10 NFL free agency signings for 2021 that could backfire

Not every offseason move made ends up working out as teams expect. With that in mind, these are the 10 signings in 2021 NFL free agency that can backfire.

Free agency is always a tricky thing in the NFL. Teams often go into the open market knowing they will have to overpay for talent but oftentimes, desperation leads to them doing this without a second thought.

This isn’t to say every move is bad, as there have been countless free agents to go and change a team’s fortunes. But there are also big misses that happen.

That will again be the case this year and we try and predict which free agency signings from the NFL 2021 season will backfire, starting with someone who will be tasked with blocking for a new star in the league.

10. Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Cincinnati Bengals

Originally taken 23rd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Riley Reiff spent five seasons with the Detroit Lions as the blindside blocker for Matthew Stafford. When he hit free agency in 2017, the Minnesota Vikings came calling, hoping he would fix their struggling offensive line.

Minnesota and Reiff agreed to a five-year deal worth $58.75 million but he never really lived up to their expectations. His play was inconsistent and while he did perform better in 2020 than he did the prior season, Reiff was still released following the year.

He then signed with the Bengals where he will move to the right side with Jonah Williams manning the left. Reiff isn’t a terrible player by any means but he might have given the team some false security.

Cincinnati elected not to take an offensive tackle in the first round as they went with Ja’Marr Chase instead. This move was understandable but they then took Jackson Carman in the second who will most likely play guard rather than tackle.

Considering the way Joe Burrow was beaten up during his rookie season, this could be a move that blows up in the Bengals’ face.