The top NFL free agents in 2024n have largely come off the board with a tidal wave of moves during the first week of NFL free agency. While there will still be deals made in the days and weeks to come, we can now make a first judgment on the worst moves in NFL free agency 2024.
While the real answers won’t come for at least another year, it’s also important to remember that oftentimes big splashes don’t work out. We’ll also hold ourselves accountable, revisiting what we viewed as the worst moves in NFL free agency last year, getting about 66 percent of those calls correct.
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Here are the 12 worst moves in NFL free agency in 2024.
Chicago Bears bet too much on D’Andre Swift’s 2023 breakout
Last season behind a worse offensive line than they’ll have in 2024, Chicago Bears running backs Khalil Herbert (4.6) and Roschon Johnson (4.3) averaged over 4.2 yards per carry. Yet, Chicago decided to invest $14 million guaranteed and an $8 million average annual salary into D’Andre Swift. Maybe he’s capable of replicating his success from 2023 (1,263 scrimmage yards and 6 touchdowns).
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However, that easily could’ve been a byproduct of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line and system. Let’s not forget that Miles Sanders went from averaging 4.9 yards per carry with 1,269 rushing yards in 2022 with Philadelphia then signed with the Carolina Panthers and was benched with a 3.3 ypc average. The Bears might’ve bought high on Swift’s inflated numbers.
Pittsburgh Steelers give away Diontae Johnson
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never seemed to be in a good place with Diontae Johnson, especially in recent years. Granted, the source of that issue is primarily the fact that the Steelers’ organization settled for below-average quarterback play. Pittsburgh gave Johnson away, receiving a draft pick that in all likelihood won’t make the roster and cornerback Donte Jackson. For context, Jackson allowed a 100.4 QB rating, 5 touchdowns and 70.7 percent completion rate in coverage over the last two seasons. The Steelers still need a No. 2 cornerback and now they must add another offensive weapon.
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Jacksonville Jaguars botch Calvin Ridley situation, lose him to rival
We’ll give away part of this list right now. Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke is responsible for two of the worst moves in NFL free agency 2024. Everyone around the NFL said they should’ve extended edge rusher Josh Allen last year, freeing them up to use the franchise tag on Calvin Ridley. Instead, Jacksonville tagged Allen and lost Ridley to one of its AFC South rivals. All of this is made worse because Jacksonville traded a third-round pick for Ridley. Baalke is in a class of his own in terms of asset mismanagement.
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Las Vegas Raiders overpay for Gardner Minshew
Everyone still remembers what Gardner Minshew did in 2019, posting a 91.2 QB rating with a 21-6 TD-INT ratio and a 6-6 record. He’s also credited for the Indianapolis Colts almost making the playoffs last season and the “Minshew Mania” brand seemed to be enough to convince the Las Vegas Raiders to give him $15 million guaranteed. For context, that’s nearly $10 million more than Jacoby Brissett.
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Minshew was bailed out by Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen last year. Even with one of the best NFL play-callers supporting him, Minshew ranked 29th in Completion Rate over Expectation (-3.3), 24th in On-Target Throw rate (74.2 percent), 33rd in QB rating when pressured (66.62) and had the fourth-highest Turnover-Worthy Play rate (3.8 percent) among starting quarterbacks. If Minshew is the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2024, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Jerry Jones proves ‘all-in’ approach is just Dallas Cowboys’ PR
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated before the offseason that the team would be all-in to contend for a Super Bowl. People bought it, even though this is the same coach who retained Mike McCarthy after another playoff embarrassment. Surprise surprise, the Cowboys did next to nothing in NFL free agency. It’s time to face the facts in Dallas. Everything Jones says is just for temporary PR, there’s no substance to anything. Dallas will continue to be a draft-and-develop team that tops out with Divisional Round playoff defeats. That’s the standard Jones is happy to accept as long as the Cowboys turn a profit and stay in the headlines.
