with Washington, linebacker LaVar Arrington was a star. The second overall pick in the 2000 draft was a three-time Pro Bowler who topped 90 tackles in three consecutive seasons between 2001 and 2003. However, in 2004, the Penn State product suffered a knee injury that required two surgeries.

Arrington battled through injuries in 2005 but had only 47 tackles in 13 games (eight starts). After settling a contract dispute with Washington, Arrington reached free agency in 2006.

Despite Arrington's injury history, the Giants jumped at the chance to hand him a seven-year, $37.5 million contract.

To then-GM Ernie Accorsi's credit, it was a low-risk deal that included a modest $5.25 million signing bonus. However, New York still never got a quality return on its investment.

Arrington appeared in only six games before suffering a torn Achilles. He was released in early 2007, was involved in a serious motorcycle crash later that year, and retired by that September.

38. Ahman Green, RB, Houston Texans (2007)

Contract terms: Four years, $23 million

By the time Ahman Green arrived in Houston, he was a 30-year-old running back with an impressive NFL resume. From 2000-2004, Green rushed for over 1,000 yards in five consecutive seasons and made the Pro Bowl four times. When he left the game, he did so as the all-time leading rusher in Green Bay history.

However, Green missed most of the 2005 season with a quad injury. That should have been a red flag to any interested suitors.

Instead, after Green topped 1,000 yards on the ground again in 2006 with the Packers, the Texans signed him to a four-year, $23 million deal.

The Texans didn't get a difference-maker in the backfield for that money. What they did get was an injury-prone player who missed more games than he played in over two years with the team.

Green averaged only 3.8 yards per carry and 39.6 rushing yards per game in Houston.

37. William Jackson III, CB, Washington Commanders (2021)

Contract terms: Three years, $40.5 million ($26 million guaranteed)

Cornerback William Jackson III, a 2016 first-round pick, didn't play as a rookie because of a torn pectoral muscle. However, he was a serviceable four-year starter for the Cincinnati Bengals before he signed with Washington as a free agent in 2021.

Jackson was never a Pro Bowler in Cincinnati, but he allowed an opposing passer rating of just 88.2 in coverage during his final season with the Bengals. Still, the three-year, $40.5 million deal the Commanders gave him felt like a significant overpay.

It proved to be exactly that.

In Washington, Jackson proved to be a poor fit for Jack Del Rio's defense. The Houston product started 12 games in 2021 but allowed an opposing passer rating of 101.6 in coverage that season. He was even worse the following season and was benched after four games.

Washington traded Jackson to Pittsburgh before the 2022 deadline. However, he never played a down for the Steelers because of a back injury he suffered before being benched in Washington.

Jackson's 16-game stint with Washington proved to be the last of his NFL career.

36. LeCharles Bentley, C, Cleveland Browns (2006)

Contract terms: Six years, $36 million

The LeCharles Bentley saga was equal parts tragic and Cleveland.

When Bentley signed a six-year pact with the Browns, he was arguably the best center in the league. However, the two-time Pro Bowler, former Ohio State standout and Cleveland native would never play a game for the Browns—or any other team again.

On the first day of padded practices, Bentley tore his patellar tendon. That injury left then-general manager Phil Savage disappointed but still hopeful in the long-term.

"He was the face of our free-agent class," Savage told reporters. "We feel terrible for LeCharles, but life goes on."

The problem is that it didn't. Bentley had to undergo four surgeries, including two to clean out a staph infection that was so severe it nearly cost him his leg. In 2010, Bentley sued the Browns for not disclosing the presence of staph at their facilities. The lawsuit was settled in 2012.

35. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Los Angeles Chargers (2020)

Contract terms: Three years, $30 million ($19.25 million guaranteed)

Bryan Bulaga made a name for himself as a steady right tackle for the Green Bay Packers. He started in 111 out of his 115 games with the Packers, protecting four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay saw the best of him in his prime.

Bulaga wasn't an iron man on the field, though. He missed at least four games in five of his nine seasons with the Packers, and he was out for the entire 2013 campaign because of a torn ACL.

Bulaga missed only two games over his last two years with the Packers, but the Los Angeles Chargers signed him too far into his career. At 31, the longtime right tackle's body had broken down.

The Chargers inked Bulaga to a three-year, $30 million deal, but he played only 11 games over two seasons due to back and groin injuries. Los Angeles released him during the 2022 offseason, and he retired late in the following year.

34. Chuck Smith, DE, Carolina Panthers (2000)

Contract terms: Five years, $21 million

Defensive end Chuck Smith, who was taken in the second round of the 1992 draft, had a very good eight-year career with the Atlanta Falcons. His time in Atlanta didn't include a Pro Bowl, but he was a second-team All-Pro in 1997 and had three different campaigns with double-digit sacks.

In 2000, the Carolina Panthers signed their former rival to a five-year, $21 million free-agent contract. That was a stunningly substantial deal, considering Smith had recently turned 30.

Complicating the deal was the fact that Carolina needed to clear additional cap space just to sign Smith and stay under the $62.2 million salary cap.

