Worst Free Agent Signings in Recent NFL History

The goal for every team during free agency is to add players that can fill holes in their roster. Obviously.

But it doesn’t always work out. Plenty of players disappoint, whether due to injury, scheme fit, decline in play, etc. So after previously highlighting some of the best free agency additions in recent history, let’s take a look now at some of the worst.

Quarterback

Brock Osweiler, Houston Texans (2016)

The same year Peyton Manning signed with Denver, the Broncos also selected Brock Osweiler in the second round of the draft. He obviously sat behind Manning until the 2015 campaign, where Osweiler started five games. In those games, he completed 61.8% of his passes for nearly 2,000 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions and 7.2 yards per attempt. He apparently showed enough promise to the Texans, who signed him to a four-year, $72 million deal the following season. Osweiler was awful in Houston, completing just 59% of his passes for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and 5.0 yards per attempt. The Texans traded him after one season, and because the contract was so bad, they ultimately had to part ways with a second-round pick just to get Osweiler off their books.

Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)

Following playing hero for the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run, Nick Foles was awarded a four-year deal with Jacksonville with just over $50 million was guaranteed. Not only did Foles not play well with the Jaguars, but he suffered a broken collarbone, limiting him to just four games with the team. Between the injury, poor play and emergence of Gardner Minshew, Foles was a massive disappointment for the Jaguars.

Honorable Mentions

Sam Bradford, Arizona Cardinals (2018)
Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins (2017)

Running Back

DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles (2015)

Talk about a tale of two seasons. DeMarco Murray was the best running back in the NFL in 2014, leading the league in carries (392), rushing yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13). He won Offensive Player of the Year but hit free agency. After facing him twice during the regular season, the Eagles decided adding Murray to their roster made sense, giving him a five-year, $40 million deal in 2015. However, he took a massive step backward, rushing for just over 700 yards and six touchdowns on 193 carries. Murray averaged 3.6 yards per carry and often split work with Ryan Mathews. After logging 74% of the offensive snaps in 2014 with the Cowboys, Murray’s snap share plummeted to just 41.7% in his first (and only) season with the Eagles. The Eagles traded Murray to the Tennessee Titans just one year later.

Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons (2020)

Todd Gurley was a fantasy superstar during his five seasons with the Rams, finishing as the PPR RB9, RB15, RB1, RB3 and RB14. He was a consensus top-five selection in fantasy drafts. Once he hit free agency ahead of the 2020 campaign, Gurley decided to return to Georgia, where he played in college. The veteran signed a one-year deal with the Falcons, but the only reason he was even the RB23 in fantasy was due to availability. Gurley was actually the RB35 in fantasy points per snap (0.32), ranking 27th in avoided tackles per attempt (0.17). His 2.1% breakaway run rate was a massive drop, and he recorded just five total runs of 15-plus yards. 2020 was not only Gurley’s only season with the Falcons, but it was also his final year in the NFL.

Honorable Mentions

Le’Veon Bell, New York Jets (2019)
Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons (2013)
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers (2023)

Wide Receiver

Kenny Golladay, New York Giants (2021)

No doubt about it, the signing of Kenny Golladay was one of the worst in NFL history. It’s unfortunate, too, because Golladay ascended as a legitimate alpha wide receiver for the Lions. From 2018 to 2019, Golladay averaged 67.5 receptions, 117.5 targets, 1,126 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged nearly 17 yards per reception during that span. With the Giants desperate for wide receiver help, they signed Golladay to a four-year, $72 million deal in 2021. Golladay, who already wasn’t a wideout who could consistently separate, struggled in all facets of the game, also dropping a ton of passes. In 26 games with the Giants, Golladay totaled 43 receptions for just over 600 yards and one touchdown. He scored a total of 109.1 fantasy points in two seasons, with his best weekly finish being WR19. 

Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (2022)

This one hurts, because I was really high on Allen Robinson heading to the Rams. We saw Robert Woods consistently post solid WR2 production as the second option in Sean McVay’s offense, and Robinson would inherit that role. And the playing time was elite before suffering a foot injury in November, as Robinson ran a route on 92% of the team’s dropbacks through Week 11. However, he only was targeted on 14% of his routes and sported an uninspiring 16% target share. During Weeks 1-11 when he was healthy, Robinson was fantasy’s WR51, despite the really healthy role in a much better offense than what he was in with the Bears.

Honorable Mentions

Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins (2021)
Javon Walker, Oakland Raiders (2008)
Laurent Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)

Tight End

Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints (2016)

I’ll admit it. Back in 2016, I fell for the Coby Fleener hype. A popular pick as the next breakout tight end, Fleener signed a five-year, $36 million contract with the Saints, an offense that had been extremely TE-friendly over the years. And with Fleener often splitting time with Dwayne Allen in Indianapolis, there was excitement about his new role in a Drew Brees-led offense. Unfortunately, Fleener disappointed, catching a total of 72 passes for 926 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons with the Saints. He finished as the TE15 and TE34 in fantasy during that span.

Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers (2018)

While he certainly wasn’t the same player he had been in New Orleans and then Seattle, there was hype surrounding Jimmy Graham’s move to Green Bay alongside Aaron Rodgers. The Packers signed Graham to a three-year, $30 million contract in hopes to add a huge red zone presence for Rodgers and the pass game. Graham, however, found the end zone just five times in two seasons with Green Bay, while ranking as the TE20 and TE31 in fantasy points per game.

Honorable Mentions

Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers (2020)
Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots (2021)