The 8 Worst NFL Free Agent Overpays of 2026

Every year, NFL general managers swear to themselves that they will be frugal in free agency. That they will resist the urge to make the kind of "splash" signings that more often than not turn out to be overpays.

Then many do it anyway—often the brain trusts running teams who have struggled of late. When the edict is "get better or else," talking yourself into being a big spender becomes a lot easier.

It's not entirely their fault. When a young player at a premium position hits the open market there is going to be demand for his services. The more demand there is, the higher the asking price gets—especially if the pool of available talent at that position is shallow. Bad teams often have to up their offer even more to attract players—nothing soothes the agony of defeat quite like a big wheel of cheddar.

But no matter how you slice or rationalize it, every year there are signings that leave teams with buyer's remorse.

These deals are among the leading candidates in 2026.

EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Contract Terms: Four years, $120 million, $80 million guaranteed

There was little question that the Carolina Panthers needed to upgrade a pass rush that amassed the third-fewest sacks in the league last year on the way to a surprise playoff run. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan was aggressive in that regard, giving edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips the biggest contract of this free agency cycle in terms of average annual salary.

Phillips told reporters that $30 million a season wasn't the only reason he came to Charlotte.

"I think that what the team was able to accomplish last year was extremely impressive," Phillips said. "And I think everybody kind of recognized the organization as a contender and somebody, a team that's up and coming. I think that Dan did an awesome job of who he signed, and I'm just excited to come in and contribute to what the team was already doing in the upwards trajectory of what the organization was doing."

The truck full of cash didn't hurt though.

Phillips is a talented player entering his prime who had 35 pressures in 2025—good for 12th in the league per Pro Football Reference. But we're talking about a player whose best season in terms of sacks (8.5) came back in his rookie season in 2021. A player who suffered an Achilles tendon tear and torn ACL in consecutive seasons. And a player who hasn't had seven sacks in a campaign since 2022.

Sure, Phillips has potential. But $30 million a season is a lot to pay for "maybe."

WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Contract Terms: Four years, $114 million, $84 million guaranteed

They say that timing is everything, and Alec Pierce picked the perfect time to have the best season of his young career. After posting the first 1,000-yard season of his career and leading the NFL in yards per reception for the second straight year, Pierce was widely considered the top wide receiver available in free agency this year. The Indianapolis Colts wasted no time in making sure that the 25-year-old didn't go anywhere, signing him to a deal averaging $28.5 million a season.

That Pierce is a dangerous vertical threat is undeniable. But ESPN's Mike Clay questioned whether Pierce is truly ready to be a No. 1 wideout in the NFL.

"I was stunned to see all the pre-free agency hype--and eventual four-year, $116 million deal--for Pierce," he said. "I wasn't surprised because of his ability, but because of how little he was utilized in Indianapolis. Even in a breakout 2025 season, Pierce ranked 48th among receivers in target share (18%). In all four of his NFL seasons, he has finished no better than 42nd in targets, 45th in catches, 18th in yards and 18th in touchdowns. The Colts not only made Pierce one of the highest-paid receivers, but they then traded Michael Pittman Jr., who has had 200 more catches than Pierce since 2022."

Pierce has never logged even 50 catches in a season. His 1,003 receiving yards last year barely cracked the top-20 among pass-catchers. And he has never had a catch percentage over 56 percent, which ranked dead last among 1,000-yard receivers last year.

C Tyler Linderbaum, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Contract Terms: Three years, $81 million, $81 million guaranteed

After signing a record-setting contract to join the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum told reporters that he joined the team because he believes in the vision of general manager John Spytek and new head coach Klint Kubiak.

"A big reason of choosing the Raiders is the belief in what we are trying to build here," said Linderbaum. "The belief in coach Kubiak, John Spytek. Just the opportunity to build something special and be a part of it is what really drew me. Coach Kubiak's system is going to be a great fit for me. Really going to try to excel at the things I am good at."

Uh-huh. Sure. The three-year deal averaging a staggering $27 million a season that is effectively fully guaranteed was just the icing on the cake.

To be clear, Linderbaum is one of the best centers in the game—the 25-year-old has been to the Pro Bowl each of the past three years. The Raiders badly needed to improve the offensive line. And bad teams often have to a pay a premium to attract marquee free agents.

But the Raiders didn't just make Linderbaum the highest-paid center in the league. They blew the market at the position out of the water.

Before this year, there were two centers in the NFL who had average annual salaries in excess of $15 million. None made $20 million a year. Less than 10 centers make as much per season as the gap between Linderbaum and the NFL's second-highest paid center (Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs).

Linderbaum isn't just the highest-paid center in the league. He's the highest-paid interior lineman overall. And there are only five offensive tackles who make more per year.

There's resetting the market. And then there's blowing it to smithereens.

EDGE Odafe Oweh, Washington Commanders

AP Photo

AP Photo/William Liang

Contract Terms: Four years, $96 million, $68 million guaranteed

The Washington Commanders had a glaring need to get better on the edge after just one player on the team had six sacks last year. the team did so with the addition of Odafe Oweh, who had 7.5 sacks for the Los Angeles Chargers last year after hitting double-digits with the Baltimore Ravens the season before.

Counting the postseason with the Bolts last year, Oweh had back-to-back seasons with 10-plus sacks. But one NFL agent told Ralph Vacchiano and Eric Williams of Fox Sports that this is a pact the Commanders will come to regret.

"There's a reason Baltimore traded him to the Chargers last season," the agent said. "Moreover, I'm not sure that his one year of production in Los Angeles [relative to his lack of production in Baltimore] equates to $25 million a year to me."

