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John takes a look back at the worst free-agent signings of all time. Which players were the worst free agent acquisitions in NFL history?
With the free agency period for the 2025 NFL season now underway, many big-name players will find new homes as teams compete to sign anyone and everyone they think they need to help their squad. While many signings end up being good moves, or at least help their teams fill holes at certain positions on their depth charts, some transactions go horribly wrong.
A confluence of factors can lead to a signing being a bad idea. Whether due to injury, poor scheme fits, age-related production fall-off, or external factors such as poor coaching and team management, sometimes things just don't work out.
And it's always fun to look back and break down some of the worst mishaps in NFL history, so let's dive into that topic regarding free-agent signings!
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DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Murray led the second-best rushing attack in the NFL in 2014. As the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys, he handled immense volume as the clear workhorse RB1 behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. In just 16 regular season games, he rushed a ridiculous 392 times for 1,845 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. His rushing averages were impressive, considering his sheer volume.
DeMarco Murray’s 2014 season will live rent free in my head forever.pic.twitter.com/xhMEPjIeBx
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) February 17, 2025
He also caught 57 passes for 416 yards and racked up over 200 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in two playoff games. Dallas' offensive line was utterly dominant, reminiscent of the 90's lines that were some of the best in history. They certainly made Murray look better than he likely was, but the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a five-year, $42 million contract.
It's official: Eagles and RB DeMarco Murray agree to terms on a five-year contract. pic.twitter.com/tTV8paUkBt
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2015
Philly also had a good offensive line, so it was puzzling that Murray immediately fell off, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry on 193 carries and scoring just six touchdowns. 1.1 fewer yards per carry likely indicated that he was dealing with some kind of injury. It's possible the massive 497-touch season (including playoffs) in 2014 wore him down and caused him to accumulate injuries that were underreported.
He lasted just one year with the Eagles before being traded to the Tennessee Titans in a transaction that netted the Eagles very little -- they did it essentially to offload his contract. With Tennessee, he rushed 293 times for 1,287 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016 before regressing yet again to a 3.6-yard per carry season and was released after the year.
It's not completely clear why Murray didn't work out for the Eagles, but the signing was terrible nonetheless.
Albert Haynesworth, DT, Washington Redskins
The gold standard of terrible free-agent signings has to be former Washington Redskins (back when they were called that) defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. It's hard to say his character issues came out of nowhere, though. Before his infamous tenure with the now-newly-named Commanders, Haynesworth had a reputation for violent, extracurricular acts against other players.
First, during training camp for the Tennessee Titans in 2003, he kicked one of his teammates in the chest during an altercation that probably only didn't develop further because he was held back by his teammates. Then, in 2006, he severely injured a Dallas Cowboys player's forehead by stomping on it, clearly and blatantly attempting to injure him. He later threw a tantrum and was ejected.
Albert Haynesworth. If he wasn't trying to cleat someone's face off, he was lying down on the job watching a play go on. pic.twitter.com/YPCdOQIVuO
— Shots from the Sideline (@Shotsftsideline) March 9, 2025
For this, he was suspended for five games, which was incredibly rare at the time. It stood as the longest suspension for on-the-field behavior until infamous Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended 12 games for being one of the dirtiest players in the league.
But that wasn't even the most infamous incident. In a clip that's been replayed at least a million times each season, Haynesworth completely gave up on a play after he ended up on the ground "trying" to engage an offensive blocker. Even as the play went on, and the opposing team's quarterback had all day to throw the ball, Haynesworth didn't bother getting up, and let them score a touchdown.
Crazy that I couldn't find this, but Albert Haynesworth's infamous "giving up on the play" moment never gets old. pic.twitter.com/Mcxsby15Vs
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) March 10, 2025
Additionally, it was reported that he didn't participate in off-season programs and was severely out of shape. He also publicly criticized the defensive coaching staff and eventually didn't even finish the season which he signed with his new team. The subsequent year, his performance dipped markedly, and he washed out of the league shortly after.
There's no replacement for good effort in the NFL, and this tops my list of the worst free agent signings ever because less talented players who deal with injury issues or simply aren't good enough to succeed at least put the effort in. Refusing to even try is a different matter.
Jeff Garcia, QB, Cleveland Browns
It should come as no surprise that a Cleveland Browns quarterback makes this list. Garcia was signed for four years and $25 million after a few promising seasons with the San Francisco 49ers that saw him log seasons of 4,278 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, and 3,538 passing yards, 32 TDs, and 12 INTs.
While his play had fallen off the two years after that, he struggled with injuries to both himself and his teammates, and Cleveland figured he could get back on track, as he wasn't yet in his late 30s.
no one:
not a single, solitary soul:
us: hey remember when Jeff Garcia beat the Ravens in the Browns home opener in 2004 pic.twitter.com/DuwJztm3FB
— Browns Film Breakdown (@BrownsFilmBDN) August 27, 2024
It appeared they had made the right move when Garcia led the Browns to defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the season-opener in a shocking game. But the wheels fell off quickly from there, with Garcia completing just eight of 27 passes for 71 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions in a 12-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys one week later.
Garcia would win just two more games that season and didn't participate in the team's last three contests, making his record for that year a paltry 3-8. Cleveland's offense scored more than 20 points just three times, and Garcia averaged less just 157 passing yards per game. In Week 14, he tore ligaments in his knee against the Buffalo Bills after completing just one pass and didn't play again that year.
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Asomugha had a legendary career with the Oakland Raiders. For eight seasons with that team, he was one of the NFL's best cornerbacks, Asomugha earned First-Team All-Pro honors twice, Second-Team All-Pro honors twice as well, and was a three-time Pro-Bowler.
This was all despite not playing much in his first two seasons. But when he became a full-time player, opposing teams' quarterbacks became mortified by the idea of throwing the ball his way, largely because he racked up eight interceptions in his third season in the league. He also sacked an opposing quarterback once, forced a fumble, and scored a touchdown.
Nnamdi Asomugha in man coverage 🔒 pic.twitter.com/QWaa9F5LxE
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) December 18, 2024
A member of the USA Today and Fox Sports' All-Decade teams for the 2000s, he was the least targeted cornerback in the league by a massive margin during his final seasons with the Raiders. He was regularly named a team captain and praised widely for his athletic talents, production, and work ethic.
On this day in 2011, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha to a 5 year $60 million contact. pic.twitter.com/DimmG701R8
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) July 29, 2021
Thus, the Philadelphia Eagles saw no issues with adding him to their squad and decided to sign him to a $60 million deal for the next five seasons. He played well enough in 2011 to be named a Pro Bowl alternate but didn't look much like the generational cornerback he was in his Oakland days.
Then, in 2012, the wheels really fell off. After the season, Philly tried to restructure his contract, but the two couldn't agree on terms, so he was let go. He was later signed by the San Francisco 49ers and played in just three games before officially retiring.
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