"We've got our hands full right now," then-coach George Seifert said of the team's cap situation, per CBS News.

Unfortunately for Seifert and the Panthers, Smith appeared in only two games for the franchise before a series of knee issues cut his career short. The Panthers released the Tennessee product after he failed a physical in 2001, and he never played again.

33. Scott Mitchell, QB, Detroit Lions (1994)

Contract terms: Three years, $11 million

Remember the days when a high-end free-agent quarterback could be had for less than $4 million per season? And when a $5 million signing bonus was the second-highest in NFL history?

Those were the days.

Had Dan Marino not ruptured his Achilles tendon in 1993, Mitchell may never have gotten a chance to start in the NFL. He spent a big chunk of his first four pro seasons in NFL Europe.

But the Lions saw enough from Mitchell in seven starts to make him their starter under center. And to be fair, it wasn't all bad. He went 10-6 in 1995 and set then-franchise records in passing yards (4,338) and touchdown passes (32). 

Mitchell also started two playoff games for the Lions. But those playoff games were both fiascos, including a four-pick nightmare that ended that 1995 campaign. 

All told, Mitchell was 27-30 as the Lions' starter, and he finished with a passer rating of 79.2 during his time in Motown.

32. Sam Bradford, QB, Arizona Cardinals (2018)

Contract terms: One year, $20 million ($15 million guaranteed)

We don't blame anyone who doesn't remember Sam Bradford's stint with the Arizona Cardinals. He essentially signed a one-year deal with a second-year team option.

The 2010 No. 1 overall pick made the Cardinals' decision on the option year easy. He lost the starting job after only three games.

In those three outings, Arizona went 0-3, and Bradford threw for 400 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions with a 62.5 percent completion rate. 

The Cardinals benched Bradford in his third start and turned the offensive reins over to Josh Rosen, who went from a top-10 pick in the 2018 draft to a clear bust within a year. Bradford never played in the NFL again.

Bradford isn't often seen as a major free-agent whiff because of his short-term deal, but he did cash $15 million in guarantees on a contract worth up to $20 million. That was a complete waste of money from the Cardinals' perspective. 

31. Jeff Garcia, QB, Cleveland Browns (2004)

Contract terms: Four years, $25 million

It's common knowledge that the Cleveland Browns are where quarterback careers go to die. In 2004, Jeff Garcia became the team's latest victim.

During Garcia's final season in San Francisco, he missed three games, went 5-8 as the starter and threw a career-high 13 interceptions. But in each of his previous three seasons with the 49ers, Garcia made the Pro Bowl. 

When the Browns signed him to a four-year, $25 million contract in 2004, he was supposed to wash off the stink of their failures at quarterback since they rejoined the NFL in 1999.

About that.

It was hardly all Garcia's fault that he was terrible during his Browns tenure, which lasted only one year. Cleveland's passing-game weapons that year were terrible. But the entire deal can be summed up by Garcia's Week 2 stat line against Dallas in 2004. He went 8-of-27 with zero touchdowns, three interceptions and a passer rating of zero.

That Garcia would get back to the Pro Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007 is Cleveland even by Cleveland standards.

30. Jairus Byrd, CB, New Orleans Saints (2014)

Contract terms: Six years, $54 million ($26.3 million guaranteed)

Jairus Byrd burst onto the scene with the Buffalo Bills in 2009, leading the NFL with nine interceptions on the way to his first of three Pro Bowls with the team. The last of those Pro Bowls came in 2013, after which Byrd landed a windfall deal with the New Orleans Saints that included $26.3 million in guarantees.

At the time, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis gushed about the deal.

"We had hoped for the opportunity to pursue Jairus Byrd," Loomis said in a statement. "After meeting with him, we are excited that he will become a member of the New Orleans Saints. We think that his play-making abilities will be an excellent fit with what we are trying to accomplish with our defense and in our secondary."

In five seasons in Buffalo, Byrd intercepted 22 passes. In three forgettable seasons in the Big Easy, he picked off three.

The best part? The Byrd contract left the cap-strapped Saints in such a bad spot that they let cornerback Malcolm Jenkins walk in free agency in 2013.

He would go on to make three Pro Bowls and win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.

29. Jerry Porter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (2008)

Contract terms: Six years, $30.4 million

Jerry Porter began his NFL career as the third option in the Oakland Raiders' passing attack behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, but he broke out after that duo departed. He led the Raiders across multiple receiving categories in 2004, and he recorded a team-leading 76 catches in the following season.

Mixed with the highs of his spike in production, Porter also became a distraction. He clashed with head coach Art Shell in 2006, and the Raiders suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team, which should have served as a warning sign.

Instead, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Porter to a six-year, $30.4 million contract in 2008. He went to a team that needed a go-to receiver, but the former Raider fell embarrassingly short of those expectations and brought some of the questionable characteristics from his latter years in Oakland. 

Porter suited up for just 10 games (six starts) with the Jaguars and caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed to behind-the-scenes chemistry issues, according to Michael C. Wright of The Florida Times-Union.

