Rachel Wold
As the 2017 NFL season winds down, it is easy to move our thinking to the upcoming free agency period. But, before we envision where upcoming free agents like Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will land, let’s reflect on some of the big-name free agents that signed with new teams in 2017.
Specifically, we are going to review some of the biggest free agent busts. We are talking about players that did not even last a complete 16 games with their new teams.
From uninspiring quarterbacks to guys who claimed they were in tip-top shape to players who landed on IR, here are 15 NFL free agent busts from the 2017 season.
DeSean Jackson, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs paid Jackson quite generously to the tune of $35 million to woo him to Tampa Bay for three years. Whether it was a lack of chemistry with quarterback Jameis Winston, or a decline in overall productivity, Jackson did not have a dazzling season.
Prior to missing Week 16 with an ankle injury, Jackson caught 50 of his 90 targets for 668 yards and three touchdowns. His 13.4 yards per reception marked an all-time career low.
In all, the Bucs have had a dismal season. And Jackson has definitely lost a lot of his electricity that the team was surely hoping he would bring to the table.
Adrian Peterson, running back, New Orleans Saints/Arizona Cardinals
Peterson went from the Saints to the Cardinals to IR in what seemed the blink of an eye. The seven-time Pro-Bowler, who claimed he was in his best shape ever, quickly became a royal pain in Saints head coach Sean Payton’s side. During his brief spell in New Orleans, Peterson rushed 27 times for 81 yards and caught just two passes.
A trade with the Cardinals sent Peterson to Arizona. There Peterson played in six games, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for an average of 3.5 yards per carry. A lingering neck injury landed the 32-year-old All-Pro on IR.
Despite Peterson’s premature season ending, head coach Bruce Arians says AP will still have a role alongside David Johnson in 2018.
Logan Ryan, cornerback, Tennessee Titans
The Titans did not exactly receive the dynamic defensive back they planned for when they signed Ryan — a former New England Patriot. Instead, Ryan has defended just 11 passes and has yet to tally an interceptions as a Titan. He has also recorded only 62 combined tackles compared to last season’s 92 total tackles.
The Titans secondary as an entity is one of the weaker ones in the league. Ryan’s absence in Week 16, and possibly 17 (ankle injury), does not help matters as Tennessee tries to get into the playoffs.
Ryan currently is the 60th-ranked defensive back in the league at bringing down ball carriers, according to NFL.com. This pales in comparison to Ryan ranking eighth among his peers in 2016.
Mike Glennon, quarterback, Chicago Bears
Glennon has been trying to make a go of it as a starting quarterback in the NFL since 2013. The team that committed to him as its starter for 2017 made an about face. Glennon was signed by the Bears with the intent he would start. But, low and behold, the Bears pulled a fast one and moved up to draft rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who replaced Glennon in Week 5.
Unfortunately, Glennon was not cutting the mustard as a starter after managing only one one win under center. To date, Glennon has passed for 833 yards and four touchdowns. This is also accompanied by five interceptions and three lost fumbles.
Glennon is currently in a three-year, $45 million contract with Chicago.
Martellus Bennett, tight end, Green Bay Packers/New England Patriots
As one of the biggest free agent busts, Bennett was not shy to ruffle feathers with his former team, the Packers. In seven underwhelming performances as a Packer, Bennett failed to score and averaged a mere 33.3 yards per game. The Packers eventually released him after multiple controversial discussions about Bennett’s health came in to play.
Following his release, Bennett was quickly claimed by New England, where he played in 2016. This led many to speculate that Bennett no longer wanted to play with the Packers once quarterback Aaron Rodgers was injured. Though, Bennett participated in only two games for New England before the Patriots placed him on IR.
Needless to say, the Packers are trying to recoup some of the money they already paid Bennett.
Stephon Gilmore, cornerback, New England Patriots
The Patriots signed Gilmore — an original 10th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2012 — to a generous five-year, $65 million contract. This was after Gilmore originally said he wanted to earn at least $14 million per year.
For the money Gilmore is earning, he should be contributing at a high level, rather than getting burned in coverage. After missing three games this season for health reasons, Gilmore has nabbed just two interceptions and has defended only eight passes. In his final season with the Bills, Gilmore achieved a career-high five interceptions.
Gilmore is not exactly a bright star on a Patriots defense that is yielding 373.9 yards on average each game.
Danny Woodhead, running back, Baltimore Ravens
Woodhead should have been signed with an injury warning label. The Ravens brought the multi-faceted running back aboard only to lose him to a hamstring injury in Week 1. Woodhead has since returned but has made little impact on the Ravens offense. Throughout Weeks 11-16, Woodhead has primarily been targeted as a receiver but has tallied no more than 33 yards in any single contest.
