Top 15 worst free agent signings in NFL history

14. Ahman Green, Houston Texans

The deal: 4 years, $23 million

From 2000-2006, Ahman Green was one of the best running backs in the NFL as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Outside of the 2005 season when he only played five games, Green was pretty much an automatic 1,000 yards rushing and provided plenty of added value in the passing game as a receiver.

Green was named to multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams as a member of the Packers, which prompted the Houston Texans to sign him to a four-year deal worth $23 million in the 2007 offseason. Former Packers coach Mike Sherman was part of Gary Kubiak’s staff in the early years of Kubiak’s tenure with the Texans, and he helped convince Kubiak and the Houston front office to not only bring in Ahman Green but another former Packers running back — Samkon Gado — to really provide a jolt to the Houston running game.

As fate would have it for Houston that season, it actually ended up being Ron Dayne having the most significant impact on the running game, leading the team in rushing while Green played in just six games.

By 2008, Steve Slaton had taken over the show for the Houston running game and Green — once again playing in just eight games — took a major backseat.

After racking up nearly 11,000 yards from scrimmage with the Packers from 2000-2006, Green became less than a role player in Houston. He played just 14 games for the Texans with just six starts.

As it turns out, giving a 30-year-old free agent running back a $23 million contract may not be the best idea.