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Adam Hunger / Associated Press
The NFL season is a source of optimism for all 32 fans.
Until a team makes a big mistake.
With the free agency that is mostly in the books and the concept that would start on April 29 in Cleveland, the vibes have already become negative for some teams, either due to one specific move or a series of decisions that have a tendency in the wrong direction indicate.
It can be dramatic overpayments or questionable trades, and it usually involves premium positions, which are emphasized by the most important one of all: quarterback. At worst, the hope of the concept may not overwhelm a difficult prospect.
Here’s a look at the worst moves of the season in 2021 so far.
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Kevin Sabitus / Associated Press
Bengal sign DE Trey Hendrickson
The Cincinnati Bengals spent four years and $ 60 million coughing up Trey Hendrickson, a New Orleans miracle who had 13.5 bags in 2020, compared to his previous career high of 4.5. He played 53 percent of the defensive snaps, which was also a career high. The 26-year-old may be reaching his potential, but it’s a risky move to sign him, as it has the cost of losing an established forward like Carl Lawson.
Patriots spend big cash
Activity for the sake of activity is not always a good thing. The Patriots re-signed Cam Newton and apparently made some great hits for Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. But their decision to pay Nelson Agholor $ 22 million over two years when better options were available in a deep-seated market was confusing. So was the defense of Matt Judon (four years, $ 54.5 million) on the defensive campaign after his downward campaign while guard Joe Thuney slipped away.
Giant sign Kenny Golladay
Kenny Golladay was one of the strangers in recent history to visit free agencies before signing with the New York Giants. The Giants have raised $ 72 million over four years for a man who only played five games in 2020. It was a strange move, especially with the deep free class in position.
Jaguars sign Shaquill Griffin
Jacksonville is expected to make a big splash and bring Shaquill Griffin off the corner for three years and $ 40 million. While one of the best corners of the free agency, Griffin had a meager 64.1 grade on Pro Football Focus last year and has allowed it ten times over the past two seasons. This is an understandable overpayment given the premium nature of the post, but it can backfire.
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Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
The Tennessee Titans tried to finally solve their problem with Bud Dupree on the sidelines, earning him the second largest total dollar amount at $ 82.5 million over five years.
Even Pittsburgh, despite previously stated intentions, did not devote much time to the defender in the first round from the 2015 draft, giving him the franchise label as a linebacker after scoring 11.5 bags in 2019 . Prior to the campaign, Dupree did not score more than six bags in a season.
While Dupree had eight pockets last year, he tore his ACL late in the season. Even worse, his production is perhaps the crazy gold due to the fact that he played with Cam Heyward and TJ Watt. He also has only one 60.2 PFF degree last year.
Dupree joins a defense that scored the third fewest pockets (19) last season, and Harold Landry III took the lead with just 5.5. If Dupree can not act like in Pittsburgh with less around him, the Titans could be in trouble.
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Mike Roemer / Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers may have just committed the cardinal sin in the NFL right now: big pay for a running rugby.
It seemed obvious that the Packers would lose Aaron Jones on the open market, especially if the team used a second round on AJ Dillon last year, which put a major source in a devalued position that already ‘ was a strong point.
Instead, the Packers Jones gave a $ 48 million four-year extension. That is not to say that the 26-year-old star is a bad player. He hit 37 in 54 career games and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.
But in the process, the Packers lost Corey Linsley, who was not a priority in free agencies. With the salary limit for 2021 to $ 182.5 million, which Green Bay places $ 9.4 million in the red, the team had to do many ways to create space. The Packers now have only $ 3.4 million in cap space.
While Jones does not make as much as Ezekiel Elliott does annually ($ 15 million), Green Bay may regret the decision if the offense takes a step back and slows Jones down or does not notice much.
The Packers do have a result after the 2022 season. If they want to sponsor Jones before then, they have a cost of $ 9.8 million. That is, the Packers are stuck for at least two years if things go south.
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Charles Krupa / Associated Press
With Teddy Bridgewater already on the rankings and in a position to possibly move up early in the first round of the 2021 draft and draft a leading fullback, the Carolina Panthers traded for Sam Darnold of the New York Jets.
‘Risky’ is perhaps the best word that comes to mind.
The Panthers did not give up a ton of assets in the move, trading a sixth player and a second and fourth player in 2022 in 2022, but as Darnold begins his 24-year season, he has only 59.8 percent of his pass with 45 touches and 39 interceptions. It is reasonable to note, however, that the Jets were one of the most tumultuous rebuilders.
But it would have been a better use of cap space to re-sign a weapon like Curtis Samuel and not make dubious insulting investments in Pat Elflein and Cameron Erving.
Now the Panthers could quickly hunt for the quarterback position again, and instead of giving up assets to bring in Darnold, they would move from no. 8 could trade and get cheaper contractors from a player in this year’s deep class. by quarter.
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Roger Steinman / Associated Press
The normally conservative Indianapolis Colts took a big step by bringing in Carson Wentz, though it was not also unexpected given the commitment between the quarterback and head coach Frank Reich.
But in the process of signing the deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Colts coughed up a third pick in the third round of 2021 and a conditional second round of 2022 that Wentz plays 75 percent of the snaps. And the Colts did not trade for him to sit.
Gambling on Wentz, who is now a $ 20.4 million team high jumping to $ 27 million in 2022, is a big risk. While experiencing some strong seasons, Wentz fell back in 2020 and completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 2,620 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 15 distinctions during 12 games last season. Jalen Hurts replaces him as an appetizer in Week 14.
It will concern me not to mention that the Eagles were hit by the injury error last year. But the Colts did not move much in the free agency this offseason, but mostly retained their own preservation, while left-back Anthony Castonzo lost until retirement.
The saving grace here could be the extension of Wentz’s contract to this season. But with the set-up of the 21st, the team could have tried to move up to get a prospect. If the gamble on the Wentz-Reich connection setback, then the Colts could be without a premium pick next year.
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Adam Hunger / Associated Press
Without an incredibly terrible move like the Houston Texans’ trade over DeAndre Hopkins last season, we are sitting with the signing of Andy Dalton by the Chicago Bears.
Bears fans were hoping the team could give a brand to someone like Russell Wilson, as Ryan Pace, general manager, said on Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles.
Instead, the Bears brought in Dalton, a career-high 62.2 percent with a meager average of 7.1 yards per attempt and 74-66-2. Foles, for example, are a career-high 62.3 percent with an average of 6.8 yards per attempt, while Trubisky is 64.0 percent and 6.7 yards per attempt.
Dalton is fine game manager, but relies heavily on those around him. He’s not much of an upgrade on Foles and is far, far removed from Wilson’s level. He also joins a downgrade compared to Dallas’ rankings, and he only managed to start 4-5 as an appetizer with the Cowboys.
Wide receiver Anthony Miller is still developing and is apparently a candidate for the trade, and Allen Robinson was still not happy with the team, although he eventually accepted the franchise label. The offensive line coughed up 36 bags last year, and the defense lost the corner to Kyle Fuller.
The team’s commitment to Dalton is a $ 10 million one – year deal, which is not a ton. But in the end, the fanbase responds to something as simple as a “QB1” tweet of the team says it all. There are few scenarios that can unfold, which can remove it from the worst move status.