ESPN named the worst free agent signing for all 32 NFL teams and safety Ed Reed was picked as the Houston Texans biggest blunder
There have been some awful free agency signings by NFL teams throughout the league’s history. As the 2016 NFL free agency period has dwindled down to a crawl, the good people over at ESPN have taken a look back at all the worst signings by all 32 teams in their history.
For the Houston Texans, Tania Ganguli (who does a great job covering the team) has named safety Ed Reed as the worst move in player acquisition by the Texans.
"A great deal of fanfare accompanied the Texans’ courtship of Reed. The team tweeted about owner Bob McNair and general manager Rick Smith flying to pick up Reed in McNair’s private jet. They gave him a three-year deal worth $15 million. The Texans’ tenure of one of the greatest safeties to play the game was a catastrophe. Houston was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, but instead went 2-14. Reed was injured to start the season and never gave the Texans what they needed. He was benched for Shiloh Keo and released the week after he said the Texans got “outcoached and outplayed” against the Cardinals. — Tania Ganguli"
Reed was brought in by Houston after 11 seasons in Baltimore, where he was one of the most feared safeties in the game. Unfortunately for the Texans, that’s not who they signed at all.
Next: Brandon Weeden re-signs with Texans
In seven games as a Texan, Reed started five games and recorded a mere 14 tackles. He was cut before the end of the season and played seven more games for the New York Jets. 2013 was the last season Reed played in the NFL.