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The 15 Worst Signings in 2026 NFL Free Agency

Grant White

Host · Writer

Jamel Dean - CB
New Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Contract: 3 Years, $36.75 Million

The Steelers' secondary was in a state of disarray last season. Inconsistency plagued the once-proud defense, costing them their head coach in the process. Their fix to one of their more notable shortcomings was to find an equally inconsistent cornerback in free agency.

Jamel Dean spent the first seven years of his career in Tampa Bay, with his role diminishing in recent seasons. Dean went from a 90.0% snap count in 2022 to 75% in 2025. Over that stretch, he's given up more yards per completion, culminating with 14.6 in 2025, and a combined 10 touchdowns.

For a franchise built on defense, it's not clear what the Steelers see in Dean. Thankfully, only $12 million is guaranteed in this deal. Inevitably, Pittsburgh will walk away sooner rather than later.
Zion Johnson - G
New Team: Cleveland Browns

Contract: 3 Years, $49.5 Million

Once you're not good enough for any other team, the Cleveland Browns will always overpay you. That's the case again as they ventured into free agency to hand Zion Johnson the bag, inking the guard to a three-year $49.5 million contract.

Johnson was part of one of the worst offensive lines in the league last season. While he's still young and athletic, Johnson hasn't proven capable of being the stalwart he was projected to be when he was drafted 17th overall in 2022.

It's a good thing that Shedeur Sanders is athletic and mobile because he's going to spend a lot of time on the run next season.

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Alontae Taylor - CB
New Team: Tennessee Titans

Contract: 3 Years, $58 Million

There's a lot to like about Alontae Taylor, but there are also a lot of shortcomings the Tennessee Titans overlooked when they signed their new cornerback.

Taylor is still young and has a proven track record of breaking up passes. However, he's allowed an increased catch rate in every one of his seasons, culminating with a 68.1% completion rate in 2024. Moreover, he wouldn't have as many breakups as he does if quarterbacks didn't think they could expose him as a cornerback.

Taylor is a formidable secondary contributor, but he's not the type of guy to lead a defense. Tennessee overpaid for a mid-range option, thinking that Taylor would transform their secondary.
Malik Willis - QB
New Team: Miami Dolphins

Contract: 3 Years, $67.5 Million

Competent starting quarterbacks don't just wander through free agency. So, the Miami Dolphins had to step up and make a play on one of the few names available. At the end of the day, Malik Willis doesn't possess the skillset to reverse the Dolphins' fortunes.

As far as quarterback contracts go, there's an argument to be made that Miami underpaid for Willis' services. However, this is effectively a downgrade from Tua Tagovailoa, and it comes at the expense of the Dolphins' offense.

Miami gutted its offense this offseason, meaning Willis will be tasked with leading the Dolphins with no supporting cast. Unless there are some additional moves on the horizon, the Dolphins could be relegated to a top draft pick for years to come.
Isiah Pacheco - RB
New Team: Detroit Lions

Contract: 1 Year, $1.8 Million

I'm sure Detroit Lions fans are looking at this signing as the bargain it is. Still, Isiah Pacheco doesn't replace David Montgomery's production and downgrades this offense.

Pacheco hasn't come close to matching the offensive production from his first two years in the league. He went from 4.8 yards per carry in 2022-2023 to 3.8 in 2024-25. Further, he has a similar profile to Jahmyr Gibbs, weakening the dichotomy that allowed the Lions' offense to change gears so seamlessly.

This signing does nothing to improve the Lions. Invest that money in another area of need.
Javon Hargrave - DL
New Team: Green Bay Packers

Contract: 2 Years, $23 Million

If the Green Bay Packers were paying attention, they would have seen that Javon Hargrave was just released from an identical contract. We're not convinced the hulking defensive lineman has much left in his tank this late in his career.

Last offseason, Hargrave inked a two-year, $30 milion contract with the rival Minnesota Vikings. Unsatisfied with his production, the Vikings cut ties with Hargrave when the 2026 season officially began. Green Bay swooped in, promising him a similar contract, hopeful that Hargrave could shake the injuries that had slowed him down later in his career.

This move won't pay off for the Packers, and Hargrave could be in a similar position at the end of next season.
Cordale Flott - CB
New Team: Tennessee Titans

Contract: 3 Years, $45 Million

The Tennessee Titans overpaid for another cornerback coming off a rookie contract. In an attempt to reshape their secondary, the Titans overvalued Cor'Dale Flott.

Flott spent the first four seasons of his career with the New York Giants, producing results ranging from mediocre to above average. He started 14 games for New York last season, only recording 38 tackles, albeit with 11 passes defensed. Flott has improved in pass coverage, but he struggles to stand up to the run and is a one-dimensional contributor.

Given the Titans' recent track record, it's unlikely that Flott and Alontae Taylor will develop into game-changing stalwarts the Titans paid them to be.
Kwity Paye - EDGE
New Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Contract: 3 Years, $48 Million

A few days ago, the Las Vegas Raiders had a gaping void on the edge of their defensive line that needed to be filled. But given how the Maxx Crosby trade played out, this looks like a terrible signing.

Kwity Paye's production waned last season, with the edge rusher accumulating just 4.0 sacks and 39 tackles, only six of which came for a loss. While he may have been able to bolster those numbers in a starting role, it's unlikely he'll get that opportunity with Crosby back in the fold.

