In the NFL, teams often hope that signing experienced veterans will quickly improve their performance. However, these acquisitions don’t always meet expectations, and in 2024, several veteran signings failed to deliver the results teams were hoping for. Injuries, poor performances, and mismatched expectations have led to disappointments, leaving these teams scrambling to figure out how to make the best of a tough situation.
Here are five of the most disappointing veteran signings this season.
5. Arik Armstead
We have signed DL Arik Armstead.@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/gMAqsJcUOw
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) March 15, 2024
The Jacksonville Jaguars brought Arik Armstead in to strengthen their defensive line, but they mismanaged his role, greatly affecting his performance. Armstead performs well as an interior defensive player, but the Jaguars used him extensively as an edge rusher, which didn’t match his strengths. As a result, he only managed 2 sacks, 21 tackles, and 3 tackles for loss over 15 games.
This mismanagement of his role has led to frustration for both Armstead and the team. With 35.5 career sacks and 45 tackles for loss, he has the experience to make a big impact, but Jacksonville’s decision to use him in a less effective position seems to have been a mistake. The three-year, $43.5 million deal now appears to be a misstep, and the Jaguars are left with unanswered questions on defense.
4. Matthew Judon
BREAKING: The #Patriots are close to finalizing a trade that will send 4x Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon to the #Falcons, per multiple sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 14, 2024
The deal is in the final stages and expected to be finished soon. pic.twitter.com/kB5ztWIjKg
The Atlanta Falcons acquired Matthew Judon to help improve their pass rush, but his performance in 2024 has been underwhelming. Despite a career history of 71 sacks and 92 tackles for loss, Judon only managed 4.5 sacks, 20 tackles, and 5 tackles for loss in 15 games. His ability to pressure quarterbacks was expected to help fix one of the Falcons’ biggest weaknesses, but he fell short of expectations.
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The Falcons also hoped Judon’s leadership would positively impact their defense, but the team’s continued struggles to generate pressure have made it clear that his performance didn’t match expectations. Hence, the Falcons’ defense remains one of the worst in the league in terms of pass rush, and Judon’s underperformance has added to their frustration.
Also Read: 5 Biggest DISAPPOINTMENTS Of The 2024 NFL Season So Far…And The 5 Biggest SURPRISES
3. L’Jarius Sneed
Trade: Chiefs are finalizing a deal to send franchise CB L’Jarius Snead to the Titans, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2024
Chiefs are expected to receive a 2025 3rd-round pick, in addition to a 2024 7th-round pick flop, while Snead will sign a new contract. Trade is pending physical for Sneed. pic.twitter.com/GWjyKAgxZq
The Tennessee Titans signed L’Jarius Sneed to bolster their secondary, giving him a four-year, $76.4 million contract after trading for him from the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Sneed’s season was plagued by injuries, limiting him to only five games. During those games, he recorded 19 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and no pass breakups or interceptions. This was a far cry from his earlier career, where he had been a standout with 6.5 sacks and 10 interceptions.
Sneed’s inability to stay healthy has been a huge disappointment for Tennessee. With $44 million of his contract guaranteed, his injury problems have left the Titans with a difficult situation to deal with. The team had hoped Sneed would be a crucial player in their defensive rebuild, but his limited impact has forced them to reconsider their plans for the future of the secondary.
2. Haason Reddick
Holdout over: Standout edge rusher Haason Reddick and the Jets reached agreement on an adjusted contract. Reddick will be reporting to the team on Monday morning. “We will continue to work towards a long term extension with the Jets,” said Reddick’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who… pic.twitter.com/7WGr3TQjE7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 20, 2024
Haason Reddick’s trade to the New York Jets from the Philadelphia Eagles was expected to boost their defense, but it turned out to be a disappointment. Reddick missed seven weeks of the season, which had a huge impact on his conditioning and performance. In the eight games he did play, he only recorded 0.5 sacks, 6 tackles, and 2 tackles for loss, which was a huge drop from his earlier career, where he had tallied 58.5 sacks.
The Jets had high hopes for Reddick to be a dominant force on defense, but his lack of production raised doubts about his future with the team. Now at 30 years old, Reddick’s struggles have left the Jets questioning whether they made the right investment. Despite his impressive career totals of 71 tackles for loss and 17 forced fumbles, his minimal contributions as the veteran acquisition in 2024 have been a major letdown.
Also Read: Every NFL Teams’ BIGGEST Disappointment SO FAR This Season (2024)
1. Kirk Cousins
QB Kirk Cousins agrees to a 4-year deal with the Falcons. (via @MikeMcCartney7) pic.twitter.com/iEOpKuwzfo
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2024
The Falcons brought in Kirk Cousins with hopes that he would help turn the team’s fortunes around. The Falcons signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract, expecting his leadership to be the missing piece for a playoff run. At first, things looked promising, as the team started the season strong with a 6-3 record and control of the NFC South. However, a midseason collapse saw Cousins struggle with turnovers, throwing 9 interceptions over five straight losses, which forced the Falcons to bench Cousins for the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix Jr.
While Cousins has achieved 3,508 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and a 66.9% completion rate this season, his 16 interceptions and failure to perform in clutch situations were frustrating for fans. His passer rating of 88.6 fell below expectations for a quarterback of his caliber, and the 28 sacks he took throughout the season further showed his struggles. Despite his hefty contract, Cousins is now at risk of being released. However, Atlanta will face a $65 million cap hit over the next two years if they part ways with him.
Injuries And Underperformance Hurt Other Acquisitions
In addition to the major signings mentioned above, injuries or poor performance impacted several other veteran acquisitions. The Jaguars signed Gabe Davis to help replace Calvin Ridley, but a knee injury ended his season after only 10 games. Many expected Davis to provide strong contributions to the receiving corps, but he recorded just 20 catches for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns, falling far short of the impact Jacksonville had hoped for.
Marcus Davenport’s time with the Detroit Lions was also brief, as a torn triceps injury limited him to just two games. The Lions signed Davenport to a one-year deal worth up to $10.5 million, with hopes he would pair well with Aidan Hutchinson to create a strong pass-rushing duo. However, injuries held him back, leaving the Lions to reconsider their decision to invest in him.
Moreover, Bryce Huff, a highly paid acquisition by the Philadelphia Eagles, also struggled. A wrist injury hindered him, and he failed to produce the numbers the Eagles hoped for, posting just 2.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures in his first 10 games. The injury sidelined Huff for surgery, adding to the list of underperforming veteran acquisitions in 2024.
Also Read: 5 Most ELECTRIC NFL Rookies So Far… And 5 Biggest DISAPPOINTMENTS Of The 2024 Season
