The biggest waves of NFL free agency have passed in 2022. What have been some of the worst moves made by each of the 32 teams so far?
Although some big-name free agents remain unsigned into early April, the biggest waves have passed and we’re now into the later stages of NFL Free Agency with the 2022 NFL Draft on deck.
This particular NFL Free Agency and offseason, in general, has been one of the wildest offseasons in recent memory. Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Khalil Mack have all been traded. Those moves make trades involving players like Carson Wentz and Amari Cooper seem minuscule by comparison.
Some teams have done outstanding work so far in the 2022 NFL offseason but every team has at least one move we can gripe about.
Even though some of this may just be nit-picking (we had to include all 32 NFL teams, after all), let’s take a look at the worst move made in NFL free agency so far by each of the 32 NFL franchises.
Cleveland Browns worst move in 2022 NFL Free Agency
Deshaun Watson trade, $230M guaranteed contract
Some will likely take issue with this inclusion because, on the football side of things, it’s arguable that the Deshaun Watson trade is the best move any team made in the 2022 offseason.
If Watson had no issues off the field, this would have been a home run move for Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry but for the time being, it doesn’t sit right at all.
Not only did the Browns give up a king’s ransom of draft picks to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans (over the next three years, I might add), but they also paid him an unprecedented and market-altering contract.
The $230 million deal given to Watson is worth $46 million annually, and Watson was given a signing bonus in 2022 with a low base salary to ensure that he will see almost every penny of that guaranteed contract barring a suspension from the NFL, which would “only” cost him $57,500 per week.
And none of the future guarantees are voided if Watson is suspended down the road.
Considering what Watson is being accused of and how serious the allegations are, even though he is not in any legal trouble at the moment, this move just feels like the Browns got desperate and threw as much money as they possibly could Watson’s way.
Meanwhile, Watson had decided to eliminate the Browns from contention before the $230 million came about, and then all of a sudden he changed his mind.
The Browns had better hope this one works out on the football side of things.