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Free agency is in full swing, and teams are handing out big contracts left, right, and center. Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-QB just a few weeks ago, and Ja'Marr Chase broke that record almost instantly!
But big contracts aren't always a success; just ask these teams. These teams had high hopes when they spent big bucks on the following players, but the gamble blew up in their faces and is now hurting their chances to compete.
Without further ado, let's rank the top seven worst NFL contracts right now. Keep in mind that this list is entirely subjective and will not feature any of the contracts signed this offseason.
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No. 7: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
2025 Cap Hit: $19,801,667
Travis Kelce makes the Chiefs' organization (and the NFL as a whole) a lot of money. Unfortunately, that's mostly because of his star value off the field. On the field, the future Hall of Famer is no longer an NFL superstar.
Btw If Travis Kelce wants to help the dynasty, he needs to retire
— John Baione (@KINGV0NBURNER) February 11, 2025
He averaged 8.5 yards per catch in 2024, by far the lowest mark of his legendary career. His average of 3.5 yards after the catch is another career low.
Patrick Mahomes had a passer rating over 100.0 when targeting Kelce for every season of his career until 2024, when that number dropped to a shockingly low 83.6.
Kelce can still be a valuable money-making asset if he retires, as he'll root for the Chiefs from the stands. But he's set to return for at least one more year.
No. 6: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Washington Commanders
2025 Cap Hit: $18,000,000 (Washington)/$31,661,837 (New Orleans)
Marshon Lattimore was picked 11th overall by the Saints in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the team finally started winning again as soon as he began playing. After four awesome years, the Saints signed Lattimore to a five-year, $97.6 million extension.
His first year was good, but abdominal and ankle injuries hampered his next two years. He was traded to the Commanders in 2024 as the Saints entered a rebuild, but he also missed some time there due to a hamstring injury.
When he was on the field, he didn't perform well, as he allowed a 131.2 passer rating in Washington's playoff run. The team has picked up some big contracts in the offseason now that they want to contend, but Lattimore still has the fourth-highest cap hit on the roster.
The Saints also have to carry his almost $32 million dead cap this season.
No. 5: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
2025 Cap Hit: $27,391,666
According to PFF, Jawaan Taylor was 33rd in pass blocking and 136th in run blocking out of 140 tackles in the 2022 season, his last year in Jacksonville.
This is Nolan Smith.
Nolan Smith was playing in the SB with a torn tricpes.
Nolan Smith still managed to one-arm rush Jawaan Taylor and push-pull him into the dirt.
Be tough. Be like Nolan Smith.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/KprR2z85lu
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) February 24, 2025
So it made little sense when the Chiefs signed him to a four-year, $80 million contract in the 2023 offseason. It's safe to say this gamble hasn't paid off. Taylor led the league in penalties in 2023 and finished second in 2024.
No. 4: Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Cincinnati Bengals
2025 Cap Hit: $15,034,000
There was so much hype around Orlando Brown Jr. in the 2023 offseason, as he was coming off four consecutive Pro Bowl seasons with the Ravens and Chiefs and had just won a Super Bowl.
His PFF grade hovered around the 75.0 mark in those years but declined as soon as he joined the Bengals (66.1 in 2023 and 58.2 in 2024). His four-year, $64 million contract has made things complicated for the team, as they can't afford to sign any good defenders to help their explosive offense make the playoffs.
No. 3: Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
2025 Cap Hit: $20,462,000
Don't let the cap hit fool you, Carr's contract was restructured in a way that the Saints will have to carry an almost $110 million cap hit from 2026 to 2029.
Derek Carr is my QB bro https://t.co/XCzYcEgI5r
— Murphy⚜️ (@_sforsierra) March 11, 2025
All that for a QB who, when healthy, is good enough to keep you out of the top 10 spots in the draft but not good enough to get you into the playoffs. That is the worst spot to be in as an NFL franchise.
Carr is undoubtedly talented, but not talented enough for such a contract, and especially not talented enough to save the Saints from their cap hell.
No. 2: Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
2025 Cap Hit: $40,000,000
Sticking with the NFC South, the Falcons felt like they were just a quarterback away from winning the division and becoming contenders. So, they handed out a four-year, $180 million contract to a 35-year-old Kirk Cousins coming off a torn Achilles.
The Falcons weren't fully confident with the signing, so they drafted Michael Penix Jr. as an insurance policy. Cousins played well at the start but then quickly fell apart. By the time he was benched, it was already too late.
It's crazy how the quarterback with the seventh-highest cap hit in the NFL isn't even starting on his own team.
No. 1: Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns
2025 Cap Hit: $36,936,678
There can only be one. Not only is Deshaun Watson's contract the worst in the NFL today, but it is also the worst contract in NFL history. Actually, it might just be the worst contract in the history of major American sports.
The #Browns' biggest mistake in the last 25 years was trading away Baker Mayfield.
• Led Cleveland to their 1st playoff win since 1994
• Broke the NFL rookie TD record
• Ended the team's 635-day winless streakBaker has turned into a franchise QB and is an MVP candidate. pic.twitter.com/MZtHb5lBES
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 16, 2024
The Cleveland Browns, who already had former first-overall pick Baker Mayfield, decided to go after a QB who hadn't played a game of football in over a year and had 22 sexual assault lawsuits filed against him.
They traded picks that would turn into players such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Thomas Jr. to get said QB and rewarded him with a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract.
He has played a grand total of 19 games in three seasons with the Browns, going 9-10, with an 80.7 passer rating. During this time, Browns fans had to watch Gibbs, Thomas, and even Mayfield become Pro Bowlers.
Also, the team will have to carry his remaining ~$200 million cap hit until 2029. He probably won't even play another game for them, as he tore his Achilles twice in less than three months. If you ever want to learn how to ruin a football team, just look at the Cleveland Browns.
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