Breaking down the 10 worst contracts in the NFL

NFL teams aren't always as smart as they're given credit for being.

A not-so-spectacular part of every offseason spending spree, of course, is the countless number of big-money moves that end up looking like mistakes sooner rather than later.

While the lack of guaranteed contracts provides teams with some semblance of security, overpaying a player even for just a few years can be especially detrimental to roster-building efforts under the salary cap.

Here's a rundown of the 10 worst contracts in the league today.

Joe Flacco

Signed three-year, $66-million extension with Ravens in 2016

On the surface, the numbers don't look too bad. The new money in Flacco's extension averages out to $22.1 million, and that's pretty much the going rate for a starting quarterback these days. But a closer look at the way dollars were moved around to redo the final three years of the heavily back-loaded mega-deal he signed in 2013 reveals a far more unfavorable contract for Baltimore. Flacco will account for an average of $25.66 million against the cap over the next five years, ending after his age-36 season. That's a big commitment to an aging and still-not-elite signal-caller.

Brock Osweiler

Signed four-year, $72-million deal with Texans in 2016

Houston paid the price for getting desperate last offseason. Thinking they could solve their longstanding quarterback issues with a splash move in free agency, the Texans gave Osweiler big money to coax him away from Denver. Blame the quarterback market if you must, but serving up an annual average of $18 million to a quarterback who didn't show anything special in his seven (!) career starts was always a horrendous idea. Admitting their mistake just one year later, the Texans were forced to part with a second-round pick to get the Browns to pick up Osweiler's contract.

Kyle Juszczyk

Signed four-year, $21-million deal with 49ers in 2017

All indications are that Kyle Shanahan has big plans for Juszczyk in his offense out in San Francisco. As the 49ers set out in the early stages of their massive rebuild, they certainly have the financial flexibility to overpay to get players they want. But $5.25 million per season for a fullback, when the second-highest-paid player in the league at that position checks in at $2.1 million annually, is outrageous. Juszczyk's average salary would rank ninth among running backs - the position that actually touches the ball more than three times per game. You do you, John Lynch.

Tavon Austin

Signed four-year, $42-million extension with Rams in 2016

It's decisions like this that demonstrate why the Rams' offense remains such a disaster. In all fairness to Austin, he still has the talent to be a productive NFL player. And although Los Angeles can get out from under what remains of his extension following the 2018 season, the numbers for this campaign alone are just silly. Austin will account for a mind-boggling $14.9 million against the salary cap in 2017, putting him right up there with some of the league's elite receivers. The Rams will be hoping Sean McVay's arrival allows Austin to improve upon his career-best 58-catch, 509-yard effort from 2016.

Randall Cobb

Signed four-year, $40-million extension with Packers in 2015

Re-signing Cobb in the days leading up to free agency in 2015 was widely thought to be a major win for the Packers. Considering reports that indicated he'd turned down more money elsewhere, it probably was at the time. Things change, though. Cobb hasn't come anywhere close to his stellar contract-year performance over the past two seasons, posting a total of just 1,439 yards in 29 games. Having a third receiver - and perhaps the offense's fourth passing-game target - taking up $12.6 million in cap space sticks out like a sore thumb. Cobb will be a logical candidate to be cut next offseason.

Charles Clay

Signed five-year, $38-million RFA deal with Bills in 2015

By going above and beyond to give Clay a restricted-free-agent offer that the Dolphins would decline to match, Buffalo ended up stuck with an ordinary player on a deal that pays him like nothing of the sort. Clay's annual average of $7.6 million ranks sixth among tight ends. The awful contract structure, perhaps made worse by the renegotiated terms to free up cap space, leaves Buffalo without an "out" until the fifth and final year of his deal in 2019. Even then, they'd only save half of his scheduled $9-million cap hit with a cut. In related news, Doug Whaley is no longer the Bills' general manager.

Jermaine Gresham

Signed four-year, $28-million extension with Cardinals in 2016

The Cardinals made a monumental misjudgment in assessing the tight end market this offseason. Sure, Gresham is a good blocker, and there's undoubtedly value to having such a player on the roster. But this is a passing league, and to pay an average of $7 million over four years, with $16.5 million guaranteed, to a tight end who amassed a grand total of 614 yards and three touchdowns in the last two seasons is laughable. Martellus Bennett signing in Green Bay just days later on a less-expensive contract provided swift confirmation that the Cardinals were out to lunch.

Matt Kalil

Signed five-year, $55-million deal with Panthers in 2017

Long having been in need of help up front, it only made sense that the Panthers set out to upgrade Cam Newton's protection unit in free agency. Not like this, though. When you get past the fun story about Kalil joining his brother, Ryan, on the Carolina front, you're left with the fact that the money just does not match the ability. Kalil's play fell off a cliff after a productive rookie season in 2012, and he missed all but two games during his final season with the Vikings due to a hip injury. However, the Panthers were evidently still comfortable handing him $25 million guaranteed.

Ndamukong Suh

Signed six-year, $114-million deal with Dolphins in 2015

There's no denying Suh's dominance in the trenches. A five-time Pro Bowler, the former Lions first-rounder will go down as one of the best players of his generation. Even so, it's tough to get on board with the money the Dolphins dished out. More worrisome than the average salary of $19 million - which is still tops at the position - is the staggeringly back-loaded nature of the contract. Suh is on the books for $19.1 million, $26.1 million, $28.1 million, and $22.3 million over the final four years of his deal. As good as he may be, that type of financial commitment should be reserved for players who can have more of a direct impact on team success (i.e. QBs).

Vinny Curry

Signed five-year, $46-million extension with Eagles in 2016

Philadelphia got extension-happy in its first offseason of the post-Chip Kelly era, and Curry receiving a lucrative new deal was the most confusing of the bunch. The Eagles' willingness to offer up more than $9 million per year was almost certainly due to the hope inspired by a career-best nine-sack showing in 2014. Was the three-and-a-half-sack, 12-tackle effort the following season not enough to at least give them pause? Following a similarly pedestrian 2016 campaign, it's clear the once-promising production was actually just an outlier season. Still yet to start a game in his NFL career, Curry is an expensive depth pass-rusher.

(Contract numbers courtesy: Overthecap.com)