The Jaguars paid a lot of money for a disaster they should've seen coming from Oakland.

28. Le'Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets (2019)

Contract terms: Four years, $52.5 million ($27 million guaranteed)

When the New York Jets signed Le'Veon Bell to a four-year, $52.5 million contract in 2019, it felt like a mistake in the making.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers star was one of the NFL's best dual-threat running backs early in his career, but he had just sat out for an entire season after receiving the franchise tag for the second time.

The Jets were coming off a four-win season and weren't really in a position that warranted making Bell the highest-paid running back in the NFL. To make matters worse, the three-time Pro Bowler wasn't properly utilized by head coach Adam Gase in New York.

"I still randomly think about how PISSED I used to be in the huddle when Adam Gase would call '21 dive' on 2nd & 10," Bell posted on X in 2024.

Bell started 15 games in his first season with the Jets but was limited to two games the following season by a hamstring injury. The Jets released him in October 2020 after they failed to find a trade partner for him.

After averaging 4.3 yards per carry in Pittsburgh, Bell averaged only 3.3 with the Jets.

27. David Boston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (2003)

Contract terms: Seven years, $47.4 million

When the Chargers signed wide receiver David Boston to a seven-year, $47.4 million contract in 2003, it was a lulu of a deal at the time. But no one really batted an eye.

Although a knee injury cut Boston's 2002 campaign short, he caught 98 passes for a league-high 1,598 yards and eight touchdowns the season before. He was a big, strong and fast, which made him a prototypical "X" receiver.

But while Boston hauled in 70 passes for 880 yards and seven touchdowns during his first year with the Chargers, he also drew the ire of head coach Marty Schottenheimer—so much so that he received a one-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Boston was such a bad fit on the Chargers that they traded him to the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick in 2004. He proceeded to tear his patellar tendon that August and caught four passes upon his return in 2005 before he retired.

26. Derrick Dockery, OG, Buffalo Bills (2007)

Contract terms: Seven years, $49 million ($18 million guaranteed)

Derrick Dockery had four solid years in Washington, but he was an average starter who didn't rack up any accolades. Despite that, he hit the jackpot in 2007 free agency when he signed a seven-year, $49 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.

Considering that Dockery didn't particularly stand out at his first career stop, the Bills seemed desperate with this lengthy deal. It quickly backfired on then-general manager Marv Levy.

Dockery suited up for two full seasons in Buffalo, but he went from average to a liability in pass protection. With him, the Bills ranked 30th and 22nd in passing and 15th and 14th in rushing.

Buffalo released Dockery during the 2009 offseason. He returned to Washington for two years and finished his career as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys.

Levy was the Bills' general manager for two years. Dockery is arguably the biggest blemish on his resume as an executive.

25. Matt Flynn, QB, Seattle Seahawks (2012)

Contract terms: Three years, $19.5 million ($10 million guaranteed)

NFL teams often take big risks in an effort to find a franchise-caliber quarterback. In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks signed former Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn to a three-year, $19.5 million contract that included $10 million guaranteed.

At that point, Flynn had started only two games in the NFL. He did throw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in the 2011 regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions, but the LSU product still had an extremely limited NFL resume.

It was a gamble that didn't pay off for Seattle, though the Seahawks stumbled into a franchise quarterback anyway. Shortly after gambling on Flynn, they used a third-round draft pick on Russell Wilson.

Wilson won the offseason quarterback competition and went on to make nine Pro Bowls with Seattle. Meanwhile, they traded Flynn to the Raiders in 2013, and he made his way back to Green Bay later that season.

Flynn made four more starts for the Packers after Aaron Rodgers suffered a collarbone injury in 2013, but he never again received a chance to be a long-term NFL starter.

24. Neil O'Donnell, QB, New York Jets (1996)

Contract terms: Five years, $25 million

You had to know that a big-money signing at quarterback by the New York Jets was going to show up here at some point.

It seemingly made sense when the Jets gave Neil O'Donnell a big contract in 1996. O'Donnell was fresh off an appearance in Super Bowl XXX with the Pittsburgh Steelers, went 39-22 in 61 starts and had been named to a Pro Bowl.

But the fact that O'Donnell had never completed 60 percent of his passes or thrown 20 touchdown passes in a season should have been red flags. 

O'Donnell was more game manager than difference-maker, and his first season leading a bad Jets team was a fiasco. He went 0-6 in six starts, threw three more interceptions than touchdowns and had a passer rating of 67.8 before a shoulder injury put him out of his misery.

O'Donnell went on to win eight of 14 starts in his second season with the Jets, but it would be his last in New York. The quarterback clashed with head coach Bill Parcells, lost his starting job and was shown the door.

23. Earl Thomas, S, Baltimore Ravens (2019)

Contract terms: Four years, $55 million ($32 million guaranteed)

The Baltimore Ravens may not have done a thorough character check on Earl Thomas before they inked him to a four-year, $55 million deal in 2019.

