Top 15 Worst Free Agent Signings in NFL History
By Josh Hill
10. Scott Mitchell – QB
Team:
Detroit Lions (1994)
Contract:
3-yr/$21M*
When the Detroit Lions signed Scott Mitchell in 1994, they thought they had one the best sweepstakes of their lives. Instead, Mitchell was mediocre at best under center for the Lions but somehow managed to suck as much money as he could out of the franchise. Mitchell’s first contract with the Lions was worth $11 million with a $5 million signing bonus, but despite looking above average, Detroit threw $8 million more at him in 1997 but Mitchell never was able to bring the Lions any success. Barry Sanders was so distraught over the lack of success Mitchell brought that he actually retired in 1999 because of it — well, more because the Lions front office, but MItchell’s contracts played a major role in the general stupidity of how things were run. If you want a modern day example of the Scott Mitchell deal, look no further than Matt Flynn.
9. Andre Rison – WR
Team: Cleveland Browns (1995)
Contract: 5-yr/$17M
At the time, Andre “Bad Moon” Rison was a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who the Browns thought could come in and be a leader (seeing a trend here with the Browns?) but instead the move sits as one of the worst ever made by the Browns — and that’s saying a lot. By giving him $17 million in 1995, Cleveland made Rison the highest paid receiver in NFL history but he rewarded them with a less than stellar season and ended up being released when the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996.
8. Elvis Grbac – QB
Team:
Baltimore Ravens (2001)
Contract:
5-yr/$30M ($11M guaranteed)
With a name as cool as Elvis Grbac, the man sure didn’t live up to what he could have been. Ravens fans today are forced to watch the team be disassembled due to salary cap issues, but history repeats itself and Grbac’s signing in 2001 helped put the Ravens in a similar situation in the mid-2000s. After winning Super Bowl XXXV, Trent Dilfer moved on to the Seattle Seahawks and the Ravens locked up Grbac long term with big money. After giving him $11 million guaranteed, Grbac lasted one season but his cap hit was felt well into the future.
7. Jerry Porter – WR
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars (2008)
Contract: 6-yr/$30M ($10M guaranteed)
The name Jerry Porter makes general manager cringe because his name translates in busniess talk to horrible deal. After putting together some impressive years with the Raiders, Porter was given a massive six-year, $30 million contract from the Jaguars which included $10 million of guaranteed money. And what did the Jaguars get for spending all that cash: 11 catches and a single, miserable season from Porter.
6. Nate Odomes – CB
Team: Seattle Seahawks (1994)
Contract: 4-yr/$8.5M
With the Buffalo Bills, Nate Odomes was a key piece in getting his team to four straight Super Bowls, and he is still regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the history of the franchise. But once he hit the open market after an injury shortened 1993 season, he cashed in on his success big time as the Seattle Seahawks handed him a four-year, $8.5 million contract. Odomes never played a single down for the Seahawks after signing that deal as two knee injuries kept him out of every single game he could have played for the Seahawks.