The NFL’s Biggest Paychecks That Failed To Deliver
It is time to shed light on the NFL players whose contracts seemingly outweighed their on-field contributions.
The lucrative deals that failed to match performance, this article illustrates the league's occasional struggle to equate pay with player value, reminding us of the financial risks teams take in pursuit of the ultimate prize, a Super Bowl.
Heath Shuler
Heath Shuler gained fame as a college rockstar at the University of Tennessee. His reputation led to a hefty NFL contract, but signing for seven years and $19.25 million with Washington turned sour.
Struggling performance led to swift benching and a trade in the same season. ESPN ranked Shuler as the 17th biggest 'sports flop' of the past 25 years and the fourth biggest Draft bust.
Daunte Culpepper
Former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper's 10-year, $102 million extension with the Vikings stemmed from his impressive stats of 4,700 yards and 39 touchdowns. His contract was well-regarded initially.
Yet, his career later dwindled, throwing under 6,000 total yards in his final five years. This decline earned Culpepper a reputation as overpaid, contrasting starkly with his earlier promise.
Matt Cassel
After Tom Brady's injury, Matt Cassel admirably steered the New England Patriots to a 10-5 record. His success landed him a 6-year, $63 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nevertheless, despite high expectations, Cassel struggled, posting a 4-11 record in his first season and ending with a lackluster 19-28 record overall.
Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez, once a promising NFL quarterback, secured an exorbitant five-year, $50.5 million, including $28 million guaranteed, deal with the New York Jets, a decision that would cement his place among the league's most overpaid players.
His time was marred by the infamous "butt fumble," overshadowing his 55 touchdowns and 51 interceptions in three seasons. After lackluster performances, Sanchez transitioned to NFL TV analysis, marking the end of his on-field career.
Mazi Smith
The 2023 signing of defensive tackle Mazi Smith by the Dallas Cowboys to a four-year, $13 million rookie deal with a $6.7 million signing bonus could become one of the worst deals.
Smith's many off-field issues in 2022 make him a risky investment, potentially placing him among the most overpaid players in history.
Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf, a former NFL quarterback, secured a hefty contract of four years and $31.25 million, bolstered by an $11.25 million signing bonus with the San Diego Chargers. However, his performance fell far short as he completed less than 50% of his pass attempts in the first year and didn't play a single game the following season.
Within three years of inking the deal, Leaf found himself out of the NFL.
Paul Soliai
The Atlanta Falcons' decision to sign Paul Soliai to a five-year, $33 million contract with a substantial $14 million guaranteed appeared ill-fated. Despite being paid as a top-tier defensive player, Soliai's lackluster performance included a season with no sacks and just 27 tackles.
Soliai's glaring underachievement and his hefty contract solidified his position among the most overpaid NFL players in history.
Roy Williams
Former NFL Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams signed a five-year, $45 million contract, with $20 million guaranteed, with Dallas, a deal that came at the cost of surrendering four valuable draft picks.
However, Williams's performance fell short of expectations, as he played only three of his five contracted years with the team and never managed to catch more than 40 passes in a single season. Consequently, his inability to deliver on his potential led to him being regarded as one of the most overpaid players in the league's history.
Joey Harrington
Joey Harrington, once a hopeful NFL QB prospect, transformed into a major letdown, earning the dubious title of one of the league's most overpaid. He signed a six-year deal for $36.5 million with the Detroit Lions.
With a subpar career completion rate below 60%, 60 TDs, and 62 interceptions in three Lions seasons, plus an 18-37 record as a starter, his disappointment remains a prime example of overspending.
Mike Vanderjagt
Former NFL kicker Mike Vanderjagt secured one of the loftiest contracts for a kicker, a three-year, $4.5 million deal with a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Unfortunately, his abysmal kicking performance prompted the Cowboys to cut him short of the season's end, solidifying his place as one of the NFL's most overpaid players due to disappointing on-field results.
Marc Bulger
In 2007, the St. Louis Rams inked a 6-year, $62.5 million deal with QB Marc Bulger, landing him among the NFL's most overpaid.
However, his on-field struggles over the ensuing three seasons and subsequent 2011 retirement firmly cemented his unfortunate inclusion on the list of lavishly compensated players in league history.
Jake Delhomme
Former NFL running back Clinton Portis' inclusion on the list of overpaid players is rivaled by the perplexing signing of struggling QB Jake Delhomme. The Washington team's decision to extend Portis's already hefty eight-year, $50 million contract seems daring.
Equally baffling, the Carolina Panthers re-signed Delhomme for five years and $42.5 million, only for his poor performance to persist, resulting in his release the following season, solidifying his spot as one of the most overpaid players in NFL history.
Clinton Portis
Former NFL running back Clinton Portis finds himself on the list of the league's most overpaid players of all time, thanks to his whopping eight-year, $50.5 million contract with the Washington team.
Unfortunately, injuries and diminishing performance marked the tail end of his career, as he managed to play in a mere 13 games during his last two seasons before ultimately deciding to retire.
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer, chosen first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, secured a six-year, $43 million deal. His hefty earnings seemed questionable due to postseason shortcomings.
Following a 4-12 2010 season, demanding a trade and contemplating retirement, Palmer's lackluster performance cast doubts on the investment, marking him as grossly overpaid.
Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth, notorious for stomping on an opponent's face during a game, finds his name on lists of the NFL's most overpaid players. The fierce and dominant Defensive Tackle, embodying both aggression and prowess, signed a staggering seven-year, $100 million deal with Washington.
