The Arizona Cardinals recently released linebacker Stewart Bradley, admitting the mistake they made in signing him to a five-year deal worth $30 million back in 2011. Bradley never so much as started a game in two seasons with the Cardinals, making him a significant free agent bust for the franchise.
NFL free agency: Stewart Bradley latest in long line of busts
Bradley was one free-agent signing in recent years that didn’t pan out, but he is hardly alone.
Christian Petersen
But the Cardinals aren’t the only franchise to make mistakes in free agency over the last half decade, of course. Below is a look at some other free agency deals that over the last few years never worked out:
Javon Walker (signed in 2008 with Oakland): Walker got a six-year, $55 million deal from the Raiders despite coming off a season in which he was limited to eight games and had just 287 yards receiving. An injury ended his debut season with the Raiders prematurely, and over the course of two years with Oakland, he appeared in just 11 games and had 196 receiving yards. He made $21 million during his brief stay with the team -- more than a million dollars per reception. Oakland released him in 2010.
Jerry Porter (2008, Jacksonville): Porter didn't even last a full 12 months with the Jaguars after signing a six-year deal worth $30 million. In his lone season, he appeared in 10 games, making just 11 receptions for 181 yards and a score. He has not played in the NFL since then.
Albert Haynesworth (2009, Washington): After some productive seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Haynesworth cashed in with a seven-year, $100 million deal with the Redskins. Haynesworth ended up causing problems from the beginning, from his refusal to participate in offseason workouts to his complaints about the way he was being used in the defensive scheme. He ended up appearing in just 20 games for Washington, 12 of which were starts. He tallied 53 tackles, including 6.5 sacks. Washington traded him to New England for a fifth-round draft choice in 2011.
Jake Delhomme (2010, Cleveland): Delhomme signed a two-year deal that would pay him $7 million in the first year. He was already 35 years old by the start of the 2010 season, and he ended up having little impact on the field, as he appeared in a total of five games that year. Cleveland released him in July of 2011.
Derek Anderson (2010, Arizona): After signing a two-year deal, Anderson lasted just one season with the Cardinals, and it was one plagued by poor performances and injury. He finished the 2010 season with seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Arizona released him in 2011.
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