Predominantly Orange
FanSided

Denver Broncos April Fools: 5 worst free-agent signings ever

By Travis Wakeman

22 Sep 1996: Defensive back Dale Carter of the Kansas City Chiefs during the Chiefs 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT
22 Sep 1996: Defensive back Dale Carter of the Kansas City Chiefs during the Chiefs 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
5 Dec 1999: Dale Carter #40 of the Denver Broncos tackles Derrick Alexander #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
5 Dec 1999: Dale Carter #40 of the Denver Broncos tackles Derrick Alexander #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /

No. 2: Dale Carter

Boy was there some excitement following this signing.

Dale Carter was drafted in the first round of the 1992 draft by the Chiefs and in seven seasons with the team, he lived up to the billing.

He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1992 and was later selected to four straight Pro Bowls along with being named an All-Pro in 1995 and 1996. Following the 1998 season, The Broncos got tired of playing against Carter and lured him away.

A four-year, $22.8 million deal helped convince Carter to join the division rival. The deal made him the league’s highest-paid defensive back. But unfortunately for the Broncos, they didn’t get the Carter that they played against many times.

Carter played in 14 games during the 1999 season. He had two interceptions. Those were the only two interceptions he ever had for the team, so if you break it down, the team paid him several million dollars per interception.

Following that season, Carter violated the league’s policy against substance abuse for a fourth time and was subsequently suspended for the entire 2000 season. The Broncos released him in 2001.

Carter went on to continue his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Saints and Baltimore Ravens. But all those teams gave him a discounted contract. The Broncos were the team that got burned.

Home/Broncos All-Time Lists