It can be argued that the Commanders simply paid the going rate for a solid edge-rusher in his prime. That if they hadn't backed up the truck someone else would have. But over the first five games of last season, Oweh didn't have a sack with the Ravens. He doesn't add much against the run—Oweh has just one 40-tackle season in five professional seasons. And we just saw both the Ravens and Chargers (two of the better-run organizations in the NFL) pass on handing Oweh the big bucks.

It will take a career year from Oweh in 2026 to justify almost $70 million in guarantees.

That's not especially likely given the lack of talent around him up front in Washington.

EDGE Boye Mafe, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Contract Terms: Three years, $60 million, $19 million guaranteed

Apparently it was a good year to be a free agent edge-rusher—and a bad one to be a team needing one.

There was no question the Cincinnati Bengals needed help on the edge—the Bengals managed just 35 sacks as a team in 2025, and Trey Hendrickson left for Cincinnati's AFC North rivals in Baltimore.

After winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks last year, Mafe told reporters that he is ready to become the anchor for the Bengals' new-look pass-rush.

"I believe that's what they brought me in here to do -- bring that back into light," Mafe said. "Be that person to help in the pass rush, helping the defense on all downs. And that's what I want to do when I come here -- bring that championship mentality and bring that level to the game."

In fairness, the guarantees on Mafe's deal aren't especially onerous. And back in 2023, Mafe topped 50 tackles and added nine sacks.

But that was then, and this is now. After that nine-sack season, Mafe has managed just eight sacks over the last two years combined, including a career-low two in 2025. Mafe appeared to fall out of favor in the Emerald City last year as well—despite playing in all 17 games, Mafe made just four starts and played his fewest snaps since his rookie season.

The Bengals were desperate at edge-rusher after the biggest names at the position signed elsewhere. And nothing leads to an overpay quicker than desperation.

CB Alontae Taylor, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Contract Terms: Three years, $58 million, $42 million guaranteed

The Tennessee Titans entered free agency with two things—loads of cap space and needs all over the place.

Those needs included the cornerback position—especially after the Titans made the decision to release L'Jarius Sneed. But just as was the case when the Titans brought over Sneed in 2024, the team's exuberance to pay a veteran big bucks could come back to bite them.

 Before free agency even began, Bleacher Report's own Alex Kay singled out fifth-year pro Alontae Taylor as a free agent who could disappoint with his new team.

"Taylor's coverage skills have regressed in the years since he allowed a meager 48.5 percent completion rate and gave up zero touchdowns as a rookie," Kay said. "Opposing quarterbacks connected on 68.1 percent of throws made against him in 2025, a career-worst mark for the 27-year-old. He gave up a concerning 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons after allowing just four in his first two years."

Those concerns (and a 98.2 passer rating against in 2025) didn't dissuade the Titans from handing Taylor a three-year deal that includes over $40 million in guarantees. And to his credit, Taylor can play both outside and in the slot and he has 80-plus tackles each of the past two years.

Of course, when cornerbacks amass high tackle numbers, it often indicates that opposing quarterbacks have little reluctance regarding targeting that corner.

And Taylor has been targeted an average of almost 100 times a season over the last three years.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/John Locher

Contract Terms: Four years, $70 million, $38 million guaranteed

Over his first three professional seasons, Wan'Dale Robinson was a chain-mover out of the slot who failed to average even 10 yards a catch. But with Malik Nabers on the shelf last year, Robinson became the de facto No. 1 wideout for the New York Giants and responded with the first 1,000-yard season of his career.

Robinson parlayed that career year into a fat contract with the Tennessee Titans, and he told reporters that he's looking forward to playing with second-year quarterback Cam Ward.

"If you just watch the tape, him [Ward] being able to create plays outside of the pocket, that's what really stands out," Robinson said. "For me, being that valuable target, always being able to be open for a guy. They [the Titans] told me that they needed somebody like that. So that was really what got me, and just being able to grow with a young quarterback to see where he can get to. My job is to get open. Just go out there and get open for Cam, and the targets will come."

To be clear, Robinson is a good player who has tallied over 90 receptions each of the past two years.

But Robinson isn't a difference-maker. He just isn't. He doesn't have the upside of Romeo Doubs. He certainly doesn't have the resume of Mike Evans.

However, Robinson is making more annually than both of those receivers.

Spending money just to spend it is rarely a wise tactic for NFL front offices.

OG Zion Johnson, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Contract Terms: Three years, $49.5 million, $32.4 million guaranteed

There may not be a position group in the entire NFL that has undergone a more thorough overhaul in free agency than the offensive line in Cleveland. The team traded for tackle Tytus Howard. Signed former Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins to play center. And gave former first-round pick Zion Johnson over $30 million in guarantees to come play guard.

The problem, as Ethan Woodie wrote for NFL Trade Rumors, is that Johnson looked nothing like a first-round pick over four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.

There's a reason the Chargers declined his fifth-year option and elected not to compete with his market," he said. "Last season, Johnson had a 56.5 grade in PFF's system, good for 54th among qualifying guards. In four years, his best grade was a 64.9 in 2024, and his grade last season was the worst of his career. Now, the Browns absolutely had to improve along the offensive line. They are likely to return zero starters in 2026 — a wild and extremely rare phenomenon in the NFL. But spending that much on a guard who barely qualifies as "starting caliber" is not a smart investment."

Johnson is admittedly still young, and the Browns appear to be gambling on that first-round potential. But while injuries at tackle certainly played a role in the Chargers having a dreadful offensive line last year, so did the fact that Johnson was one of the worst starting guards in the league.