In the high-stakes world of the NFL, one false move can set a franchise back for years. As teams jockey for position in the Super Bowl chase, their fates often hinge on the critical decisions made by front offices and coaching staffs. But for every stroke of genius, there are those moves that leave fans scratching their heads and cursing the football gods. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the worst mistakes made by each NFL team since 2020, ranking them from the merely misguided to the downright disastrous.
The Anatomy of an NFL Blunder
Before we dive into the rankings, let’s take a moment to examine what qualifies as a true NFL blunder. These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill personnel moves that fail to pan out. No, we’re talking about the decisions that have far-reaching consequences, the ones that leave a franchise reeling and wondering what might have been.
The most common culprits? Trades gone awry, free agent signings that fail to live up to the hype, and of course, draft picks that go bust. It’s a trifecta of terror that can set a team back for years, leaving fans to lament the one that got away or the superstar that never was.
The Ripple Effect
The true cost of an NFL blunder goes beyond the immediate impact on the field. These mistakes can have a ripple effect that touches every corner of an organization. A bad contract can hamstring a team’s salary cap for years, limiting their ability to sign other key players. A draft bust can leave a gaping hole in the roster that requires additional resources to fill. And a coach that fails to live up to expectations can sow discord in the locker room and stunt the development of young talent.
In the NFL, the margin for error is razor thin. One false step can be the difference between hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and watching the playoffs from home.
– Bill Barnwell, ESPN
Ranking the Worst of the Worst
So without further ado, let’s count down the worst mistakes made by each NFL team since 2020. We’ll start with the least damaging and work our way up to the moves that had fans calling for heads to roll. Along the way, we’ll examine the fallout from each decision and try to pinpoint where things went wrong.
- #32 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Signing Russell Gage to a three-year, $30 million contract
- #31 – Green Bay Packers: Using first-round picks on Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt
- #30 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Using a first-round pick on Kenny Pickett
- #29 – Detroit Lions: Drafting Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 overall pick
- #28 – Buffalo Bills: Signing Von Miller to a six-year, $120 million contract
- #27 – Washington Commanders: Drafting Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 16 pick
- #26 – Philadelphia Eagles: Signing James Bradberry to a three-year, $38 million contract
- #25 – Dallas Cowboys: Choosing Michael Gallup over Amari Cooper
- #24 – Cincinnati Bengals: Signing Trae Waynes to a three-year, $42 million deal
- #23 – New Orleans Saints: Handing Cameron Jordan a two-year, $27.9 million extension
- #22 – Kansas City Chiefs: Using a first-round pick on Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- #21 – New York Giants: Signing Kenny Golladay to a four-year, $72 million contract
- #20 – Baltimore Ravens: Signing Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year, $15 million contract
- #19 – Indianapolis Colts: Trading first- and third-round picks to the Eagles for Carson Wentz
- #18 – Los Angeles Chargers: Signing J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million contract
- #17 – Minnesota Vikings: Failing to land any useful players on Days 1 and 2 of the 2022 draft
- #16 – Miami Dolphins: Tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton
- #15 – Arizona Cardinals: Signing Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim to contract extensions
- #14 – Las Vegas Raiders: Hiring Josh McDaniels as coach
- #13 – Los Angeles Rams: Signing Allen Robinson to a three-year, $46.5 million contract
- #12 – Seattle Seahawks: Trading two first-round picks for Jamal Adams
- #11 – Chicago Bears: Trading a second-round pick for Chase Claypool
- #10 – Tennessee Titans: Swapping out A.J. Brown for Treylon Burks in a trade with the Eagles
- #9 – New England Patriots: Hiring Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as the lead architects for the offense
- #8 – Atlanta Falcons: Signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract
- #7 – Houston Texans: Trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals
- #6 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Hiring Urban Meyer as coach
- #5 – Carolina Panthers: Trading DJ Moore and multiple first-round picks to the Bears to draft Bryce Young
- #4 – San Francisco 49ers: Trading three first-round picks to move up for Trey Lance
- #3 – New York Jets: Trading for Aaron Rodgers
- #2 – Denver Broncos: Trading for (and extending) Russell Wilson
- #1 – Cleveland Browns: Trading for Deshaun Watson and signing him to a five-year, $230 million contract
Lessons Learned
As we look back at the worst mistakes made by NFL teams in recent years, a few key lessons emerge:
- Beware of big-money free agent signings – More often than not, teams end up overpaying for past production rather than future performance.
- Draft picks are precious commodities – Squandering top picks on busts or trading them away for quick fixes can set a franchise back for years.
- Coaching hires are critical – The wrong coach can torpedo a team’s chemistry and stunt the development of young talent.
- Character counts – Bringing in players with off-field issues or locker room baggage is a risky proposition that can backfire in spectacular fashion.
In the end, building a winning NFL franchise requires a delicate balancing act. Teams must weigh the short-term benefits of making a splash move against the long-term costs of tying up cap space or mortgaging the future. They must also have a clear vision for the type of team they want to build and the culture they want to create, and make personnel decisions that align with that vision.
As fans, all we can do is hope that our favorite teams have learned from the mistakes of the past and are making smarter, more calculated decisions moving forward. Because in the NFL, the line between contender and pretender is often decided by the moves made in the offseason. Choose wisely, and your team could be the next to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Choose poorly, and you might just find yourself atop the list of the worst mistakes in NFL history.
