NFL Free Agency: 30 worst free agency signings this century

10. Worst NFL free agency signings this century: Mike Vanderjagt

For years, the Dallas Cowboys refused to pay premium money to a kicker, but the 2005 season changed their minds. They started the season with Billy Cundiff but then turned to Shaun Suisham and Jose Cortéz when Cundiff was injured. Cortéz and Suisham had their struggles throughout the season and Dallas elected to go in a different direction the following year.

Head coach Bill Parcells was entering his fourth season with Dallas. He believed his roster was close to complete, so they decided they couldn’t repeat the issues they had in 2005. That led to them making a move for free agent kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who made 87.5 percent of his kicks during the eight years he played for the Indianapolis Colts.

His contract was rich for a kicker at that time, as he was given a three-year, $4.5 million deal with $2.5 million guaranteed. However, Vanderjagt didn’t have the same success in Big D that he did with the Colts. It was rocky right out of the gates.

Vanderjagt missed much of the preseason due to a groin injury and was erratic when he returned, even missing two short kicks against the Minnesota Vikings. Dallas had to keep Suisham on the roster to start the season, as Vanderjagt continued his rehab.

Eventually, he returned but was just 13-of-18 on his field goal tries. This included two misses against his former team in the same game.

Dallas ended up cutting ties with the Canadian kicker in late November. He headed north to the CFL and one year after that, didn’t play in his native country professionally for very long. 2008 was his only season with the Toronto Argonauts.