NFL Free Agency: 30 worst free agency signings this century

25. Worst NFL free agency signings this century: Bernard Berrian

A third-round pick out of Fresno State, wide receiver Bernard Berrian proved to be a weapon for the Chicago Bears. Working alongside Mushin Muhammad, Berrian found plenty of success for Chicago. He even helped them get to Super Bowl XLI, where they came up short against the Indianapolis Colts. He would play one more season with the Bears and put up career numbers during that contract year.

Berrian finished with 951 yards on 71 receptions, while also scoring five touchdowns. However, the Bears ended up losing him in free agency, as a divisional rival came in to steal the speedy wideout. Berrian landed a six-year, $42 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings with $16 million being guaranteed.

Initially, it looked like he was a steal for them, as his first season with Minnesota was a success. He averaged 20.1 yards per catch and finished the season with 964 yards, as well as a career-high seven touchdowns. However, this was his best season with the Vikings by far.

Berrian ended up falling down the depth chart as Brett Favre, who joined the team in 2009, preferred to throw the ball to Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and even tight end Visanthe Shiancoe at times over Berrian. By 2010, he was an afterthought, as he had just 28 receptions and then recorded only seven in 2011. That season was his last in the NFL.

Once again, this seemed to be the case of a receiver not being able to excel as a No. 1 target after starting his career as the secondary target. His lack of rapport with Favre expedited the decline, but overall, this wasn’t a great signing to begin with.