NFL’s Biggest Contract Disasters: When Big Money Was a Huge Mistake

by Jeremy Block - 12/25/2024

NFL biggest contract disasters Daniel Jones New York Giants

When it comes to the NFL, there are a few things we can always count on -- crazy contracts and teams throwing insane amounts of money at players in hopes of securing that next Super Bowl win. But sometimes? Those big-money deals turn into complete disasters.

Whether it’s due to injury, decline in performance, or just plain bad luck, some contracts have haunted teams for years, making them question their entire approach to player acquisition. Here’s a look at some of the most disastrous contracts in NFL history -- because, let’s face it, not every big payday ends with confetti falling.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

1. Albert Haynesworth - Washington Redskins, 2009

Albert Haynesworth, the guy who turned the defensive line into a high-priced benchwarmer. The Washington Redskins thought they hit the jackpot when they signed the star defensive tackle to a seven-year, $100 million deal in 2009. Yeah, you read that right.

Haynesworth had been a terror for the Tennessee Titans, and the Redskins believed they were getting the next big thing. Spoiler alert: they were wrong. Haynesworth’s commitment to conditioning was about as strong as his commitment to playing. He showed up overweight, half-heartedly participated in practices, and barely contributed on the field. The contract turned into a colossal waste of money, and the Redskins ended up cutting him after just two seasons. Not only did Washington lose out on a ton of cash, but they also missed out on a potential playoff push. Talk about a money pit.

2. Brock Osweiler - Houston Texans, 2016

Let’s talk about Brock Osweiler, the man who somehow landed a $72 million contract after a few decent games with the Denver Broncos. The Houston Texans, desperate for a quarterback, decided to give Osweiler the keys to their offense in 2016. It’s as if they thought he was the next great QB when, in reality, he was more like a “how not to play QB” instructional video.

Osweiler threw more interceptions than touchdowns in his first season with the Texans. And by mid-2017, they were begging for anyone to replace him. The Texans were forced to trade him off to the Cleveland Browns to dump that bloated contract, and they ended up paying him just to leave. It was one of the most embarrassing contract decisions of the decade. And for Osweiler, his NFL career was over faster than he could say, “I’ll take that $72 million.”

3. Daniel Jones - New York Giants, 2019

As a Giants fan, this one still stings -- but we have to talk about it: Daniel Jones, the guy who looks like he should still be taking high school physics, somehow landed a four-year, $160 million deal with the New York Giants after a so-so 2022 season. The Giants, fresh off an unexpected playoff run, decided to pay him like he was a top-tier QB. Spoiler: he’s not.

Jones has consistently underperformed and even looked lost during big moments. It became clear pretty fast that the Giants were way too generous with their money. A few months into the contract, the football world collectively sighed. $160 million for a QB who could barely lead his team out of the first round of the playoffs? Yeah, us Giants fans weren’t exactly feeling like Super Bowl contenders after that one.

4. Mark Sanchez - New York Jets, 2012

Mark Sanchez was supposed to be the next big thing for the New York Jets. After leading them to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons, the Jets gave him a three-year, $40.4 million extension in 2012, thinking they were securing their franchise QB.

Instead, they got a rollercoaster of inconsistency, questionable decision-making, and the infamous “butt fumble”. Sanchez’s performance dropped drastically, and the Jets quickly realized they’d committed way too much to a guy who had reached his ceiling. By 2014, Sanchez was benched and ultimately released. That huge extension? Yeah, it was money down the toilet for New Yorkers, leaving the Jets scrambling for a real QB while their bank accounts were drained.

5. Sam Bradford - Minnesota Vikings, 2016

Sam Bradford’s career has been one of the most tragic “what could’ve been” stories in the NFL, and his 2016 contract with the Minnesota Vikings might be one of the worst in history. After the Vikings lost their starting QB in Teddy Bridgewater to a devastating knee injury, they traded for Bradford, and gave him a two-year, $35 million contract. They were desperate for a QB to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive. What did they get? A guy who could throw the ball, but mostly to the wrong team.

Bradford played okay for the Vikings, but injuries continued to plague him, and his performance never quite lived up to the big money he was handed. The Vikings were stuck with him for far too long before realizing they’d made a mistake. Bradford's contract was another example of teams being desperate and overpaying for mediocrity.

6. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans, 2011

In 2010, Chris Johnson ran for more than 1,300 yards, making him one of the most dynamic backs in NFL history. After that historic season, the Tennessee Titans thought it was a good idea to reward him with a four-year, $53 million contract in 2011. What happened after? Well, Johnson’s performance plummeted.

By 2012, he was released, and the Titans got very little return on their investment. Johnson was simply never the same after his magical 1,300-yard season. The Titans' “we’ll give him the money, and he’ll get back to being dominant” strategy didn’t exactly work out. Johnson’s decline turned this deal into another fairy tale of paying for past performance instead of future potential.

7. Ryan Tannehill - Tennessee Titans, 2020

How can we forget about Ryan Tannehil? Now, Tannehill wasn’t exactly a high-profile name when the Titans handed him a four-year, $118 million extension in 2020 after a solid performance for the 2019 season. The deal seemed reasonable at the time, but Tannehill’s true limitations came to light in the following seasons.

While he had some success, the Titans couldn't quite get over the hump with him as their leader. Tannehill consistently failed to make the necessary big throws in key playoff moments, and the Titans quickly realized that they had paid a lot of money for a "mediocre" quarterback who would never be the one to put them over the top. The contract quickly became a questionable investment for a team that needed more than average from its highest-paid player.

Get NFL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

Start:	December 26, 2024 @ 8:15 PM
Expert:	Scott Spreitzer
Free $60 Account Sign Up

NFL’s Biggest Contract Disasters: When Big Money Was a Huge Mistake

Most Recent NFL Handicapping