In the NFL, teams constantly struggle with the decision of whether to extend or move on from talented wide receivers. While some investments pay off, others quickly turn into expensive mistakes that leave franchises in regret.
Whether due to injuries, declining performance, or simply failing to live up to expectations, these 15 wide receivers should have never received a new contract.
1. Kenny Golladay – New York Giants (2021)
When the Giants handed Golladay a four-year, $72 million contract, they expected a WR1. Instead, they got one of the biggest free-agent busts in NFL history. In two seasons, Golladay totaled just 43 catches, 602 yards, and one touchdown before being released.
2. Christian Kirk – Jacksonville Jaguars (2022)
Kirk wasn’t a total bust, but the four-year, $72 million contract raised eyebrows. While he produced in Jacksonville, the deal reset the WR market unnecessarily and forced other teams to overpay for receivers in the years that followed.
3. Tavon Austin – Los Angeles Rams (2016)
Austin’s four-year, $42 million extension was a head-scratcher from the start. He was a gadget player, not a true No. 1 receiver. The Rams paid him as if he was a game-changer, only for him to disappear from their offense.
4. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs (2013)
Bowe once led the NFL in touchdown receptions, but his five-year, $56 million deal was a disaster. His production plummeted, and he failed to score a single touchdown after leaving Kansas City.
5. Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints (2019)
Thomas deserved his five-year, $100 million extension at the time, but injuries derailed his career. Since 2019, he has played in just 20 total games, making the deal one of the worst in Saints history.
6. Brandon LaFell – New England Patriots (2015)
LaFell had a solid 2014 season, but the Patriots overestimated his value. His three-year, $11 million deal seemed reasonable, yet he never matched his previous production and was cut after just one year.
7. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys (2010)
Austin’s six-year, $54 million contract came after one breakout season. Hamstring injuries plagued the rest of his career, proving that Jerry Jones jumped the gun.
8. Paul Richardson – Washington Football Team (2018)
Washington believed Richardson’s speed would make him a dynamic playmaker, but they were wrong. His five-year, $40 million deal resulted in just 48 catches and two touchdowns before he was released.
9. Nate Burleson – Seattle Seahawks (2006)
Seattle poached Burleson from the Vikings with a seven-year, $49 million deal. While he was a solid player, he never justified the contract, and the Seahawks quickly regretted it.
10. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals (2011)
Fitzgerald was a Hall of Famer, but his eight-year, $120 million contract hamstrung Arizona’s cap situation. The team had to suffer the consequences of overpaying for loyalty.
11. Devin Funchess – Indianapolis Colts (2019)
Funchess signed a one-year, $10 million deal and played in exactly one game before suffering a season-ending injury. Indianapolis burned money on a non-factor.
12. Mohamed Sanu – Atlanta Falcons (2016)
Atlanta gave Sanu a five-year, $32.5 million deal as a WR2. While he was productive early on, he never justified the long-term commitment, and the Falcons had to trade him away.
13. Pierre Garçon – San Francisco 49ers (2017)
Garçon’s five-year, $47.5 million contract was a disaster. He played just 16 games in two seasons, failing to live up to the price tag before San Francisco moved on.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Greatest Wide Receivers Ever
14. Percy Harvin – Buffalo Bills (2015)
The Bills gambled on Harvin’s potential despite his injury history. His one-year, $6 million deal resulted in just 19 catches for 218 yards before he walked away from football.
Read More: 15 Former NFL Wide Receivers Who Could Still Play in Today’s Game
15. Allen Robinson – Chicago Bears (2018)
Robinson was good in Chicago, but his three-year, $42 million deal was steep for a team with quarterback struggles. He eventually became a cap casualty as the Bears rebuilt.