10 NFL Free Agent Signings That Look Like Highway Robbery
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Everyone loves bargains when shopping and finding things at exceptionally great prices, or in the business world, making a good deal that guarantees incredible production. The NFL is no different, as teams try to find great free agents who’ll be successful at discount rates, as said player performs well to earn a much higher contract with the team or another team later on.
Many of these deals are prove-it deals to see if these guys have a lot more left in the tank for the grind of the season and to re-establish their value.
Many guys who sign these prove-it deals are NFL players past their prime or undrafted guys looking to make a name for themselves in the league.
Here at TPS, we’re going to look at the best free agent bargains of the last five years and give our take on them.
Who are the best free agent bargains in the NFL in the last five years?
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023)
After Mayfield had a disastrous tenure with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, he was released and signed a one-year, $1.35 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams to finish the season on a more positive note, statistically.
Mayfield completed 82 passes for 850 yards, threw four touchdowns against two interceptions, and rushed for 37 yards on 15 attempts.
Then, in the 2023 offseason, Mayfield signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and everything changed.
Mayfield revived his career with the Bucs, as he completed 364 passes for 4,044 yards, threw 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, rushed for 163 yards on 62 attempts, and scored a rushing touchdown.
It also helped Mayfield that he got to throw passes to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Cade Otton, helping his career resurrection. Mayfield also made his first Pro Bowl that season.
He guided the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record and the NFC South title, and into the playoffs, where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the Wildcard Round.
Mayfield completed 22 passes for 337 yards and threw three touchdowns against no interceptions.
Impressed with Mayfield’s season, the Buccaneers signed him to a three-year, $100 million extension, and he has kept the Bucs competitive in the division ever since. But will he be there for the long haul?
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (2022)
After floating around the NFL as a backup, Geno Smith re-signed with the Seahawks on a one-year, $3.5 million deal as a free agent, as the team traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
Many fans thought the Seahawks were going to tank with Smith under center, while the Broncos were going to flourish with Wilson taking command of their offense that season.
However, Wilson and the Broncos had a disastrous season, finishing 5-12 and in fourth place in the AFC West.
Smith, on the other hand, had a very nice season, as he and the Seahawks earned a 9-8 record and reached the playoffs, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers 41-23 on the road in the Wildcard Round.
He completed 399 passes for 4,282 yards, threw 30 touchdowns (the most in his career) against 11 interceptions, rushed for 366 yards on 68 attempts, and scored a rushing touchdown.
Smith also won the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award for his redemption arc, was the NFL completion percentage leader that year with a 69.8%, and made his first Pro Bowl.
Although Smith’s career has regressed after that season, 2022 will always be a special year for Smith and what he accomplished.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons (2021)
Patterson is regarded as one of the best versatile players in recent years, as he’s an excellent return specialist and a serviceable running back and receiver.
After a great season on special teams with the Chicago Bears, Patterson signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons and slowly transitioned away from special teams, becoming more involved in offensive plays.
Patterson posted his best on-field production with 1,166 yards from scrimmage (548 receiving yards and 618 rushing yards) and scored 11 touchdowns that season, which was more than his previous three seasons combined.
Then-Falcons head coach Arthur Smith utilized Patterson as a running back and also lined him up as a wide receiver, making him a matchup nightmare against opposing defenses.
Patterson led the Falcons in rushing yards and touchdowns scored in 2021 and was named the team’s MVP for his on-field production.
Patterson signed a two-year, $10.5 million extension with the Falcons in 2022 and saw his rushing yardage increase to 695 yards and scored 8 rushing touchdowns. However, Patterson saw his receiving production drop to 122 yards.
However, 2021 will always be special for Patterson and his feel-good story as a hybrid running back and wide receiver who fit their schemes very beautifully.
Jadeveon Clowney, Baltimore Ravens (2023)
Clowney signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year, $2.5 million deal after playing a very forgettable season with the Cleveland Browns and looking like his career was over. Plus, he was controversial off the field.
Clowney dealt with an injury-riddled season with the Browns and had 28 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three pass deflections.
He described 2023 as his “Kobe Bryant year,” changing his jersey number to 24 to ring in the season.
Clowney had a career-reviving performance with the Ravens, as he dominated in the team’s defense with 43 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and four pass deflections.
He also helped the Ravens win the AFC North, reach the playoffs, and win the AFC Divisional Round against the Houston Texans 34-10, before the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in the AFC Championship game.
Clowney had four tackles and a sack for the Ravens during the playoffs.
Clowney has since had brief stints with the Carolina Panthers in 2024 and the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, and is currently an NFL free agent.
Leonard Floyd, Buffalo Bills (2023)
Floyd had a productive 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams, having 59 tackles, nine sacks, and a fumble recovery, but was released by the team to clear up salary cap space and shed his $22 million contract for the season.
The Buffalo Bills would sign Floyd to a one-year, $7 million deal, which could increase to $9 million if incentives are met.
