The 25 worst moves NFL teams made in 2023

The Steelers only swapped seventh-round picks with the Rams to acquire Robinson in April, but the veteran has been a liability as a secondary receiver as he was with the Bears and Rams over the last two years. Now in his early 30s, the former Pro Bowler is probably running out of opportunities.

The addition of a future Hall of Fame quarterback was a no-brainer for the struggling Jets, but it was all that came with it that made Rodgers' addition such a detriment. To appease Rodgers, the Jets added several of his former teammates and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. After Rodgers' Week 1 Achilles injury, the offense has been in shambles and the additions that came in alongside him have been a big reason for the team's struggles.

Cincinnati didn't exactly give up the farm when they signed Smith to a one-year deal, but relying on him at tight end has proven to be a mistake. The former Viking has played fewer than 50% of snaps and contributed almost nothing after high hopes in the offseason.

Cleveland needed a second edge rusher to complement Myles Garrett, but Smith has been a disappointment after being acquired from Minnesota. The three-time Pro Bowler had only 3.5 sacks through 13 games and has a significant cap number.

Reich's results in Indianapolis were mixed with plenty of bad luck, and the Panthers gave him another opportunity. The hire was a wreck, as Carolina went 1-10 to start the year and fired Reich while the team struggled offensively. Concluding so early that Reich was the wrong man for the job doesn't speak well for Carolina's hiring process.

A veteran receiver is a good thing for a young team like the Texans, but Woods simply hasn't performed up to par on the field. Woods signed a two-year deal worth more than $15 million, though he's been completely upstaged by Tank Dell and Nico Collins while offering little production.

Hackett's tenure as Denver's head coach last year was one of the most disastrous in recent memory, and his result as Jets offensive coordinator this year haven't been much better. Zach Wilson has clearly failed to develop after Aaron Rodgers' injury, and the offense has been near the bottom of the league in most categories. With Rodgers likely back next season, New York could be stuck with Hackett for at least one more season.

The Patriots allowed homegrown talent Jakobi Meyers to walk in free agency but gave Smith-Schuster a comparable contract. It was reported in training camp that his knee was an issue, and Smith-Schuster has fallen out of favor since then with arguably the worst season of his career. The contract has been a waste for New England, with $16 million guaranteed over three years.

Carr deserves credit for playing through pain this season, but it's clear he's no longer the upper-tier starter he was earlier in his career with the Raiders. New Orleans' offense has failed to make any significant strides this season, while Carr's yards per attempt continues to decline after signing a four-year, $150 million deal.

Garoppolo was a good fit for the Raiders as a former disciple of Josh McDaniels in New England. However, his long injury history struck again, and Vegas decided to turn the page after McDaniels was fired. The three-year contract with nearly $34 million guaranteed is now a huge stain on the Raiders salary cap.

The Giants tried to solve their receiver issues through the draft and with the trade acquisition of Waller from the Raiders. Still a talented player, Waller has been unable to stay healthy for the third consecutive year and probably wasn't worth the third-round pick New York sent to acquire him.

It's far too soon to judge a rookie quarterback, especially one with a poor supporting cast and a midseason coaching change. That said, selecting Young first overall and the circumstances surrounding the pick look bleak. Young has been completely outperformed by second-overall draft choice C.J. Stroud, and the Panthers traded their 2024 first-round pick and star wideout D.J. Moore in the process. That 2024 pick could be first overall, which would likely net the Bears USC star quarterback Caleb Williams.

New York's effort to make Aaron Rodgers comfortable in green included the signing of Lazard, who played with Rodgers for five seasons in Green Bay. His four-year, $44 million contract looked extreme at the time, and looks even worse now after Lazard's first season with the Jets. He contributed little as New York's second wideout behind Garrett Wilson, though perhaps Rodgers' return will help Lazard rebound.

There's something to be said for depth, especially at the running back position, but Cook hasn't been a great use of salary cap funds. The former Vikings star showed signs of decline last season, and he's plummeted this year while backing up Breece Hall. He was released late in the season. 

Carolina hoped to make a splash in free agency while supporting their rookie quarterback, and Sanders qualified with a four-year contract worth over $25 million. Big running back contracts rarely pan out in today's NFL, and the early returns for Sanders are already poor. He's produced well under four yards per carry and was pushed down the depth chart by midseason.

The Dillard needed to remake their offensive line in the offensive, but Dillard hasn't been the answer. The former Eagle signed a three-year, $29 million contract, though he's struggled at left tackle.

Cincinnati made big changes at safety as they cleared cap space to extend Joe Burrow in the offseason. It was clear they'd see some drop off after losing Jessie Bates, but Scott has been a disappointment nevertheless. After signing a three-year, $12 million contract, the former Ram has played only part-time snaps and struggled to make significant plays.

Indianapolis has a good history with kickers, but Gay has struggled in his first season with the team after signing for four years, $22.5 million. He made fewer than 80% of his field goals through Week 15, a rate that certainly could have been equaled for less money.

The Chiefs needed replacements at both tackle spots during the offseason, and struck big early in free agency by signing Taylor to a four-year, $80 million deal. The former Jaguars right tackle has been stout at times, but he's committed far too many penalties getting off the line of scrimmage. His play hasn't been to the standard of his pay.

Minnesota curiously signed Davenport to a one-year, $13 million contract despite struggling in New Orleans last season. The oft-injured pass rusher has been plagued by injuries again this season and struggled to get to the quarterback when he did play.

The decision to rely on second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder has been predictably disastrous for the Falcons, and it's unclear why the team didn't bring in a better backup to challenge him. Heinicke joined the team from Washington on a two-year deal and failed to run with the quarterback job when given the opportunity. The NFC South has been there for the taking this year, but Atlanta's failure to adequately address quarterback has made progress difficult.

The athletic Chark has shown flashes during his NFL career, yet he's proven once again that he's not a viable top wideout. He would have seemed like a solid risk on a one-year, $5 million contract, but Chark has been inefficient and done little with the touches he's seen.

After leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season, the decision by the Lions to let Williams walk in free agency was eyebrow-raising. It's clear now why they moved on, as Williams has struggled to do anything with his chances this year, with a yards-per-carry average hovering around three yards. His three-year, $12 million contract hasn't provided much insurance for Alvin Kamara.

The Jets struck a deal with Hardman early in the offseason before the onslaught of Aaron Rodgers-related moves started. He was immediately pushed down the receiver depth chart despite signing a one-year, $4 million contract, and then jumped in special teams by rookie Xavier Gipson in training camp. The team was able to cut their losses by acquiring a late-round pick from the Chiefs at the trade deadline, but the signing was clearly a failure.

Brian Daboll and the new Giants coaching staff seemed to resurrect Jones last year, and he earned a four-year, $160 million contract as a result. Of course, it didn't take long for Jones' play to revert to the bad version this year with a 1-5 start and then a season-ending knee injury. Fans briefly enjoyed the development of rookie Tommy DeVito in Jones' stead, but the reality is that the Giants are now stuck with Jones for the foreseeable future.