When it comes to professional sports, the NFL’s free agency kickoff truly stands out as a spectacle. What has blossomed into an unofficial holiday for football fans this year began with a bit of drama, as X (formerly Twitter), the go-to platform for breaking news, faced significant outages. Imagine waiting for the latest scoop only to find the digital world on pause.
Although the first day marked a noon kickoff for contract negotiations—actual signings won’t become official until March 12th at 4:00 PM EST—most announcements from day one can generally be viewed as set in stone. While there are sometimes hiccups in agreements, the vast majority of signings are likely to hold, giving us plenty to discuss.
With that said, let’s dive into the five worst free agent signings that made headlines across the league.
5. Milton Williams: Defensive Tackle, New England Patriots
Milton Williams was heralded as the top free agent on many boards, landing a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots after whispers suggested he might join the Carolina Panthers. Don’t get me wrong—Williams is an impressive player who was bound to secure a hefty paycheck. However, the bidding war that led to his sky-high contract raises some eyebrows.
He’s more of a rotational pass-rushing specialist who thrived on one of the most dominant defensive lines in recent memory, but with just 19 starts out of 67 games played, there’s real uncertainty about his ability to anchor a less talented defensive unit. Facing increased double teams is inevitable, and he’ll need to elevate his game on every snap to justify that $26 million annual salary.
4. Dayo Odeyingbo: EDGE, Chicago Bears
The Bears have made a strategic choice by signing Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract, banking on his potential to fit into their scheme. It’s a head-scratcher just how far this deal exceeds expectations, especially considering Odeyingbo’s career total of 16.5 sacks over four seasons. The consensus was that he struggled to find an ideal fit in Indianapolis.
At the very least, he offers solid run defense and some pass-rush potential. However, he ranked as just the 12th EDGE on CBS’ top 100 free agent list, yet he’s receiving the third-highest average annual value in this free agency class, trailing only behind the likes of Josh Sweat and Chase Young.
3. Aaron Banks: Guard, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Banks, a former San Francisco 49er, has agreed to a four-year, $77 million deal with the Packers. On the surface, it seems justifiable; Banks surrendered only one sack in 471 pass-blocking attempts last season and has allowed just two throughout his career. Yet, a deeper dive shows a PFF overall grade of just 67.2, prompting some skepticism.
Couple that with injuries that sidelined him multiple times in recent seasons, and you have a situation where a guard making nearly $20 million per year hasn’t even made a Pro Bowl. He’s decidedly average at best, raising questions about whether he’s worth such investment.
2. Dan Moore: Tackle, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans secured former Pittsburgh Steeler Dan Moore with a four-year, $82 million contract, including $50 million guarantees. For many Steelers fans, this was a cause for celebration, happy to have Moore out of black and gold. However, this is a big commitment for a player who was credited with allowing 12 sacks and 41 pressures last season, including a few critical ones given up to Trey Hendrickson.
This kind of money for an average left tackle inevitably brings a new set of expectations, especially considering the Titans’ still-uncertain quarterback situation.
1. Javon Kinlaw: Defensive Tackle, Washington Commanders
Last but not least, we have Javon Kinlaw, who recently signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Commanders, which includes a staggering $30 million in guarantees. While he shows flashes of pass-rushing potential, his overall PFF grade of 53.4 raises eyebrows, placing him 127th out of 219 classified interior linemen.
The baffling element here is that the Commanders just released former Pro-Bowler Jonathan Allen to save $16.5 million, only to pour a similar amount into an unproven replacement. Given Allen’s past as a standout defensive tackle—despite a tough 2024 season riddled with injury—this signing simply doesn’t add up.
As the dust settles from the first day of free agency, it’s clear that these selections will be under the microscope as the season unfolds. The stakes are high, and time will tell whether these moves turn out to be diamonds in the rough or simply costly mistakes.