On the one hand, Thomas had the accolades. He won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks and contributed game-changing plays as part of a renowned secondary group known as the Legion of Boom. 

However, The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar, Jayson Jenks, Mike Sando and Jeff Zrebiec contributed to a piece that uncovered another side of Thomas.

"His range in coverage and gap-closing speed against the run were critical to the Seahawks' defensive success, and he had a knack for diagnosing plays before they happened," they wrote. "But those close to the team also considered Thomas uncoachable, a freelancer in a game that requires all 11 players working together."

After a Hall of Fame-worthy nine-year run with the Seahawks, Thomas recorded 49 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups in a 2019 Pro Bowl year with the Ravens. However, Thomas' attitude spiraled out of control, shortchanging Baltimore on its multiyear investment in him.

According to The Athletic, the talented safety blew off practices and meetings and sucker-punched teammate Chuck Clark during a practice. Thomas only played one season in Baltimore, and no other team signed him after 2019.

22. Bryce Huff, Edge, Philadelphia Eagles (2024)

Contract terms: Three years, $51.1 million ($34 million guaranteed)

When the Eagles signed pass-rusher Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51.1 million deal that included $34 million guaranteed in 2024, there was some logic behind the move. The Memphis product had impressed as a situational sack artist with the Jets, was coming off a 10-sack season, and was still only 25 years old.

Unfortunately, Huff's breakthrough 2023 campaign proved to be an outlier rather than a sign of things to come. It quickly became apparent that Huff wasn't an ideal fit for Vic Fangio's defense.

"If I'm being 100 percent honest with you, I wanted a trade like fairly early on," Huff told Brad Graham of the SFNiners podcast (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra). "...I knew pretty early on it wasn't a fit."

Huff recorded just 2.5 sacks in his lone season in Philly, and while he was part of the Eagles' Super Bowl run, he made only six starts for the franchise and was inactive for the big game itself. He was traded to San Francisco in 2025 for a conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick.

21. Trae Waynes, CB, Cincinnati Bengals (2020)

Contract terms: Three years, $42 million ($15 million guaranteed)

The Cincinnati Bengals don't have a reputation for big-time spending, but back in 2020, they backed up the Brink's truck for cornerback Trae Waynes. They gave him $14 million per season to serve as their No. 1 cornerback.

Things didn't work out that way.

Before Waynes ever played a game for the Bengals, he tore his pectoral muscle and landed on injured reserve. Between that injury and time on the COVID-19 list, he didn't suit up at all during his first season in Cincinnati.

The Bengals would play in Super Bowl LVI in 2021, but Waynes spent most of that game as a spectator, too. He missed the first three games of the 2021 campaign due to a hamstring injury and played in one contest (his Bengals debut) before aggravating the injury the next week and landing on IR again. 

In two seasons, Waynes played in five games and logged 12 total tackles. The Bengals released him in March 2022, and he never played in the NFL again.

20. Deion Sanders, CB, Washington Commanders (2000)

Contract terms: Seven years, $56.125 million ($8 million guaranteed)

Hall of Fame cornerback and return ace Deion Sanders hasn't been called a bust often. However, his 2000 agreement with Washington was a bust, and a pretty significant one at that.

Sanders had already played 11 seasons with the Falcons, 49ers and Cowboys when he inked a seven-year, $56.1 million contract with Washington that included $8 million guaranteed. He was fresh off his eighth career Pro Bowl campaign, but he was heading into his age-33 season.

While the Florida State product was still very good, it seemed fairly obvious that Prime Time was past his prime. Washington brought him in as part of a free-agent spending spree, but Sanders helped deliver an 8-8 season and nothing else.

Sanders did have a strong 2000 campaign with nine pass breakups and four interceptions over 16 games. The problem was that the aging superstar decided to retire after just one season in Washington.

Sanders remained retired until 2004, when he returned for a two-year run with the Baltimore Ravens.

19. Mike Glennon, QB, Chicago Bears (2017)

Contract terms: Three years, $45 million ($18.5 million guaranteed)

The Chicago Bears appear to have finally found their quarterback of the future in Caleb Williams. But back in 2017, they were still searching.

And by "searching," we mean flailing wildly.

It's not just that the Bears handed Mike Glennon $15 million per season after three years in Tampa in which he completed only 59.4 percent of his pass attempts and won just five of 18 starts.

But one month after signing Glennon, the Bears traded up in the first round of the draft to select Mitch Trubisky, which all but put an end to the Glennon era in the Windy City before it started. Glennon started only four games before giving way to the rookie, pacing the NFL with eight turnovers over that span and winning just once.

The following spring, the Bears released Glennon, who would play for four different teams over the next four seasons.

18. Dale Carter, CB, Denver Broncos (1999)

Contract terms: Four years, $22.8 million

In 1992, Dale Carter won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The ball-hawking cornerback played seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and made the Pro Bowl four straight times during that stretch. 

After a strong start with the Chiefs, Carter signed a four-year, $22.8 million contract with the Denver Broncos in 1999, which made him the NFL's highest-paid defensive back. However, he never lived up to that contract.

