NFL Free Agency: 30 worst free agency signings this century
By Randy Gurzi
8. player. 36. . QB. Seattle Seahawks. Matt Flynn
8. Worst NFL free agency signings this century: Matt Flynn
There’s absolutely nothing worse for an NFL team than to be in desperate need of a quarterback. Without a trusted arm under center, teams make some irrational decisions in hopes of finding their next franchise leader. That’s exactly what happened in 2007 when the Seattle Seahawks made a move in free agency for Matt Flynn.
After the Matt Hasselbeck era, the Seahawks tried both Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst as their starters. They were unimpressed with either. That led them to Flynn, who was given a three-year deal worth $20.5 million, nearly half of which was guaranteed. The problem was, Flynn received that deal based on just two games.
A former seventh-round pick out of LSU, Flynn backed up Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2008 through 2011. In that time, he started twice and was 1-1.
What got the attention of the Seahawks though, were the numbers Flynn put up, specifically the 480 yards and Packers-record six touchdowns he had in his second start against the Detroit Lions in 2012.
His previous start was a loss in 2010, but he performed admirably in that one as well. He tossed for 254 yards and three touchdowns against the New England Patriots.
Still, that was a lot of money to hand out to a player who had such a small sample size. It also proved to be a mistake, as Flynn never became the starter in Seattle, losing out to rookie Russell Wilson. Flynn was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a couple of late-round draft picks after just one season.
Luckily for the Seahawks, Wilson proved to be a steal as a third-round pick and became the starter they were looking for. His presence kept this mistake from setting them back, as similar errors have done to other teams in the past.