The 25 worst moves NFL teams made in 2024

New York traded for Adams at midseason with the idea that he’d be a missing piece to get them back to the playoffs. While he’s been productive, the Jets went 1-6 in their first seven games with Adams, and could be turning the page after this season with Aaron Rodgers‘ struggles. In the meantime, New York has further hindered their cap situation moving forward and gave up a third-round pick.

Atlanta desperately needed pass rush help, and traded a third-round pick to New England in the preseason for Judon. The logic was sound, but Judon hasn’t helped his new team very much, recording only 3.5 sacks in his first 13 games.

Carolina hoped to revamp their receivers without draft capital, trading cornerback Donte Jackson and a late-round draft pick swap for Johnson. While Jackson has been a strong starter in Pittsburgh, Johnson has only shown why the Steelers had given up on him. He had 30 catches in seven games before getting traded to Baltimore, where he’s barely played.

Cincinnati traded Joe Mixon in the offseason, but were hoping Chase Brown and Moss could fill the void. Brown has done his part, but Moss has struggled when he’s found the field despite a significant payday. He recorded only 429 yards from scrimmage through Week 14, and has averaged a terrible 3.3 yards per carry.

Tennessee had the right idea adding to their offensive line, but their moves haven’t succeeded. Cushenberry has been the worst of the moves, missing time to injury and struggling when he’s played. The center is in the first year of a four-year, $50 million deal.

Los Angeles didn’t break the bank to sign White, with only a $4.25 deal. Still, relying on the former Bills Pro Bowler was a clear mistake, as he struggled in four starts and was traded to Baltimore.

Cincinnati’s secondary fix has been a work in progress over the last two seasons, an those efforts will likely continue into the offseason. Stone has started Cincy’s first 13 games, but he’s struggled on a two-year, $15 million deal. The former Raven has allowed a 73% completion rate and 106.1 Passer Rating.

Murray saw mixed results in four years with the Chargers, and that’s continued in Tennessee despite a two-year, $18 million contract. While he’s pile up 3.5 sacks and 86 tackles in his first 12 games, Murray has continued to struggle in pass coverage and failed to help one of the worst defenses in the league.

Atlanta has a chance to return to the playoffs and their quarterback play with Kirk Cousins has been clearly better than 2023. That said, the situation is getting messy with Cousins playing below his career standard with a league-worst 15 picks back from a torn Achilles and eighth-overall draft choice Michael Penix breathing down his neck. Cousins was guaranteed $100 million by the Falcons, so this will likely be an ongoing situation as the team tries to figure out their quarterback future.

Campbell was once an All-Pro in Green Bay, but had shown signs of age and disinterest before signing for $5 million with San Francisco in the offseason. He struggled for much of the year, and quit in the middle of the team’s critical Week 15 game vs. the Rams. This could be the last we’ve seen of Campbell in the league.

A torn ACL suffered last season didn’t stop the Jets from signing Williams to a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason. He never looked right or in tune with Aaron Rodgers, catching only 12 of 21 targets in nine games before getting shipped off to Pittsburgh.

Bourne earned his stripes in previous seasons with the Patriots, but the team took a risk extending him following ACL surgery. That risk has blown up in their faces so far, with only 19 catches through his first eight games.

The Reddick saga has been a true head-scratcher this season, with the Jets trading a third-round pick to Philly in the offseason, only for the edge rusher to hold out. Reddick hasn’t been productive since he finally returned to the field, but his return was too little, too late for New York anyway.

With the loss of Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville was desperate to maintain their receiver production. It’s clear Davis wasn’t the answer, with only 20 catches in 10 games before suffering a knee injury. The Jaguars hope he can make good on his three-year, $39 million contract next season.

Miami made the curious decision to released White in the preseason, and the lack of attention to the backup quarterback situation could keep the team out of the playoffs. Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson combined to go 1-3 while the injury-plagued Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined. White wouldn’t have necessarily fared better, but the need for a more formidable backup option was a clear mistake.

Cincinnati made several poor personnel decisions on defense in the offseason, and replacing D.J. Reader with Rankins was one of the most severe. Rankins has been injured and unproductive through Week 14, with only 18 tackles and one sack in seven games played. It’s a big fall after signing a two-year, $24.5 million contract.

Pittsburgh’s defense has been excellent this season, but interior linebacker production continues to be an issue. Queen came over from the rival Ravens in the offseason, signing a three-year, $41 million contract. He’s piled up 98 tackles in his first 13 games, but otherwise struggled to maintain his big play production that he showed in Baltimore.

Some physical issues hurt Sneed’s trade market in the offseason when the Chiefs couldn’t afford to re-sign him, and he’s been a disaster for Tennessee so far. Injuries have limited him to only five games played, and Sneed was burned regularly when he played. He was guaranteed $51.5 million by the Titans in the offseason, also costing Tennessee a third-round pick.

It was predictable that Minshew wasn’t the Raiders’ answer at quarterback, but that doesn’t make the decision to sign him any better. He signed a two-year, $25 million contract in the offseason, only to go 2-7 as a starter and also get benched briefly. His season has ended with a fractured collarbone.

The Chargers turned to the run in the offseason, but their addition of Edwards hasn’t worked out. The former Raven signed a two-year deal in the offseason, but has averaged a career-worst 3.5 yards per carry after showing signs of decline last season.

It’s unclear what Dallas thought they were getting by bringing Elliott back, but he’s underperformed even the lowest of expectations. Elliott has averaged only 3.2 yards per carry, and was inactive in Week 9 after breaking team rules.

Lock signed a reasonable one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason, but even that relatively small amount now looks like a head-scratcher after the team clearly preferred Tommy DeVito over him. Lock has found the field due to DeVito’s injury and struggled, completing only 51% of his passes in his first five appearances.

Everett signed a two-year deal with Chicago in the offseason but hasn’t helped in his short time. The veteran has seen only 25% of offensive snaps behind Cole Kmet despite signing for $12 million.

Arizona revamped their wide receivers in the offseason, including the signing of Jones. The former Jaguar has seen his recent downward trend continue, getting suspended by the league for five games and seeing only four targets in the seven games he did play through Week 14.

Beckham’s decline over the last several seasons has been clear, but Miami still expected more than what they’ve received from him in 2024. After signing for $3 million in the offseason, Beckham has caught only nine of 18 targets and was waived after Week 14.