He has also been held scoreless. Woodhead seems to have surpassed his prime and is merely a complementary piece on a Ravens offense loaded with younger running backs. The Ravens are Woodhead’s fourth NFL team since he signed on with the New York Jets in 2009.
Terrelle Pryor, wide receiver, Washington Redskins
Pryor may have been better off sticking with the Cleveland Browns, which is where he spent his best time as a receiver. But, the Washington Redskins were hot to sign Pryor to a $8 million, one-year deal based on his 2016 season, which Pryor failed to repeat.
Pryor performed so poorly with Washington that he actually got benched. His best game consisted of a one-touchdown, 70-yard performance in Week 4. Other than that, Pryor has no other scores on record.
An ankle injury landed Pryor on IR in November. The former quarterback who transitioned to wide receiver is going to have a tough go of it promoting his services in 2018.
Brian Hoyer, quarterback, New England Patriots
Well. The 49ers’ attempt to begin fresh with Hoyer under center ended abruptly. Hoyer started in six games for the 49ers and failed to help produce a win. After some horrendous turnovers and performances, enough was enough as the 49ers benched Hoyer for rookie C.J. Beathard.
If that was not insulting enough to Hoyer’s ego, the 49ers soon traded for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The trade was Hoyer’s ticket out the door that quickly sent him to the Patriots, where he began his career in 2009.
To sum things up, Hoyer has 37 career starts between six teams in nine seasons. He’s not getting any better, either.
Prince Amukamara, cornerback, Chicago Bears
Amukamara, an original first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2011, has made his way around the league. After an uneventful one-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, Amukamara migrated to Chicago, where he has been equally as bland.
To date, Amukamara has played in 13 games. He has managed just 42 combined tackles, seven defended passes and zero interceptions. The 28-year-old cornerback is signed with Chicago only through 2017 where he earned $7 million for the season.
Jeremy Maclin, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens
Maclin’s final down year when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs may not have been a fluke. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old receiver has been equally unimpressive with the Ravens. To date, Maclin has only 40 catches for a total of 440 yards and three touchdowns. His catch rate is 55.6 percent, which represents a career low.
The pizzazz and big plays are no longer showing up. To Maclin’s credit, it does not help that he is attempting to catch passes from quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco is averaging a lowly 195.9 passing yards per game and has thrown for only 16 touchdowns.
Perhaps on a more dominating offense, Maclin might thrive. But right now Maclin’s 40 receptions tie for 56th among the league’s receivers.
Eddie Lacy, running back, Seattle Seahawks
The Lacy experiment is likely one and done in Seattle. He has rushed for an abysmal 179 yards spread over nine games this season. There has not been a touchdown in sight, which marks the second year in row in which Lacy has failed to find the end zone.
The Seahawks instead have turned to anyone not named Eddie Lacy to run the ball. Sadly for the team, quarterback Russell Wilson shoulders most of the rushing duties and has ran for 550 yards at a pace of 6.1 yards per carry.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, they only signed Lacy to a one-year deal. He will soon be a free agent and should be incredibly challenged to find employment in 2018.
Kenny Britt, wide receiver, Cleveland Browns/New England Patriots
The Cleveland Browns took a flyer on Britt after he recorded a career-high 1,002 yards last year with the Los Angeles Rams. And, boy did Britt fail to live up to expectations. Playing in just nine games in Cleveland, Britt tallied only 18 receptions amounting to 233 yards and two touchdowns.
Cleveland’s offense as a whole has obviously struggled, but Britt’s contribution was nearly meaningless. That is why his release by the Browns was not shocking. But, what was a bit surprising was the New England Patriots swooping in on Britt. So far, he has caught two balls for 23 yards.
From a Cleveland Browns bust to playing with a Super Bowl contender, Britt sure lucked out.
Brandon Marshall, wide receiver, New York Giants
Marshall’s desire to finish out his career “as a winner” has gone up in major flames. Prior to enduring a season-ending ankle injury, Marshall was used sparingly. Throughout five games, Marshall garnered only 33 targets, resulting in 18 catches for 154 yards.
For the most part, Marshall looked more like an afterthought, rather than a staple on the Giants offense. The Giants signed Marshall — who turns 34 in March — to a two-year deal. We will have to see exactly how much gas is left in Marshall’s tank once he is healthy enough to hit the field.
Malcolm Smith, linebacker, San Francisco 49ers
To beef up what was the NFL’s 32nd-ranked defense last season, the 49ers brought Smith on board. Unfortunately, though, the team will have to wait until 2018 to see what Smith can contribute.
The 49ers invested in a five-year, $26.5 million deal only to lose Smith to a torn pectoral muscle in August. Smith started his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 and played through 2014. He then suited up with the Oakland Raiders for two seasons where he tallied 226 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Hopefully, Smith will prove he hasn’t lost his step once he resumes working with the 49ers next season.