After one decent year in Denver in which he logged a team-leading 12 pass breakups and two interceptions, Carter violated the league's substance-abuse policy multiple times, resulting in a one-year suspension. He didn't play in the 2000 campaign, and the Broncos released him before the league reinstated him in November 2001.

Between 2001 and 2005, Carter played for the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. He played more games with the Ravens (15) and Saints (15) on modest contracts than he did with the Broncos (14).

17. Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons (2024)

Contract terms: Four years, $180 million ($100 million guaranteed)

Over his 14 seasons in the NFL, Kirk Cousins has more than $330 million in career earnings. The Atlanta Falcons contributed $100 million to his bank account over the past two years and got only 22 starts and 28 touchdown passes in return.

At the time, the deal didn't seem that outrageous. Cousins missed over half of the 2023 season due to an Achilles injury, but in 2022, he threw for over 4,500 yards, led the Vikings to 13 wins and made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time.

But not long after the Falcons handed Cousins that fat bag of cash, they decided to use the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Cousins made 14 starts in 2024 and led the NFL with 16 interceptions before losing the starting job to Penix late in the season.

Cousins made it back into the starting lineup for eight games after Penix got hurt in 2025, but after two seasons, his time in Atlanta is over. The Falcons recently announced that they will release Cousins when the new league year begins on March 11.

16. Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams (2022)

Contract terms: Three years, $46.5 million ($30.75 million guaranteed)

Under general manager Les Snead, the Los Angeles Rams have been aggressive in acquiring talent. They have mostly hit big on veteran additions in recent years, but they miscast Allen Robinson late in his career.

Robinson eclipsed 1,146 receiving yards in three of his first eight seasons, once with the Jacksonville Jaguars and twice with the Chicago Bears. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2015.

In 2021, the Bears were wary about giving Robinson a long-term contract after he caught 102 passes for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns in his age-27 season. They franchise-tagged him, and he showed notable decline, registering only 38 receptions for 410 yards and a touchdown in 2021. 

Despite that, the Rams signed Robinson to a three-year, $46.5 million contract in 2022. The following season, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford missed eight games due to injury, and Robinson finished fourth on the team in catches and fifth in receiving yards.

At the end of the 2022 campaign, Robinson underwent season-ending foot surgery. During the 2023 offseason, the Rams didn't see a path for him to redeem himself, so they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though Robinson had a healthy run with the Steelers, he never rounded back into top form. The Rams rolled the dice on a player in the early stages of his decline, and it proved costly.

15. DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (2015)

Contract terms: Five years, $40 million ($21 million guaranteed)

DeMarco Murray's 2015 deal with the Eagles may have played a role in NFL teams' hesitancy to pay ball-carriers on the open market.

Murray's four seasons with the Cowboys were impressive. He racked up 4,526 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in Dallas, and he led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and scrimmage yards in 2014.

The problem is that Murray logged a league-high 392 carries and 449 touches the season before he reached free agency. He saw 1,105 total touches in his Cowboys career.

Despite that heavy workload, Philly gave the Oklahoma product a five-year, $40 million contract that included $21 million guaranteed.

Murray lasted just one year in Philadelphia, and it was a disaster. He didn't have the same burst he had the previous season, and he was an extremely poor fit for Chip Kelly's shotgun-heavy offense. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2015, while teammates Ryan Mathews (5.1 YPC) and Darren Sproles (3.8) both averaged more.

Ironically, Murray returned to Pro Bowl form in 2016 after he was traded to the Titans. However, he retired just three years after earning that 2014 rushing title.

14. Dana Stubblefield, DT, Washington Commanders (1998)

Contract terms: Six years, $36 million

NFL teams should be wary of players who seem to shine brightest when money is on the line. Overvaluing players who shine in contract years can lead to mishaps like Washington's 1998 signing of Dana Stubblefield.

Stubblefield, a 1993 first-round pick of the 49ers, had his fair share of highlights early. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year following a 10.5-sack season.

However, his sack and tackle numbers declined in each of the next three seasons, although he did make two Pro Bowls over that span. Then, in his contract year, the Kansas product ripped off 15 sacks and was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Washington then signed Stubblefield to a six-year, $36 million contract, hoping to pair him with Dan Wilkinson and form an elite defensive front. Unfortunately, he significantly underachieved.

In three seasons with Washington, Stubblefield recorded 115 tackles but only seven sacks. He was released in 2001 and lasted only three more seasons in the NFL.

13. Adam Archuleta, S, Washington Commanders (2006)

Contract terms: Six years, $30 million

Adam Archuleta entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick of the Rams in 2001. While he was never a Pro Bowler in St. Louis, he earned a reputation as a fast, physical playmaker and a key cog in the defenses of Lovie Smith and Larry Marmie.

Arculeta entered free agency in 2006 as a coveted defender, and Washington landed him with a six-year, $30 million contract. The deal made him the league's highest-paid safety at that time.