Regrettably, this colossal contract joined the team's history of ill-advised signings. The tenure of Haynesworth spanned a mere two seasons in the Nation's capital, underscoring the disappointment of this costly investment.
JaMarcus Russell
Former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell's inclusion among the league's most overpaid players stems from his marked inconsistency, work ethic doubts, and substantial underperformance compared to the Raiders' projections.
his contract with the Riders was a six-year, $61 million deal and proved ill-fated after getting cut prematurely by the team. Lasting just three seasons and unsuccessful comeback endeavors further solidified his reputation as a colossal disappointment.
Jay Cutler
Former NFL QB Jay Cutler gained notoriety as one of the most excessively compensated players in history after the Chicago Bears inked him to a lucrative seven-year, $126.7 million contract in 2014. Although Cutler showcased his formidable arm with a career-high 28 touchdowns, his league-leading 18 interceptions in 2014 epitomized inconsistency.
This, along with his failure to lead the Bears to playoff success, earned him the label of "the most overpaid player in NFL history" by 2017.
Case Keenum
Case Keenum burst into the NFL with a scorching 11-3 record, seemingly justifying a substantial paycheck in 2017. Unfortunately, his career took a nosedive in 2018, marked by a dismal 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, contributing to the Denver Broncos' lackluster 6-10 season.
His subsequent two-year, $36 million contract with the team cemented his status as one of the league's most overpaid players because of the glaring gap between Keenum's performance and his compensation.
Tony Mandarich
Tony Mandarich, a former All-American from Michigan State, entered the NFL as one of the most highly recruited prospects. However, his career with the Indianapolis Colts took a drastic nosedive, earning him a spot among the biggest draft busts.
Inking a rookie contract of $4.4 million over four years, his underwhelming performance is magnified by being chosen before the iconic Barry Sanders, highlighting Mandarich's status as a glaringly overpaid disappointment.
Brian Bosworth
Brian Bosworth is often cited as one of the most overpaid NFL players due to his record-setting rookie contract of $11 million over ten years with the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the hype, his career barely extended beyond two years.
With ineffective play on the field and being plagued by injuries, "The Bos'" short-lived stint hardly justified his extravagant contract, making him a prime example of a squandered investment.
Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart, hailed for his college success and a 10th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, couldn't escape the label of one of the NFL's most overpaid players.
His six-year, $50.8 million deal proved misguided as he started only 16 games in two seasons. Leinart tallied 15 TDs and 21 INTs throughout his career, sealing his place among the league's financial flops.
Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell's 1996 contract with the New York Jets, a hefty five-year, $24 million deal, remains a striking example of the NFL's fiscal misjudgment. Lasting merely two years, O'Donnell's tenure was marred by failure, losing all six games he started in the first year and facing a dismal performance overall.
His premature exit from Gotham underscored why he is regarded as one of the NFL's most overpaid players.
Deion Sanders
At age 33, Deion Sanders secured a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, a move that raised eyebrows. Sanders earned the deal based on his past brilliance, but his on-field performance did not justify the investment.
After just one season, Sanders chose retirement, leaving the deal as a glaring example of an overpaid player in NFL history, showcasing the risks of long-term contracts based on past glory.
Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins became one of the NFL's most overpaid players due to his ill-fated 2004 contract with the Oakland Raiders. The three-year, $16 million deal proved outrageous as Collins managed a meager 7-21 record with 32 interceptions over two seasons.
Needless to say, he wasn't worth the millions the Raiders paid him.
Jeff George
Jeff George secured his place as one of the NFL's most overpaid players by inking a $18.25 million deal with Washington.
As Washington's backup QB at 32, he played just eight games over two seasons, throwing nine interceptions. His retirement that year cemented his legacy as a costly investment gone awry.
Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia's lucrative deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2004 made him one of the NFL's most overpaid players, snagging a four-year, $25 million deal with the team. Despite three Pro Bowl selections, Garcia's ten starts, nine interceptions, and seven losses tarnished his record.
This stark disconnect between pay and performance cemented his place among the league's overpaid players.
Carson Wentz
Philadelphia fans had high hopes when the Eagles drafted Carson Wentz as their QB 1 in 2016, leading them to an 11-2 record the following year. However, an injury-prone Wentz was not worth the four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $26.67 million.
Wentz's production declined, and he quickly lost his starting position on the team.
Charles Rogers
Charles Rogers was a glaring example of the NFL's missteps in player contracts, emerging as one of the most overpaid athletes when he inked a hefty six-year, $39.5 million deal with the Detroit Lions in 2003.
The promising start to his rookie season was abruptly halted by a broken collarbone, which recurred in the first game of the following season. His troubles extended off-field as well, as a suspension in 2005 due to violating an NFL policy forced him to repay a staggering $8.5 million of his $14.2 million signing bonus.
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford's signing of a monumental five-year, $135 million contract in 2017, with a staggering $92 million guaranteed, established him as the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
However, since inking the deal, Stafford's struggles with significant injuries and his inability to consistently guide the Lions to the playoffs raised questions about the value of his contract. With a subpar passer rating of under 80%, his performance often fell short of justifying his hefty paycheck.
Ezekial Elliot
Ezekiel Elliott's signing of a lucrative six-year, $90 million contract in 2019 raised eyebrows as one of the NFL's most overpaid players. Despite the significant investment, Elliott's performance failed to live up to the expectations.
In the seasons following the deal, he struggled to make a significant impact, consistently failing to lead the league in any rushing category or crack the top three in yardage and touchdowns. This disparity between compensation and on-field contribution highlighted concerns about the value of his contract.