The Minnesota Vikings have had a colorful history despite never winning a Super Bowl title. This includes years of heartbreak, misfortune and poor decision making.
The franchise is hoping that they can change history soon by bringing a championship to Minnesota. The Vikings recently extended Kirk Cousins' deal after giving him an initial contract of $84 million guaranteed over three years. Despite heavy criticism, Cousins has been solid under center for the Vikings.
Cousins would have to put up some terrible numbers over the next few seasons to end up on this list. Here are the five worst free agent signings in the history of the Vikings.
5. Josh Freeman
Freeman was an underachieving football player who tried to ride one year of success for his entire career. After an 18-interception campaign in his rookie season, Freeman totaled 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2010. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 10-6 that season. Over the next two years, Freeman would throw 43 touchdowns and 39 interceptions.
The Bucs released Freeman in 2013 and he was quickly signed by the Vikings. Minnesota gave Freeman a one-year, $3 million deal. In 2013, the Vikings could not figure out their quarterback position. They started the year with Christian Ponder and eventually moved onto Matt Cassell. Freeman started one game, and that one game is why he has made this list.
Even though Freeman’s contract was short and for little money, what happened on October 21, 2013 will live in infamy for Vikings’ fans. Freeman was given a start on the road against the New York Giants on national television. He proceeded to turn in one of the worst performances in history. Freeman finished 20-53 for 190 yards and an interception.
That was the only game that Freeman would play as a Viking. He was reportedly late to meetings and did not know the offense well. That showed on that lone Monday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
4. Madieu Williams
The Vikings thought they signed their next great safety when Williams agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract in 2008. This was not the case.
Williams had nine interceptions in four years as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. He was viewed as a player with a high ceiling and that is how the Vikings paid him. Williams’ contract made him one of the highest-paid players at the position at the time. He would miss the beginning of the 2008 season with a neck injury but would actually finish strong. Williams had two interceptions in nine games in 2008.
Over the next two years, Williams played 30 games and had just one interception. He was a strong cover man during his days with the Bengals but that changed in Minnesota. After he lost some of those skills, there was no use for him. Williams was named the 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year, but his on-field production did not match his off-the-field accomplishments.
The Vikings released Williams in 2011. He went on to play two more years with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins before calling it a career.
3. John Carlson
Even after three years with the Seattle Seahawks, many would have a hard time picking Carlson out of a group of random people. He caught 13 touchdowns with Seattle and did not eclipse 55 catches or 627 yards. Despite the mediocre production, the Vikings saw something in him that they liked.
In 2012, Minnesota signed Carlson to a five-year, $25 million contract with $11 million guaranteed. In year one, Carlson played 14 games and had just eight catches for 43 yards. Yes, eight catches.
Carlson improved in 2013, but it’s hard not to after an eight-catch season. He finished with 32 catches for 344 yards and his only touchdown as a Viking. His tenure in Minnesota was short-lived and underwhelming.
The Vikings released Carlson in 2014 after just two years. He did not have any great moments with the team and his contract was too expensive for a player who did not accomplish much.
2. Bernard Berrian
Imagine watching receivers like Randy Moss and Cris Carter for years then transitioning to Bernard Berrian. That was the unfortunate reality when the Vikings signed Berrian to a six-year, $42 million deal in 2008.
In four years with the Chicago Bears, Berrian never had a 1,000-yard season. His highest reception total was 71 and never caught more than six touchdowns. The only explanation is that Minnesota saw potential in Berrian. He had decent size at 6-foot-1 and was known for his all-world speed. Berrian posted his best season with the Vikings in 2008 with 48 catches for 964 yards and seven touchdowns.
That was the only semblance of a return the Vikings would get on their investment. Over the next four years, Berrian's receiving yards and touchdowns would continue to drop. He did not catch a touchdown over his final two years as a Viking. In 2011, Berrian had a hard time getting off the bench, as he played in five games and started one.
The Vikings would be the last team that Berrian would play for. The Vikings did not waste anytime saying goodbye to Berrian.
1. Fred Smoot
Smoot was a second-round pick for the Redskins in 2001. Justifying the Vikings contract offer to Smoot is hard to do given the fact that he wasn’t good at much on the field.
Smoot signed a six-year deal with $34 million in 2005. He was a poor coverage corner and a worse tackler. This did not stop Minnesota, even though they immediately regretted their decision to sign him. He spent two years in Minnesota and played 25 games. He finished his tenure with just 104 tackles and two interceptions.
As bad as Smoot was on the field, his actions off-the-field carry him to the top of this list. He was one of the biggest members of the Minnesota “Love Boat” scandal that took place in 2005. Smoot would reveal details of the party years later.
Smoot was brought to Minnesota to be a shutdown corner and go down in history as one of the best in franchise history. Instead, the opposite was the case and he can now be remembered as the team’s worst signing of all time.
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