Unfortunately, he proved to be a poor fit in Gregg Williams' defense almost immediately.

The Arizona State product had excelled as a box safety but struggled to adapt to a more back-end style of play in Washington. He started just seven games in 2006 and was eventually benched without much explanation.

"I don't know if an explanation matters anymore because what's done is done," Archuleta said in late December 2006, per the Associated Press.

After just one season in Washington, Archuleta was traded to the Bears for a sixth-round draft pick. While the trade reunited him with Smith, Archuleta's 2007 campaign in Chicago was his last in the NFL.

12. Andre Rison, WR, Cleveland Browns (1995)

Contract terms: Five years, $17 million

When the Cleveland Browns signed Andre Rison in 1995, his five-year pact was the largest ever given to a wide receiver. Cash-strapped Browns owner Art Modell had to take out a personal loan to cover the signing bonus.

At the time, Modell hailed the deal as a game-changer for the franchise after Rison logged three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

"He's the biggest star we've signed," Modell told reporters in 1995. "He's the first home-run hitter we've had in a long time. He is truly a potential Hall of Famer. Since Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Paul Warfield, we have not had the caliber of player offensively like Andre Rison."

Rison didn't come close to matching his Pro Bowl production in Cleveland, though. He had only 41 catches for 746 yards and three scores during his lone season with the Browns.

Later that season, Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore, and Rison became one of the most reviled players in Browns history when he greeted the news with enthusiasm, saying, "Baltimore, here we come."

Rison never made the move, though. The Baltimore Ravens released him the next spring.

11. Randy Gregory, Edge, Denver Broncos (2022)

Contract terms: Five years, $70 million ($28 million guaranteed)

In a memorable free-agent swerve, Randy Gregory initially agreed on a five-year extension with the Dallas Cowboys, but he changed his mind because of language in the contract and pivoted to the Denver Broncos.

In hindsight, the Broncos' free-agent steal became a nightmare.

Based on total contract value, Gregory's five-year, $70 million deal ranked among the top five in the 2022 offseason. He wound up playing only 10 games for the Broncos across two seasons.

Gregory suffered a knee injury four weeks into the 2022 campaign and missed several games before his return in Week 15, but the edge-rusher's presence didn't help Denver's defense. He also received a $50,000 fine from the NFL for his involvement in a postgame scuffle with Los Angeles Rams guard Oday Aboushi.

Under a new coaching regime led by lead skipper Sean Payton, the Broncos showed little patience with Gregory's subpar performances. Denver benched him after only three games in the 2023 campaign and traded him to the San Francisco 49ers in early October.

Gregory registered a total of 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and 10 pressures in a Broncos uniform. Perhaps the Cowboys avoided a bad investment.

10. Ja'Wuan James, OT, Denver Broncos (2019)

Contract terms: Four years, $51 million ($32 million guaranteed)

Ja'Wuan James struggled to stay healthy early in his career, and he couldn't shake off the injury bug as a high-priced free-agent addition.

In his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, James missed 18 games. After he signed a massive four-year, $52 million deal with the Denver Broncos, his injuries became a more prominent issue.

James played only three games in 2019 due to knee injuries. He opted out of the 2020 term under the league's COVID-19 clause. While ramping up for a return to action, he tore his Achilles tendon in May 2021.

Days after James' Achilles injury, the Broncos placed him on the non-football injury list and subsequently released him. He went on to play one game with the Baltimore Ravens before he tore his Achilles again in 2022. 

Unfortunately for James, his body didn't hold up to the rigors of the NFL. Because of his contract value with the Broncos, he'll long be known as one of the biggest free-agent busts of all time.

9. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (2011)

Contract terms: Five years, $60 million ($25 million guaranteed)

The Eagles' ill-fated 2011 agreement with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha should serve as a cautionary tale about trying to shove an aging square peg into a round hole.

Asomugha, a 2003 first-round pick out of Cal, had become a bona fide star during his eight seasons with the Raiders. He cemented himself as one of the league's best press-man cover corners and made the Pro Bowl three straight years between 2008 and 2010.

After receiving his second first-team All-Pro nod in 2010, Asomugha hit free agency on the verge of turning 30. Philadelphia snapped up Asomugha as part of its "Dream Team" offseason, inking him to a five-year, $60 million contract.

The problems for Asomugha in Philly were twofold. His speed began to decline, and he wasn't a good schematic fit for Juan Castillo's zone-heavy defense. The Eagles did work to incorporate more man coverage in 2012, but Asomugha never regained the Pro Bowl form he had in Oakland.

The Eagles released Asomugha after only two seasons. He signed with the 49ers in 2013, but he appeared in only three games with the club before being waived and retiring.

8. Nick Foles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)

Contract terms: Four years, $88 million ($50.125 million guaranteed)

Nick Foles arrived in Jacksonville with Super Bowl shine. He led the Philadelphia Eagles to a title as a backup after taking over for the injured Carson Wentz late in the 2017 season.

Foles turned one of the most improbable Super Bowl runs in NFL history into a four-year, $88 million contract with the Jaguars in 2019. He wasn't able to recreate that magic in Duval County, though.

