The 2022 NFL offseason activity is mostly over as it pertains to player movement. Between free agency, the draft, and trades, which moves are the worst?
The free agency period during the 2022 NFL offseason was more exciting than usual. We saw several instances of major quarterbacks on the move, and, like every offseason, saw a ton of movement with big-name free agents.
It’s pretty clear which teams had very solid offseasons. Teams like the Bills, Chargers, Broncos, and Eagles had a great offseason, between free agency, trades, and the draft.
However, there are teams who are perhaps the losers of the offseason, including teams like the Bears, Packers, and Titans.
There were perhaps hundreds of transactions made since the beginning of the free agency period back in March, and we’re going to try to rank the three worst moves made overall, factoring in free agency with signings and trades, and looking at draft picks as well.
Obviously, the moves I personally believe to be the worst could actually turn out good for the teams on the wrong end of the decision, but for now, I think these three moves made during the 2022 NFL offseason stand alone as the absolute worst decisions made over the last few months.
Three worst moves during the 2022 NFL offseason
3. Titans trading AJ Brown, then drafting Treylon Burks
This was a bit of a shocking move when it happened. The deal went down during the draft.
The Eagles had the 18th overall pick and decided they needed a premier receiver for Jalen Hurts.
So, the Titans apparently came calling, trading their star receiver, AJ Brown, to the Titans for the 18th overall pick.
The Pro Bowl receiver was in line for a massive extension from Tennessee and was entering his fourth season with them, but the Titans apparently did not want to meet his contractual demands.
It’s puzzling, mainly because they were only able to get the 18th and 101st overall picks. That’s a mid-first rounder and low third-rounder, which they then traded to the Jets.
So, they effectively only received the 18th overall pick, which they used on Treylon Burks, who is very much similar to AJ Brown, however, Burks’ speed is a valid question, and his 225-pound frame could be a bit concerning.
The Eagles then inked Brown to an extension that will pay him an average of $25 million per year.
For the Titans, while several other AFC teams added a ton of firepower, they’ll have to settle with their less than ideal offseason, which now includes a receiver room featuring an unproven rookie in Burks, and an older receiver in Robert Woods, who is coming off a torn ACL.
I would not expect the Titans the be a huge threat this season.
Three worst moves during the 2022 NFL offseason
2. Patriots trading Shaq Mason for a 5th rounder, then over-drafting Cole Strange
The Patriots’ offseason last year was very good.
This year, however, was less than ideal. Perhaps their worst move was them shipping a top-shelf NFL guard in Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers for only a fifth-round pick in 2022.
Mason is very talented. He has started at least 10 games in each season of his career and is entering his age-29 season.
The Buccaneers lost both of their 2021 starting guards after the season. Ali Marpet retired and Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals.
They also had to deal with their center, Ryan Jensen, being a free agent, and the retirement of Tom Brady.
Somehow, the Buccaneers managed to receive Tom Brady back out of retirement, and commit highway robbery for a borderline elite NFL guard.
This left a noticeable hole on the Patriots’ offensive line, as they lost one of their guards, Ted Karras, to the Bengals as well.
So, their solution was drafting Cole Strange in the first round, 29th overall.
Strange has short arms, will be a 24-year-old rookie and was projected more as a very late second or third round pick.
The Patriots, by all accounts, perhaps committed the overdraft of the season with this pick. It’s clear that it was a horribly urgent decision for them to fill one of their guard spots.
However, there were some respectable guards left on the market who could have come in and filled Mason’s role decently. One name that would have made sense was Trai Turner, or even Quinton Spain, who is still a free agent.
Three worst moves during the 2022 NFL offseason
1. Browns trading for Deshaun Watson
As a football move, Deshaun Watson on this Browns team makes them Super Bowl contenders, but it’s everything else about the trade that makes it the worst decision during the offseason.
Unless someone has been living under a rock, they have heard about the over 20 allegations of unruly sexual behavior from Watson.
Then, on top of that, the league may decide to suspend Watson for a period of time, so to help Watson avoid losing money because of a possible suspension, they not only guaranteed the entire contract he signed which is over $200 million, but they made his salary very low for 2021 because he would not receive his salary if he’s suspended.
Then, we need to look at the boatload of draft picks that the Browns gave up to acquire Watson.
The Browns gave up three first-round picks, one third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks.
For the uncertainty of his future in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns trading all they did for Deshaun Watson and giving him that contract was the worst move of the offseason.
It does show that the team is putting their football desires over decency and respectability. I would also add that the way they treated Baker Mayfield during all of this was very low, as well.