Desperation is a dangerous drug in the NFL. Some teams panic under pressure and make decisions that age like spoiled milk, whether chasing a quarterback, swinging a blockbuster trade, or clinging to a coach just a little too long.
This list is all about those moves—franchise-altering blunders fueled by fear, hype, or just sheer delusion. These teams took a swing, whiffed hard, and paid the price.
15. Washington Commanders
Washington’s constant quarterback carousel turned into a full-blown panic. They thought they were buying a bounce-back but got more of the same chaos.
14. New York Jets
The Jets tried to fast-track a rebuild by signing aging stars and hiring flashy coaches, but nothing stuck. Their desperation to end the misery just made the misery louder.
13. Chicago Bears
Trading a haul for Mitch Trubisky was bold—trading up for him was just plain reckless. They saw a franchise savior and got a cautionary tale instead.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags handed Urban Meyer the keys to the kingdom, and he drove it straight off a cliff. This desperate move was intended to create excitement, but made a scandal instead.
11. Cleveland Browns
Trading everything for Deshaun Watson while he faced off-field issues was a desperation Hail Mary. It’s still unfolding, but the early returns have been more awkward than triumphant.
10. Denver Broncos
The Broncos thought they were a quarterback away, so they went all in on Russell Wilson. Turns out they were a lot more than a quarterback away.
9. Carolina Panthers
Panicking after missing out on top QBs, the Panthers cycled through Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and a broken Cam Newton. It was less a plan and more a quarterback yard sale.
8. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins went all-in on the “Tank for Tua” campaign, and while he’s been solid, the chaos surrounding the plan made it look more desperate than strategic. They could’ve had Justin Herbert, too, which doesn’t help.
7. Minnesota Vikings
They threw big money at Kirk Cousins, hoping he’d be the missing piece. Instead, they got years of “pretty good” with no real playoff progress to show for it.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
The Jon Gruden experiment was a $100 million swing at nostalgia and name recognition. It ended with emails, chaos, and no playoff wins.
5. Indianapolis Colts
After Andrew Luck retired, the Colts went veteran shopping, cycling through Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan. It was like trying to glue together a broken window—it held for a second, then shattered again.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Trading all those picks for Trey Lance only to play him rarely was a bold, desperate gamble that flopped. They later struck gold with Brock Purdy, but the Lance saga is a big “what were they thinking?”
3. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys gave Ezekiel Elliott a massive contract as the running back market imploded. It felt like a panic move to keep a fan favorite happy, and it didn’t age well.
2. Houston Texans
Trading DeAndre Hopkins for basically a used gym membership and overpaying others left fans scratching their heads. Their desperation to shake things up torpedoed the franchise for years.
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1. New Orleans Saints
Desperate to stay competitive post-Drew Brees, the Saints kicked the salary cap can down the road like it was an Olympic event. Now they’re stuck in NFL purgatory with no quarterback, direction, or escape hatch.
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