[h=1]Ranking NFL's worst free-agent signings of 2016[/h]John Clayton
ESPN Senior Writer
ESPN INSIDER
While some might think it's unfair to label players as free-agent busts three-quarters of the way through the season, the NFL is a bottom-line business, and results matter.
If players aren't performing to the level of the deals they signed this offseason, judgments have to be made.
Twelve poor games doesn't mean the player is a complete bust, though. There's still time to bounce back from rough starts. Those who receive big money have the remainder of their contract to live up to expectations, as long as the team that signed them doesn't release them.
Fans complain if their teams aren't aggressive in free agency, but teams can't build only through free agency. They have to build through the draft and supplement their roster with free-agent signings. Sure, the 8-4 New York Giants deserve credit for spending more than $200 million in free-agent money over the offseason and improving their defense. But not all of their issues are fixed. The New York Jets invested heavily last year in free agency and came out with 10 wins, but now they are sitting near the bottom of the league at 3-9.
Here's my ranking of the most disappointing free-agent deals from the 2016 offseason, taking into account the value of the deals they signed:
[h=2]1. Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans[/h]The Texans signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million deal this offseason, hoping to bring consistency at the quarterback position. Osweiler hasbeen consistent -- consistently below average. He has 14 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He's averaging a dreadful 5.8 yards per attempt. Anything below 6.4 is considered terrible. The Texans are averaging only 17.3 points per game, which is 3.9 points below their numbers from last season, when Brian Hoyer was playing quarterback. Houston has scored 24 points or more in only three games this season. Osweiler is 1-5 on the road. What's worse: His slow start has allowed the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts to catch up to the Texans in the AFC South.
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[h=2]2. J.R. Sweezy, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/h]The Bucs gave Sweezy a five-year, $32 million contract -- including $14.5 million guaranteed -- and he hasn't played a down because of bad back. Sweezy remains on the team's physically unable to perform list after undergoing a procedure on his back this offseason. The Seahawks thought he was a good right guard. Right guards normally make around $4 million a season. Left guards are considered more athletic and tend to get bigger contracts in free agency. At the moment, the Bucs don't know what they have in Sweezy, and his deal has to be considered a disappointment.
[h=2]3. Chris Ivory, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars[/h]Jets fans were disappointed the team didn't keep him. Ivory is a violent runner who thrived in making yards after contact. The Jaguars thought he was the perfect complement to T.J. Yeldon in the backfield and gave Ivory a five-year deal worth $32 million. Unfortunately, Ivory hasn't been what they had hoped. He has rushed for 350 yards and is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, the lowest number of his career, with two touchdowns. He also has fumbled four times.
[h=2]4. Coty Sensabaugh, CB, Los Angeles Rams[/h]The Rams gave Sensabaugh a three-year, $15 million contract this offseason, then cut him after 99 snaps. He made $4.5 million for playing in four regular-season games. Sensabaugh was picked up by the Giants, and he has played 62 snaps for New York.
[h=2]5. Mario Williams, DE, Miami Dolphins[/h]The Dolphins signed Williams to replace Olivier Vernon, who left for the Giants in a huge deal worth $17 million a year. Williams signed for $8.5 million a season on a two-year deal. Vernon has eight sacks and 49 tackles, while Williams has 1.5 sacks and 13 tackles. I guess you can say the Dolphins are getting what they paid for. Williams' snaps have been cut since the beginning of the season. The most snaps he has played in a game since Week 5 is 36 in Week 13.
[h=2]6. Donald Stephenson, RT, Denver Broncos[/h]The Broncos gave Stephenson a three-year, $14 million contract in an attempt to fix the right side of the offensive line, but he hasn't solidified his spot. Stephenson was benched temporarily but has regained the starting job. He has time to fix his issues, but it has been a bumpy start so far. Pro Football Focus has him rated among the worst offensive linemen in football.
[h=2]7. Derrick Shelby, DE, Atlanta Falcons*[/h]There's an asterisk here because Shelby was lost for the season after six games with an Achilles tear. Shelby and the Falcons have to write off the first year. The pass-rusher signed a four-year, $18 million contract this offseason. Shelby earned $6 million this season. He gave them only eight tackles in six games.
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</article>[h=2]8. Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints[/h]
Fleener's numbers -- 42 catches for 547 yards and three touchdowns -- are decent, but those numbers don't live up to his expectations and contract. He signed a five-year deal worth $36 million, and the Saints hoped he'd be a perfect fit in their pass-happy offense. That hasn't been the case. Fleener has been OK but not great. The Saints expected great.
[h=2]9. Robert Griffin III, QB, Cleveland Browns[/h]Griffin, who has missed most of the season after injuring his shoulder in Week 1, probably will get four games to audition for the starting job for 2017. He threw only 26 passes in the opener, completing 12 for 193 yards. The Browns gave him a two-year deal at $15 million, but they can release him after the season without too much dead money on their cap.
[h=2]10. J'Marcus Webb, RT, Seattle Seahawks[/h]The Seahawks signed Webb as a provisional player just in case the draft didn't give them enough offensive line options. They got what they wanted out of the draft, but Webb didn't do anything and was cut. The money wasn't big. He signed for around $3 million a year and had only $2.45 million guaranteed. He was on the field for 223 plays and three starts.
ESPN Senior Writer
ESPN INSIDER
While some might think it's unfair to label players as free-agent busts three-quarters of the way through the season, the NFL is a bottom-line business, and results matter.
If players aren't performing to the level of the deals they signed this offseason, judgments have to be made.
Twelve poor games doesn't mean the player is a complete bust, though. There's still time to bounce back from rough starts. Those who receive big money have the remainder of their contract to live up to expectations, as long as the team that signed them doesn't release them.
Fans complain if their teams aren't aggressive in free agency, but teams can't build only through free agency. They have to build through the draft and supplement their roster with free-agent signings. Sure, the 8-4 New York Giants deserve credit for spending more than $200 million in free-agent money over the offseason and improving their defense. But not all of their issues are fixed. The New York Jets invested heavily last year in free agency and came out with 10 wins, but now they are sitting near the bottom of the league at 3-9.
Here's my ranking of the most disappointing free-agent deals from the 2016 offseason, taking into account the value of the deals they signed:
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</article>[h=2]8. Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints[/h]
Fleener's numbers -- 42 catches for 547 yards and three touchdowns -- are decent, but those numbers don't live up to his expectations and contract. He signed a five-year deal worth $36 million, and the Saints hoped he'd be a perfect fit in their pass-happy offense. That hasn't been the case. Fleener has been OK but not great. The Saints expected great.
