Top 4 most disappointing NFL free agents signings in the last 5 seasons
Some of the greatest names in the NFL are presently shopping their services to new teams as free agency heats up in the league. Already, some of the game’s biggest names have signed with new teams, and plenty of cash has changed hands on the open market.
NFLInsider go back over the past years and discuss the worst free agency transactions.
#4. Earl Thomas (Ravens, 2019)
After playing for Seattle for a while, Earl Thomas III joined the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in 2019. The richest contract ever offered to a defensive player in the history of the Ravens, his four-year, $55 million contract was signed when he joined the organization.
Their efforts yielded just fair results. Thomas was fired the following August after getting into a brawl with teammate safety Chuck Clark during practice. Thomas cost the organization $23.5 million over a period of 17 months, but he only played in 15 games.
#3. Sam Bradford (Cardinals, 2018)
Sam Bradford enjoyed a prosperous NFL career, but his brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 may have brought him his simplest financial gains to date. In March of that offseason, Bradford agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with the team, with $15 million guaranteed.
Josh Rosen, a quarterback out of UCLA, was chosen by the team with the 10th overall choice a month later. Rosen eventually took over as the starting quarterback after the season's first three games, and on November 3 of that year, Arizona chose to dismiss Bradford. Bradford only started three games, but the Cardinals still gave him $15.9 million.
#2. Le’Veon Bell (Jets, 2019)
Le'Veon Bell sat out the whole 2018 season to avoid the Steelers, which allowed him to sign with any team in 2019. Ultimately, Bell reached a settlement with the New York Jets for $42 million over four years—money he would never see again.
Bell played for the Jets for 17 games over the span of two years before being released in the middle of October 2020. Despite earning $28 million and only scoring four times while playing for the Jets, Bell never had a game with 100 yards of rushing.
#1. Antonio Brown (Patriots, 2019)
Sam Bradford enjoyed a prosperous NFL career, but his brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 may have brought him his simplest financial gains to date. In March of that offseason, Bradford agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with the team, with $15 million guaranteed.
Josh Rosen, a quarterback out of UCLA, was chosen by the team with the 10th overall choice a month later. Rosen eventually took over as the starting quarterback after the season's first three games, and on November 3 of that year, Arizona chose to dismiss Bradford. Bradford only started three games, but the Cardinals still gave him $15.9 million.
