While every free agent signing looks great on paper, many of them have fallen flat. A select few of these signings have gone down in infamy while serving as cautionary tales for today's general managers.
Next week, a slew of NFL free agents will sign with new teams. A few of these signings will lead to success for both the player and his new team. Unfortunately, just as many signings will be looked at as duds when the dust settles.
It's safe to say that each of the NFL's 32 general managers are hoping to avoid making a signing that one day joins the following list of the worst free agent signings in history.
10. RB Franco Harris (Seahawks): 1984
One of the greatest running backs of all time, Harris signed with Seattle after a contract dispute with the Steelers. The Hall of Famer had just 170 yards in eight games with the Seahawks after rushing for over 1,000 yards during his final year in Pittsburgh.
9. WR Antonio Brown (Patriots): 2019
The Patriots paid Brown $9 million to catch four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in one game. Off-field issues ultimately led to the Patriots quickly releasing the former All-Pro wideout after just one game. Brown later had temporary success in Tampa Bay before more issues led to his release.
8. Andre Rison (Browns): 1995
The cash-strapped Browns had to take out a loan in order to sign Rison to what was at the time the most lucrative deal for a wide receiver in NFL history. Rison, who signed a five-year, $17 million deal, caught less than half of his targets in what was a disastrous year for both himself and the Browns, who announced during the season that they were moving to Baltimore.
Rison won a Super Bowl with the Packers the following season after not making the move to Baltimore.
7. Nnamdi Asomugha (Eagles): 2011
Asomugha was coming off of three straight Pro Bowl seasons with the Raiders when he signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Eagles. His signing was one of the things that prompted then-Eagles backup quarterback Vince Young to declare the Eagles as the "Dream Team".
While Asomugha wasn't terrible from a statistical standpoint, the Eagles' 12-20 record during his two seasons in Philadelphia branded the signing as a major bust. He was released after the 2012 season.
6. CB J.C. Jackson (Chargers): 2022
Jackson signed a whopping five-year, $82.5 million deal a year after picking off a career-high eight passes with the Patriots in 2021. Injuries, however, limited him to just five games during his first season in Los Angeles.
Jackson played in just two games for the Chargers in 2023 before he was traded back to New England in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. New England released him earlier this month.
5. RB Le'Veon Bell (Jets): 2019
Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets after sitting out the entire 2018 season over a contract dispute. A two-time All-Pro with the Steelers, Bell struggled to find his footing in New York. He averaged a scant 3.2 yards per carry during his first season with the Jets. Bell played in just two games for the Jets in 2020 before being released.
4. QB Nick Foles (Jaguars): 2019
The Jaguars were hoping for more magic from Foles, a former Super Bowl MVP who signed a four-year, $91 million deal that included a franchise-record $50.125 million guaranteed. A broken collarbone, poor play and the emergence of Gardner Minshew ultimately ended Foles' run in Jacksonville after four uneventful games.
3. S Adam Archuleta (Washington): 2006
Washington made the former Rams first-round pick the highest-paid safety in NFL history with a six-year, $30 million deal. Archuleta started just seven games for Washington, though, before he was traded to the Bears in 2007.
2. WR Kenny Golladay (Giants): 2021
This is one of the worst free agent acquisitions of all time for good reason. Golladay was a Pro Bowler with the Lions in 2019, was injured most of the 2020 season, then signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Giants in 2021. He caught just 43 passes in two seasons with the Giants, who released him last offseason.
1. DT Albert Haynesworth (Washington): 2009
Washington signed the two-time All-Pro to a seven-year, $100 million contract, but quickly regretted that decision. During his first year in Washington, Haynesworth publicly questioned the coaching staff while failing to produce up to expectations. Conflicts between Haynesworth and the coaching staff continued in 2010, along with his lack of production. Haynesworth was traded to the Patriots in 2011.
