No. 2: Quarterback Matt Flynn
Contract: Three years, $19 million
This one comes in at number two thanks to the $10 million in guaranteed money they dished out to Flynn, a career backup who had one excellent game replacing Aaron Rodgers in 2011.
Flynn never got his chance to earn his contract, as he was beat out in training camp by a third round rookie named Russell Wilson – who has yet to give the job back up.
Flynn’s contract was likely an overpay even if he had managed to win the starting job, but it became an albatross as he only managed to appear in three games for Seattle, completing five passes before getting waived the following year. He appeared in 16 games around the league over the next two seasons, throwing for eight touchdowns and six interceptions before retiring at age 29.
Credit the Seahawks for going with Wilson over their veteran option, especially after pouring a lot of money into him, as it contributed in a major way to the team’s eventual back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.
Any team will happily absorb some dead money on a failed quarterback signing if this is the end result.