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Seattle Seahawks double-down on Leonard Williams overpay
If Leonard Williams was simply a free agent signed by the Seattle Seahawks, this signing would be fine. Seattle overpaid for Williams, signing him to a three-year deal worth $21.5 million annually entering his age-30 season. However, he at least played at a high level in the second half of the 2023 season. What makes this one of the worst moves is that Seattle forced itself to overpay for Williams because it traded a 2024 second-round pick for him at the trade deadline last season. You have to view the entire context of this deal and that’s what makes it inexcusable for the Seahawks’ front office.
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Carolina Panthers utterly botch Brian Burns’ situation
Everyone knows the story by now. In 2022, the Los Angeles Rams offered two first-round picks (2024 and 2025) along with a 2025 second-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Brian Burns. Carolina rejected that offer and then refused to move Burns at the 2023 NFL trade deadline. You can only take that approach if you are keeping Burns long-term, making him a cornerstone piece for the future. Instead, the Panthers never came close to a contract extension and then flipped Burns for a second-round pick. Under David Tepper, the Panthers have become the worst-run franchise in the NFL.
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Philadelphia Eagles completely whiff at linebacker
One of the most glaring needs across the NFL this offseason was the Philadelphia Eagles’ hole at off-ball linebacker. Fortunately for general manager Howie Roseman, there were several intriguing options available in free agency. He settled for arguably the worst choice. Devin White is fast and that’s about all he has going for him. Pro Football Focus graded him as the worst off-ball linebacker in the NFL last season (47.4 PFF grade) and he rated as the second-worst linebacker (43.7 PFF grade) in 2022. Undisciplined and a massive liability in pass coverage, White doesn’t solve the Eagles’ problem.
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Gabe Davis contract becomes the latest Jacksonville Jaguars’ blunder
The Jaguars hoped to come out of this offseason with both Calvin Ridley and Gabe Davis in their receiving corps. Instead, they lost their No. 1 wideout and overpaid for skills they could’ve gotten for much cheaper in the 2024 NFL Draft. Gabe Davis is a pure vertical threat who hasn’t even proven to be all that consistent in that area. However, Jacksonville watched him burn their secondary once in 2023 (100 yards on 8 targets) and decided that was worth $24 million guaranteed. There’s a reason the Buffalo Bills let Davis walk at that price and upgraded with Curtis Samuel ($15 million guaranteed).
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Carolina Panthers forced to overpay for Robert Hunt
Panthers’ owner David Tepper put his franchise in a situation where they have to vastly overpay to land any sought-after talent on the open market. While we credit Carolina for upgrading its offense this offseason, especially in the trenches, the “Tepper Tax” just led to the Panthers paying Robert Hunt $100 million. Hunt is now the third-highest-paid guard in the NFL ($20 million AAV). However, his potential shortcomings were hidden because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got the football out faster than anyone (2.25 average time to throw) last season. The Dolphins’ system isn’t coming to Carolina and that creates a big risk that Hunt proves to be a byproduct of Miami’s system.
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Chicago Bears completely mishandle Justin Fields
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kenny Pickett (78.8 career QB rating) and the 120th overall pick for the 98th overall pick and two seventh-round picks in 2025. In 2021, the New York Jets received second and fourth-round picks for a sixth-round selection and Sam Darnold (78.6 QB rating). Somehow, all the Chicago Bears could get for Justin Fields (82.3 career QB rating and 2,220 rushing yards) was a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick. That’s entirely because the Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles, utterly mishandled the situation. He set the price way too high at the beginning – 2024 second-round pick and an additional asset – then backed off when every quarterback-needy team addressed its problem. This is an awful look for the Bears’ front office.
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Jonah Williams contract summarizes the Arizona Cardinals’ overspending
Bad teams have to overspend in NFL free agency, but it feels like the Arizona Cardinals have taken that to another level. Under general manager Monti Ossenfort, Arizona spent $$26.75 million guaranteed on defensive tackle Justin Jones, graded by PFF as the 113th-best defensive tackle in the NFL last season. Then, after releasing DJ Humphries, the Cardinals filled the void at offensive tackle with Jonah Williams on a two-year deal worth $30 million. Williams allowed the most sacks at left tackle in the NFL (13) during the 2022 season then surrendered the sixth-most sacks at right tackle (eight) in 2023. With 126 pressures and 28 sacks allowed over the last three seasons, Willaims seems more like a turnstile than a reliable right tackle.
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