Editor’s note: This is a part of an on going series in which we take a monthly look at some of the worst contracts in NFL history. What we found most interesting, while researching these horrible contracts is that these contracts are often handed out because of circumstance. A lot of teams gave their star players being contracts after big seasons. However, a lot of these players would go on to get hurt or just fall off for various other reasons.
DeAngelo Hall: 7 Years, $70 million / Oakland Raiders
DeAngelo Hall had a fantastic start to his career. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004 and became the youngest player to return an interception for a touchdown (21 years, 44 days). In his second season, he became a pro-bowler and won the “NFL’s Fastest Man Alive” competition. In the three seasons following his rookie year, Hall tallied up 15 interceptions and earned a reputation for one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
After becoming a free agent following the 2007 season, the Oakland Raiders signed Hall to a seven year deal worth $70 million with 24.5 million guaranteed on March 20, 2008. Hall would prove to be one of the many horrible pick-ups during a time where the Raiders did nothing better than make mistakes in the front office (via sky sports).
Hall wouldn’t live up to his reputation as a shut down corner as he was repeatedly beaten by opposing wide receivers, which led to him being cut by the organization only eight games into his first season with the club.
But he failed to adapt to the Raiders’ man-to-man style of defense and was regularly beaten by opposition [sic] receivers during the opening half of the season.
And, with the Raiders struggling at 2-6, the decision was made to dispense with Hall’s services.
“We felt like it didn’t work out the way we thought it would,” Raiders head coach Tom Cable said in a statement.
When things were all said and done, the Raiders ended up paying paying Hall only eight million dollars. He was payed his $7 million signing bonus and $1 million base salary playing only eight games for the Raiders, who saved themselves 10s of millions of dollars by letting the overrated corner go early.
