The 11 Worst NFL Quarterback Contracts in History
The quarterback isn’t just the most important position on the field for an NFL team. They’re the face of the franchise, the main attraction, and the player a team is supposed to rally around when making a push for a Lombardi Trophy.
Mediocre names have come and gone over the years, but sometimes, a QB lights up the league with high expectations or major potential, leading to a team investing big money in their quarterback of the future. For example, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was supposed to be the man in Cleveland for years to come, but a torn Achilles leaves his status in abeyance.
Watson, of course, isn’t the lone quarterback who failed after receiving a big contract.
Deshaun Watson
Sure, Deshaun Watson signed a mega deal with the Cleveland Browns. A five-year, $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed meant he would be their starter of the future from 2022 through the foreseeable future. But let’s not forget acquiring Watson also required the Browns to send six draft picks, including three first-rounders, to the Texans.
His time in Cleveland has been disastrous. Watson has thrown just 19 touchdowns in three seasons and has played a grand total of 19 games. Throw in his off-the-field accusations of indecent conduct, and Watson’s Browns’ tenure has been nothing short of a failure. It is unlikely he will ever suit up for the Browns again following his most recent injury, and his NFL future is in serious doubt.
JaMarcus Russell
The Oakland Raiders gave LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell a six-year, $68 million rookie deal in 2007, all with the expectation he would be their QB of the future. Instead, they got one of the biggest contract busts in NFL history.
Russell played just three seasons in Oakland (and in the NFL), starting 25 games. He threw 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, and was dogged by media and NFL personnel for letting himself get out of shape and not monitoring his conditioning. His collegiate talent never translated to the NFL, and he is widely considered to be among the worst draft picks of all time.
Brock Osweiler
Brock Osweiler toiled around Denver as a backup quarterback but finally got a chance to start seven games in 2015. He threw ten touchdowns to go with six picks, solid numbers but far from superstardom. That didn’t stop the Houston Texans from going all-in.
They gave Osweiler a four-year, $72 million contract the following season, with $37 million of it guaranteed. He started 14 games in 2016 for Houston, turning the ball over 16 times through the air, and running himself out of town. Houston decided to turn its attention to drafting a new quarterback, which ended up being Watson. Osweiler went back to Denver for a season.
Matt Flynn
Backup quarterbacks have some of the best gigs in sports. Matt Flynn was one of those, as he was the second-string to Aaron Rodgers as the Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl in the 2010 season.
Flynn played five games and started one the following season, finishing with six touchdowns through the air. That was enough to get him a three-year, $26 million contract to be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. He never actually had that opportunity, as Flynn lost the quarterback battle in training camp to Russell Wilson. Flynn would throw nine total passes for Seattle.
Sam Bradford
While Sam Bradford wasn’t a traditional bust as a former No. 1 overall pick, injuries prevented him from truly breaking out as a star with the St. Louis Rams. He would have a few solid seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, where he floated between starting and serving as a strong backup option.
Bradford signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, with $15 million of that guaranteed. He played just three games for Arizona, throwing for 400 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. The guaranteed money was naught, and he was released shortly thereafter. He would never play in the NFL again.
Carson Wentz
The Philadelphia Eagles truly believed Carson Wentz would be the quarterback of the future, so they took him as the No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. The North Dakota St. product helped take Philly to the Super Bowl the following year but was upstaged by backup Nick Foles after suffering an injury.
Wentz signed a four-year, $128 million extension with the team in 2019 but was eventually benched in favor of Jalen Hurts. He’d get traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he notched 27 touchdowns to seven picks in 2021. Still, he earned a reputation for poor decision-making in the clutch, and the Colts missed the playoffs. He was sent out of town the following season.
Nick Foles
Enter Nick Foles. He was a Pro Bowl selection with the Eagles in 2013 but bounced around the league as a backup after failing to sustain success. He ended up back with Philly ahead of that Super Bowl run, and his performance there earned him a massive four-year, $88 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars with $50 million guaranteed.
He started his first game in 2019 well, going 5-for-8 and tossing a touchdown. Foles then broke his left clavicle and played just three more games for Jacksonville. He would lose the starting job to Gardner Minshew and was traded after just one season with the Jags. He’ll always have that magical run with Philly, though, while Jacksonville hopes Trevor Lawrence is their future.
Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf is often viewed as the original big arm NFL Draft bust, having to follow up Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft when he was selected No. 2 overall by the San Diego Chargers.
Leaf signed a four-year, $31.25 million contract with the Chargers and was expected to be their quarterback for years to come. He immediately struggled to gel with his Chargers teammates, causing dissension within the locker room. Leaf threw just two touchdowns his rookie season, but turned the ball over 15 times through the air. He played three total years in the NFL, and off-the-field issues kept him from returning.
Colin Kaepernick
The San Francisco 49ers were on the verge of a Super Bowl title with Colin Kaepernick as their starting quarterback in 2012. Kaepernick’s electric athleticism combined with a strong arm made him one of the most versatile quarterbacks in all of the NFL, so he re-upped on a six-year, $126 million contract.
Kaepernick would only play in 29 games after signing the deal, going 3-16 as a starter and seeing his accuracy regress significantly. He may have had a chance at serving as a backup there or elsewhere, but political activism combined with lack of on-field results led to him not receiving another opportunity in the NFL after 2016.
Matt Cassel
Tom Brady tore his ACL at the start of the 2008 NFL season, and his backup, Matt Cassel, was thrust into the starting role. Cassel took advantage of the opportunity, throwing for nearly 3,700 yards in 15 starts and tossing 21 touchdowns. That earned him a six-year, $68 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs to be their starter.
His tenure in Kansas City wasn’t quite as smooth. Cassel went 19-28 in four seasons as a starter, completing 57.5 percent of his passes. He struggled with turnovers, throwing 16 picks in his first season to just 16 touchdowns.
Mark Sanchez
The New York Jets were desperately in need of a spark in 2009, so they took USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft. He responded in a big way, helping lead the team to the AFC Championship game, with hopes of a Super Bowl appearance looking like they could become reality.
That’s why they decided to give him a three-year extension in 2012, valued at more than $40 million. It was a major mistake by the franchise (which had also acquired Tim Tebow that offseason), as Sanchez bombed out in 2012. He threw just 13 touchdowns to 18 interceptions, and had a completion percentage under 55 percent. Sanchez missed the entire 2013 season due to injury and was gone the following year.