The NFL is all about risk-taking. Some teams go all-in for a big-name star, hoping it’ll be the move that changes everything, only to end up face-planting spectacularly.
Whether it was a blockbuster trade, a splashy free-agent signing, or a massive extension that looked smart for about five minutes, these front offices thought they were making genius moves. Instead, they got burned, embarrassed, and sometimes unemployed. Here are 15 teams that rolled the dice on a star and watched it all go up in flames.
15. Chicago Bears
They traded for Jay Cutler like they were buying a Super Bowl ticket. What they got instead was a moody rollercoaster and zero playoff wins.
14. Washington Commanders
The RGIII hype was real, and so was the cost. After mortgaging the future for him, his injuries and organizational dysfunction derailed the whole plan.
13. Denver Broncos
Trading for Russell Wilson was supposed to solve everything. Instead, it created a chaotic mess that might take years to clean up.
12. Cleveland Browns
The fully guaranteed Deshaun Watson deal might be one of the biggest misfires in NFL history. Even before he played a snap, the fallout was already brutal.
11. New York Jets
They brought in Le’Veon Bell, thinking they were getting a top-tier weapon. Turns out, they got a high-priced headache that didn’t fit at all.
10. Oakland Raiders
Trading for Antonio Brown felt like a flex. It quickly devolved into a bizarre circus act with zero on-field payoff.
9. San Francisco 49ers
They saw Jimmy Garoppolo as the guy to carry them into the next decade. Injuries and inconsistent play made sure that never quite happened.
8. Arizona Cardinals
The DeAndre Hopkins trade looked brilliant—until the suspension, the injuries, and the disappearing act. It ended with a quiet release and not much to show for it.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Nick Foles was supposed to bring stability and playoff magic. He ended up getting benched for a sixth-round rookie before Halloween.
6. Buffalo Bills
Trading for Kelvin Benjamin was a desperation move. He showed up out of shape and never clicked with the offense.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
The Carson Wentz extension was done with confidence. Two years later, they were eating dead cap and starting over.
4. Houston Texans
They made Laremy Tunsil the centerpiece of a huge trade haul. While he played fine, the team around him fell apart, and the draft cost was brutal.
3. Dallas Cowboys
They handed Ezekiel Elliott a massive deal, thinking he’d carry the load for years. He declined fast, and they were stuck paying top-tier money for mid-tier production.
2. Carolina Panthers
They traded the house for Bryce Young and watched C.J. Stroud light up the league instead. Now they’re stuck with no picks, weapons, or clear path forward.
1. Los Angeles Rams
They pushed all their chips in for a Super Bowl—and to be fair, they got it. But the aftermath has been a painful crash, with stars gone, picks spent, and a long rebuild ahead.
