The NFL is a league where teams will throw bags of cash at quarterbacks in hopes of finding their franchise guy. Sometimes, though, they end up handing out millions to backups who have no business starting a game—let alone making franchise-QB money.
These are the guys who cashed in and then promptly reminded us why they were meant to hold a clipboard.
10. Chase Daniel – The Patron Saint of Getting Paid to Sit
Chase Daniel is the GOAT of finessing NFL teams. This man has made over $41 million in his career while starting a grand total of five games. That’s a little over $8 million per start. If that’s not living the dream, I don’t know what is.
9. Brock Osweiler – Denver’s $72 Million Mistake
The Broncos thought they had found Peyton Manning’s successor. The Texans then thought they had found Denver’s successor’s successor. Turns out, neither was correct. Houston gave Osweiler $37 million guaranteed, only to realize they would have been better off lighting that money on fire. They had to throw in a second-round pick just to get Cleveland to take him off their hands.
8. Nick Foles (Post-Super Bowl Edition) – One Great Run, One Huge Overpay
Nick Foles had the greatest three-game stretch in Eagles history, won a Super Bowl, and then convinced the Jaguars to give him $88 million. He then got injured almost immediately, lost his job to Gardner Minshew, and Jacksonville moved on faster than a college freshman after their first bad relationship.
7. Matt Flynn – The Seahawks’ Costly Oopsie
Matt Flynn threw for six touchdowns in a meaningless Week 17 game for Green Bay, and the Seahawks threw $26 million at him. Then they drafted some guy named Russell Wilson in the third round, and Flynn never started a game in Seattle. But hey, at least his bank account looked great.
6. Mike Glennon – The Tallest Overpay in NFL History
The Bears looked at Mike Glennon and thought, “Yes, that’s our guy.” Then they handed him $18.5 million guaranteed in 2017. Then, after four games, they decided, “Never mind,” and drafted Mitch Trubisky. That’s how bad Glennon was—he got replaced by a guy who later got replaced by Nick Foles.
5. Sam Bradford – The Human Cash Register
If there were a Hall of Fame for stealing money from NFL teams, Sam Bradford would have his own wing. He made over $130 million in his career despite never making a Pro Bowl and being injured seemingly 90% of the time. The Cardinals gave him $20 million for three games before realizing they should just start a rookie Kyler Murray the next year.
4. Colt McCoy – The Forever Backup With a Fortune
Colt McCoy has been in the league since Obama’s first term. He has started just 36 games in 13 years but has made around $25 million in that time. That’s some next-level financial wizardry for a guy whose main job is clapping after other quarterbacks make plays.
3. Charlie Whitehurst (Clipboard Jesus) – A Backup Built for the Bank
Charlie Whitehurst played for 11 years, barely ever saw the field, and somehow walked away with $17 million. He started nine games in his career and had seven total touchdowns. For context, Patrick Mahomes throws that many in, like, three halves of football.
2. Jeff Hostetler – The Original “Super Bowl Backup Who Got Paid”
Hostetler had one solid run with the Giants after Phil Simms got hurt, won a Super Bowl, and then somehow turned that into $8 million in the early ’90s, which would be around $18 million today. The Raiders then watched him go 33-35 as a starter, which feels about right.
Read More: The 15 Worst Quarterbacks of the 24-25 NFL Season, Ranked
1. Scott Mitchell – The Dolphins’ Costly Trick on the Lions
Scott Mitchell had a few decent games backing up Dan Marino, and the Lions took the bait, signing him to a $25 million deal in the mid-’90s (huge money back then). He then proceeded to throw interceptions like they were party favors. He had one good season in 1995 and spent the rest of his career proving it was a fluke.
Read More: Ranking the 30 Best Backup Quarterbacks in NFL History