Instead, Foles experienced bad luck in the form of an injury in his first and only year with the Jaguars. In the season opener, he broke his clavicle. Though the high-priced quarterback returned later in the campaign, his inefficiencies and turnovers led to a change at the position.

By Week 14, the Jaguars benched Foles for then-rookie Gardner Minshew. That offseason, they traded the veteran to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft.

Foles' career arc is a cautionary tale for teams: favor consistency over flash moments and stretches when paying big money to free agents.

In the seven seasons before he signed with the Jaguars, Foles had never started for a full campaign. He primarily served in a backup role between 2016 and 2018, and he even contemplated retirement after the 2015 season.

7. Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans (2016)

Contract terms: Four years, $72 million ($37 million guaranteed)

Brock Osweiler played a significant role in the Denver Broncos' march to Super Bowl 50 in 2015, winning five of seven starts in place of an injured Peyton Manning. That stretch got him a massive contract from a Houston Texans team that was desperate to upgrade under center.

Team owner Bob McNair told reporters at the time that Houston was willing to do whatever it took to pry Osweiler away from the Broncos.

"As with anything, if there's more than one person that wants it, it's probably going to cost you more," McNair said. They wanted him ... the price kept going up and I think they finally figured out we weren't going away. We were prepared to do whatever it took to get the deal consummated."

There was just one small problem: Osweiler wasn't very good.

Osweiler started one season in Houston, completing 59 percent of his passes for just under 3,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

The following offseason, the Texans were so desperate to be rid of Osweiler that they sent two draft picks (including a second-rounder) to Cleveland just to dump his contract.

6. Byron Maxwell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (2015)

Contract terms: Six years, $63 million ($25 million guaranteed)

In 2011, cornerback Byron Maxwell entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Clemson. Over the next four years, he established himself as a capable contributor to Seattle's "Legion of Boom" defense. He helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl following the 2013 season and emerged as a regular starter in 2014.

During the 2015 offseason, the Eagles snapped up Maxwell in free agency, hoping to get a piece of the proverbial Super Bowl puzzle. They signed him to a six-year, $63 million contract that included $25 million guaranteed and immediately penciled him in as their No. 1 cornerback.

However, Maxwell was a poor fit for Billy Davis' defense and couldn't live up to the expectations of regularly challenging opposing No. 1 receivers. He certainly couldn't live up to the expectations that came with his hefty contract.

It turned out that being a fine role player in a great defense doesn't translate to being a quality centerpiece in a bad one.

After one rough season in Philadelphia, the Eagles traded Maxwell to the Miami Dolphins in 2016. The Dolphins released him a year-and-a-half later.

5. J.C. Jackson, CB, Los Angeles Chargers (2022)

Contract terms: Five years, $82.5 million ($40 million guaranteed)

When the Los Angeles Chargers gave veteran cornerback J.C. Jackson a five-year, $82.5 million deal in 2022, there was no shockwave that resonated through the NFL. 

Jackson amassed 25 interceptions in his first four seasons with the New England Patriots, which was tied for the most by a player over that span in the Super Bowl era. In 2021, Jackson picked off eight passes, led the league with 23 passes defensed and made the Pro Bowl.

Elite cornerbacks demand elite paychecks. And by just about any measurement, Jackson was elite—right up until he wasn't.

Things went sideways for Jackson with the Bolts right from the jump. Offseason ankle surgery cost him most of camp and the season opener. By Week 6, Jackson had been benched in favor of Michael Davis. He returned to the lineup just in time to suffer a season-ending knee injury. 

By October 2023, the Chargers had enough. They shipped Jackson back to New England for a swap of late-round draft picks.

All told, Jackson played seven games for the Chargers and logged only 18 total tackles and one interception. By 2024, he was out of the NFL entirely.

4. Javon Walker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (2008)

Contract terms: Six years, $55 million ($16 million guaranteed)

Before the Oakland Raiders signed Javon Walker to a six-year, $55 million deal in 2008, he had just two standout seasons in six years. Regardless, they awarded him a big contract after losing Jerry Porter in free agency that same year.

The Raiders didn't get the 2004 Pro Bowl version of Walker, who caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Green Bay Packers, or the wideout who racked up 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns with the Denver Broncos in 2006. In fact, the Silver and Black didn't see much of him at all.

Walker suited up for only 11 games with the Raiders. The prized free-agent pickup suffered a season-ending ankle injury in 2008 after recording only 15 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown across eight contests. The following season, he didn't record a single reception in his three appearances.

Oakland released Walker in March 2010. He'll go down as one of the biggest free-agent busts in NFL history because of his abysmally poor return on a six-year deal.

3. Kenny Golladay, WR, New York Giants (2021)

Contract terms: Four years, $72 million ($40 million guaranteed)

It wasn't Kenny Golladay's fault that the New York Giants massively overpaid him with a four-year, $72 million deal in 2021.