The Raiders have way too much money tied up in edge rushers, and they won't be able to wiggle free from this Paye signing.
Odafe Oweh - EDGE
New Team: Washington Commanders

Contract: 4 Years, $100 Million

Players are a function of their system, and Odafe Oweh was undoubtedly a beneficiary of playing on a stacked line with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Washington Commanders paid him like he could be the anchor on defense, but those shoes are too big for Oweh to fill.

Oweh has started more than six games only once in his career. And let's not forget that he went five games without a sack with the Baltimore Ravens to start last season before being traded.

Oweh is getting premier money without having the resume to back it up. He may live up to those lofty expectations in Washington, but it's not probable.
Alijah Vera-Tucker - OL
New Team: New England Patriots

Contract: 3 Years, $42 Million

The New England Patriots acknowledged that they had some adjustments to make on the offensive line, but they are targeting the wrong guy, Alijah Vera-Tucker, to fix those.

Vera-Tucker has struggled to stay healthy early in his career. He started seven games back in 2022 before tearing his triceps, following that up with five starts in 2023 before going down with an Achilles injury. He looked sharp in 2024, but then suffered another triceps tear last season and didn't appear in a game.

Health is a determining factor for longevity, and in that regard, Vera-Tucker is not a success story. Maybe he shakes that reputation moving forward, but we're not counting on it.
Boye Mafe - EDGE
New Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Contract: 3 Years, $60 Million

Desperate to replace Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals went out and overspent on Boye Mafe. The edge defender was a part of the Seahawks' championship run last season, but he can't be counted on to shoulder the load in Cincinnati.

Mafe was used this past season sparingly, starting just four of his 17 games while playing only 50.0% of the snaps. With that, he recorded only 2.0 sacks, both of which came against inferior opponents (Cardinals, Panthers). It's unlikely he sees a surge in production in the AFC North.

Earnings $60 million over three years, it's unlikely Mafe will fulfill his contract. But with only $19 million guaranteed, the Bengals could look to move on with a relatively small dead cap hit.
Nakobe Dean - LB
New Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Contract: 3 Years, $36.03 Million

After the Maxx Crosby trade was initially accepted, the Raiders felt like they had money to blow. In an attempt to strengthen their defensive acumen, the Raiders added Nakobe Dean to their linebackers corps. We're not counting on Dean to deliver in Sin City.

Injuries have lowered Dean's ceiling over the past few seasons. The Georgia product appeared in just five games in 2023, 15 in 2024, and then 10 last season. While he saw a boost in his sack total, Dean's overall metrics suffered. He struggled in pass coverage and had a career-worst 9.8% missed tackle rate.

Dean was a defensive liability last season. He's getting paid to be a leader on defense, but he's more likely to be deployed in limited pass-rush schemes. And with Crosby back in the fold, his contributions will be minimal.
Romeo Doubs - WR
New Team: New England Patriots

Contract: 4 Years, $68 Million

The Patriots need a premier pass-catcher on offense. No matter how much they pay Romeo Doubs, he's not that guy.

Doubs was a staple of the Packers' passing attack over the past few seasons. Still, he never cracked the upper-echelon of pass-catchers. He's coming off a career-best 724 receiving yards last year, but continues to put forward a mediocre catch rate in the low 60s. Further, Doubs has never exceeded 3.5 receptions a game throughout his career.

The Patriots are paying a premium for Doubs while getting mid-range production. Surely, they could have found a top-tier wideout in this year's draft class, yielding similar production at a much cheaper salary.
Isaac Seumalo - OG
New Team: Arizona Cardinals

Contract: 3 Years, $31.5 Million

Isaac Seumalo is an elite offensive lineman. He's one year removed from his lone Pro Bowl appearance and has started 61 games over the past four seasons. But at 32, the Cardinals can't assume he'll live up to his contract for the next three seasons.

This move looks even more foolish when we factor in Arizona's decision to move on from Kyler Murray. Now, an aging offensive lineman is tasked with blocking a journeyman quarterback in one of the worst offenses in the league.

The Cardinals' lack of resource management is appalling. Seumalo's late-career legacy will be tarnished in Arizona.
Jamel Dean - CB
New Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Contract: 3 Years, $36.75 Million

The Steelers' secondary was in a state of disarray last season. Inconsistency plagued the once-proud defense, costing them their head coach in the process. Their fix to one of their more notable shortcomings was to find an equally inconsistent cornerback in free agency.

Jamel Dean spent the first seven years of his career in Tampa Bay, with his role diminishing in recent seasons. Dean went from a 90.0% snap count in 2022 to 75% in 2025. Over that stretch, he's given up more yards per completion, culminating with 14.6 in 2025, and a combined 10 touchdowns.

For a franchise built on defense, it's not clear what the Steelers see in Dean. Thankfully, only $12 million is guaranteed in this deal. Inevitably, Pittsburgh will walk away sooner rather than later.
Zion Johnson - G
New Team: Cleveland Browns

Contract: 3 Years, $49.5 Million

Once you're not good enough for any other team, the Cleveland Browns will always overpay you. That's the case again as they ventured into free agency to hand Zion Johnson the bag, inking the guard to a three-year $49.5 million contract.

Johnson was part of one of the worst offensive lines in the league last season. While he's still young and athletic, Johnson hasn't proven capable of being the stalwart he was projected to be when he was drafted 17th overall in 2022.

It's a good thing that Shedeur Sanders is athletic and mobile because he's going to spend a lot of time on the run next season.

Have all the intel you need? Free, actionable information is just one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

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The 15 Worst Signings in 2026 NFL Free Agency

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