During his lone season in western New York, Floyd had 32 tackles, a monstrous 10.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. One of his sacks was against Aaron Rodgers, ending his 2023 season as the latter suffered a torn Achilles tendon after four plays.
Floyd was the only guy then-Bills head coach Sean McDermott got to see have more than 10 sacks in a season.
He also helped the Bills win the AFC East and reach the playoffs, where they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard Round 31-17, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in the Divisional Round.
Floyd’s defensive production would regress during his brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Like Jadeveon Clowney, Floyd is also currently a free agent, and an NFL team needing a veteran to fill in on defense would love to have him on their team for the upcoming season.
Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota Vikings, (2024)
After putting up decent numbers with the Miami Dolphins, Van Ginkel signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings for the 2024 season after spending the first five seasons of his career in South Beach.
What Van Ginkel did was off the charts, as he was dominant and formidable right off the bat in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system.
Van Ginkel had career-highs throughout the board, with 79 tackles, 11.5 sacks, six pass deflections, a forced fumble, two interceptions returned for 73 yards, and scored two pick-six touchdowns in the 2024 season.
Van Ginkel made opposing quarterbacks look completely silly, dominating offenses and making opponents suffer with his fierce competitiveness.
He also helped the Vikings reach the playoffs, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in a brutal 27-9 finish.
Van Ginkel has been a mainstay on the Vikings’ defense ever since, and we look forward to seeing what he does with the team, since he signed a one-year, $23 million extension with them in 2025, locking him up for the 2026 season.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Staying on the Vikings, Sam Darnold originally signed a one-year, $10 million deal with them to be J. J. McCarthy’s backup.
At that point, we all knew Darnold as a guy who couldn’t make it work with the New York Jets under Adam Gase’s horrific coaching, and who had brief stints with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
However, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason and was out for the entire 2024 season, forcing Darnold into the starting role.
From there, Darnold didn’t look back, as he lit up the scoreboards on offense and had the best season of his career up to that point.
Darnold completed 361 passes for 4,319 yards, threw 35 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, rushed for 212 yards on 67 carries, and scored a rushing touchdown. Very impressive for a guy who said he saw ghosts back in 2019.
Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, helped the Vikings reach the playoffs, made his first Pro Bowl, and was one of the league’s most improved players that season.
The Vikings decided not to re-sign Darnold for the 2025 season and rolled with McCarthy instead, which came back to bite them, as McCarthy struggled and threw 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
Meanwhile, Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks and guided them to a Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots.
DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers (2024)
After playing a good season with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, Elliott signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2024 season and became the de facto starting strong safety on defense.
During the 2024 season, Elliott had a breakout year with a 97.3% tackle efficiency rating, 108 tackles, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, six pass deflections, and an interception against Kirk Cousins.
Elliott earned a reputation as one of the league’s hardest-hitting safeties, earning a grade of 71.1 from Pro Football Focus that season.
He brought great veteran leadership to the Steelers’ defense that year, as he also helped the team reach the playoffs before they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 28-14 in the Wildcard Round.
Elliott signed a two-year, $12.5 million extension with the Steelers during the 2025 offseason, but he suffered a hyper-extended knee in a week eight game against the Green Bay Packers.
Elliott was placed on injured reserve and missed the remainder of the 2025 season. He did have 38 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, two pass deflections, and an interception returned for negative four yards.
We hope to see Elliott stay healthy during the 2026 season and dominate in the Steelers’ secondary against the league’s best offenses.
Kyzir White, Philadelphia Eagles (2022)
After spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers, White signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2022 season.
White was dominant on the Eagles, as he had 110 tackles (the second most on the team behind T. J. Edwards), 1.5 sacks, and seven pass deflections.
White helped the Eagles win the NFC East, helped them win in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the New York Giants 38-9, then helped them win the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers 31-7, and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII before they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35.
White was a tackling force during the playoffs, as he had 11 tackles for the Eagles.
He had stints with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans, but neither team reached the playoffs during his time with them.
White signed a deal to be on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in January 2026, but was released when the season ended.
White is still a free agent and could provide a strong veteran presence for a team still needing a linebacker for the 2026 NFL season.
Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles (2024)
After spending his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Baun signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2024 NFL season.
Baun went from an average defender to breaking out and flourishing under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system throughout the year, becoming incredibly menacing against opposing offenses.
Baun had 151 tackles (the most in his career so far), 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, four pass deflections, and an interception with the Eagles. He also became a Pro Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro that season.
He helped the Eagles win the NFC East, reach the playoffs, and win Super Bowl LIX 40-22 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Baun led the league with 33 tackles (with 20 of them being solo tackles) and two interceptions in the playoffs that season.
Baun earned a 90.1 grade from Pro Football Focus that year and signed a three-year, $51 million extension, becoming a mainstay on the Eagles’ defense ever since.