Golladay, a 2017 third-round pick out of Northern Illinois, was a good-not-great receiver during his four years with the Lions. He had two 1,000-yard campaigns and made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions in 2019. However, he greatly benefited from playing alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Giants didn't have a quarterback of Stafford's caliber when they made him one of the league's highest-paid receivers; they had Daniel Jones. They also shouldn't have ignored the fact that Golladay had just 338 yards during an injury-plagued 2020 campaign.

Hampered by the same hip injury that he suffered in 2020, Golladay had a disappointing first season in New York, although he did finish with a team-best 521 receiving yards. His second season with the Giants was an outright disaster, though. Despite appearing in 12 games, he finished with just six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants released Golladay after only two years, and he hasn't played in the NFL since then.

2. Christian Wilkins, DT, Las Vegas Raiders (2024)

Contract terms: Four years, $110 million ($82.75 million guaranteed)

In 2024, the Las Vegas Raiders backed up the Brink's truck for Christian Wilkins and signed him to a four-year, $110 million contract. That was the biggest free-agent deal among non-quarterbacks that year. 

Wilkins had a solid five-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins, though he broke out as a pass-rusher on an expiring contract, logging 30 pressures and nine sacks in 2023. Because of that, the Raiders envisioned him as an interior complement to edge-rusher Maxx Crosby.

However, they never saw what the duo could do together for an extended period. Five weeks into the 2024 campaign, Wilkins suffered a Jones fracture that required season-ending surgery.

According to ESPN's Ryan McFadden, Wilkins refused to undergo a second foot surgery, which contributed to the team's decision to void the guarantees in his contract and release him in 2025. The 30-year-old filed a grievance against the team, which remains unresolved as of February 2026.

Additionally, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Wilkins kissed a teammate on the head and made him feel uncomfortable, which prompted a complaint to the Raiders' human resources department. 

This is one of the most embarrassing free-agent whiffs in NFL history because the Raiders gave Wilkins nearly $83 million in guaranteed money for what amounted to five total games.

1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Washington Commanders (2009)

Contract terms: Seven years, $100 million ($41 million guaranteed)

No free-agent pairing has gone quite as badly as Washington's 2009 addition of Albert Haynesworth.

Haynesworth, a 2002 first-round pick of the Titans, was a good player during his seven seasons with Tennessee. However, he wasn't a regular star, and he had some character concerns.

Haynesworth was a first-team All-Pro in 2007 and again in 2008 when he played on the franchise tag, but he was suspended for five games in 2006 after stomping on the head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode.

Despite having just two standout seasons on his resume, the 27-year-old Haynesworth landed a seven-year, $100 million contract from Washington in free agency. The deal included $41 million guaranteed and was the first $100 million contract for a player in NFL history.

The entire Haynesworth experience was a debacle for Washington fans. He started 12 games in 2009 but boycotted workouts the following offseason and arrived at training camp out of shape. In 2010, he was suspended for four games for refusing to cooperate with head coach Mike Shanahan and his staff.

After only 20 games and 12 starts, Washington traded Haynesworth to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick in 2011. The Commanders won only 10 games in the two years of their Haynesworth experiment.

Busts By Team

Texans QB Brock Osweiler and Cardinals QB Sam Bradford

Arizona Cardinals: Sam Bradford (32)

Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins (17), Dante Fowler Jr. (45)

Baltimore Ravens: Earl Thomas (23)

Buffalo Bills: Derrick Dockery (26)

Carolina Panthers: Chuck Smith (34)

Chicago Bears: Mike Glennon (19)

Cincinnati Bengals: Trae Waynes (21)

Cleveland Browns: Andre Rison (12), Jeff Garcia (31), LeCharles Bentley (36)

Denver Broncos: Ja'Wuan James (10), Randy Gregory (11), Dale Carter (18)

Detroit Lions: Scott Mitchell (33), Trey Flowers (44)

Houston Texans: Brock Osweiler (7), Ahman Green (38)

Indianapolis Colts: Devin Funchess (49)

Jacksonville Jaguars: Nick Foles (8), Jerry Porter (29)

Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Wilkins (2), Javon Walker (4), Larry Brown (43), Cory Littleton (44), Trent Brown (48)

Los Angeles Chargers: J.C. Jackson (5), David Boston (27), Bryan Bulaga (35)

Los Angeles Rams: Allen Robinson (16)

New England Patriots: Antonio Brown (46)

New Orleans Saints: Jairus Byrd (30)

New York Giants: Kenny Golladay (3), LaVar Arrington (39), Nate Solder (50)

New York Jets: Neil O'Donnell (24), Le'Veon Bell (28)

Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Maxwell (6), Nnamdi Asomugha (9), DeMarco Murray (15), Bryce Huff (22), Malik Jackson (42)

San Francisco 49ers: Jonas Jennings (41)

Seattle Seahawks: Matt Flynn (25)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alvin Harper (40)

Washington Commanders: Albert Haynesworth (1), Adam Archuleta (13), Dana Stubblefield (14), Deion Sanders (20), William Jackson III (37)