The Baltimore Ravens have turned into one of the best teams in the NFL. It starts with the front office and trickles down to John Harbaugh on the sidelines. Baltimore last won a Super Bowl in 2012, and many believe that reigning MVP Lamar Jackson can bring another soon.
It was an ugly playoff loss in the divisional round against the Tennessee Titans. They made some moves to improve the team so they can get over the hump. Last offseason, Mark Ingram was the big signing, and this year it was Calais Campbell.
The Ravens are hoping that their new free-agent acquisitions will not end up on this list. Here are the five worst free-agent signings in Ravens’ history.
5. Frank Sanders
Sanders was a consistent presence for the Arizona Cardinals for eight years. He missed just five games and had 6,749 receiving yards.
The Ravens decided to sign the 30-year old receiver prior to the 2003 season. Sanders was given a four-year deal and was expected to be a leader on and off the field for the team. This was not the case. Sanders played in 13 games for the Ravens and did not make a start. He totaled 14 catches for 170 yards with no touchdowns.
Sanders' time in Baltimore was over before it began. He was released after the 2003 season and will be remembered as one of the biggest disappointments in franchise history.
4. Dominique Foxworth
Foxworth was drafted by the Denver Broncos and spent three years there before landing in Atlanta. His time as a Falcon did not last long, and the Ravens quickly scooped him up.
Foxworth signed a four-year, $28 million deal with the Ravens. He lasted three years in Baltimore before retiring in 2012. Foxworth was plagued with injuries during his tenure as a Raven. He missed the 2010 season with a torn ACL and missed 14 games in 2011.
The cornerback totaled just four interceptions in 18 games in Baltimore. The length of the contract and the amount was too much for a player like Foxworth. His injuries were just another reason that this signing will go down as an all-time blunder.
3. Mike Anderson
Anderson burst onto the scene with the Broncos in 2000. He rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie. He never came close to duplicating those numbers until his contract year.
In 2005, Anderson rushed for 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns. This earned him a four-year deal with the Ravens. This was a contract that did not take long to fail. Anderson played 24 games in two seasons with the Ravens. He rushed for a total of 254 yards and one touchdown. Anderson never started a game and carried the ball just 54 times.
Anderson did not sign a huge deal in Baltimore. His contract was for $8 million, but his lack of production was eye-opening after such a strong final season in Denver.
2. Leon Searcy
Searcy was an extremely consistent and durable player in the league until he signed with the Ravens. He spent four years in Pittsburgh and missed just one game and made 48 starts.
The Jacksonville Jaguars added Searcy in 1996. He played and started in 63 out of a possible 64 games over four years. Searcy was a Pro Bowler in 1999, and he cashed in on a strong season. The Ravens signed what they thought would be their next great tackle to a six-year, $31.5 million deal in 2001.
Searcy was brought to Baltimore to be a staple on the offensive line of a team that believed they could repeat as Super Bowl champions. It was quite the opposite. Searcy suffered a torn triceps in training camp. He never stepped on the field or played a snap in a Ravens’ uniform.
The hype surrounding Searcy and the fact that he never stepped on the field makes this one of the two worst signings in team history.
1. Elvis Grbac
The Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000 with Trent Dilfer under center. Grbac was brought in the following season to try and bring another title to the franchise.
Grbac was a Pro Bowler in 2000 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He threw 28 touchdowns and went over 4,000 yards. This landed him a five-year, $30 million deal. Grbac did not come close to repeating his performance from 2000.
Grbac started 14 games in 2001 and went 8-6. He threw for 3,033 yards with 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. This was his only season with the Ravens as he left the team in the offseason.
The Ravens thought they had their next franchise quarterback, but it turned out that he was just the worst signing in team history. Grbac did not reach any expectations on the field, and this led to his short tenure as a Raven.
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