Every year, we have numerous free-agent signings that seem great at the time, only to backfire later on down the road. This year will be no exception. I have compiled a list of some of the most likely free-agent bust candidates for the 2020 NFL season.
5. Jarran Reed – Reed was re-signed by the Seahawks on a 2-year, $23 million deal. Reed is 27 years old, was suspended for 6 games for an off-field issue, and only has 15.5 sacks in his 4-year career. Ten of those sacks came two years ago, while last year, he only had 2 sacks in 10 games. This is a very risky deal for a player who has only had one truly productive season.
4. Kyle Van Noy – Van Noy signed with the Dolphins on a 4 year, $51 million deal. He is also 28 years old and there is no guarantee that he can sustain a high level of play much longer. There is even the chance that his success was due more to the Patriots’ scheme rather than his own talent. While this could be an average value deal, there is a lot of room for this to go wrong.
3. Austin Hooper – Hooper signed with the Browns on a 4 year, $44 million deal. While he is young at 25 years old and has been playing at a high level, $11 million a year is a lot of money for a tight end who has never broken 1,000 yards or 10 touchdowns. He’s been on the rise lately, but there will always be a possibility that last season (785 yards, 6 TDs) was his peak.
2. Tom Brady – You knew this was coming. Brady signed with the Buccaneers on a 2-year deal worth $60 million. Brady, widely considered the best quarterback of all time, is 42 years old and the end is most likely coming soon. Beyond that, there is also a debate on who should receive credit for the Patriots’ dynasty, Belichick or Brady? Depending on how they both perform in the coming season, we may have our answer.
1. Ryan Tannehill – The Titans re-signed Tannehill to a 4 year contract worth $118 million. Wow. That is a lot of money for a quarterback that was literally carried by his team’s run game for an entire season. Obviously the Titans are comfortable with him, but his success is dependent on a tremendous run game. This deal already seems poor, and can become terrible if Tannehill doesn’t perform at a high level.