Top 15 worst free agent signings in NFL history

9. Deion Sanders, CB, Washington

The deal: 7 years, $56.125 million

You know a free agent signing is bad when you’re talking about one of the top superstars to ever play the game, and you come across a move like this and you think to yourself, oh wow, he played for Washington?

That was my thought process regarding Deion Sanders, “Coach Prime”, one of the most popular football figures in the country right now. Growing up as a 90s kid, Prime was it. If you didn’t have a Deion Sanders jersey, you certainly wore a bandanna when you played backyard football and did his trademark high-stepping into the end zone on a pick-six. There was nothing more satisfying.

Deion Sanders is synonymous with the no. 21. I remember clearly his time as a member of the Falcons, Cowboys, and 49ers. He was so much fun to watch.

Why can I not remember his time with Washington?

It wasn’t like Sanders was “bad” for Washington. He picked off four passes for them and then shockingly retired after the 2000 season. Sanders would have been entering his age 34 season, so it’s not altogether surprising given his age, but the timing given the fact he signed a seven-year deal with Washington was certainly out of left field.

After his retirement, Prime attempted to come back and play for the Raiders, and even though Washington was shockingly willing to accommodate his request, the Chargers sniped him off waivers and it ended up being too late in the season for him to be activated. He came back and played two years for the Baltimore Ravens in 2004-05 before getting into TV and now, of course, coaching.