15 worst free agent signings in Denver Broncos franchise history

4. Menelik Watson, OT (2017)

In the same offseason the Denver Broncos signed Ronald Leary to a four-year deal worth $36 million in total money, they also signed offensive tackle Menelik Watson to a three-year deal worth over $18 million and $11 million in guarantees.

Watson was a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Florida State and had all of the physical attributes you would look for at the position. Great frame, long arms, a basketball background...

The Broncos signed Watson to a really player-friendly deal just one year after doing almost the exact same deal with Donald Stephenson. Watson was expected to come in and start at right tackle, which he did, for all of seven games.

$11 million guaranteed for seven games. It's not bad work if you can find it.

Menelik Watson was just flat-out bad for the Denver Broncos at the position. It's nobody's fault except the pro scouting department. He landed on IR that season with a calf injury and then landed on IR again in 2018 with a pectoral injury.

Watson was considered by many Denver Broncos fans at the time to be the worst free agent signing the team had made in decades. He has become a cautiounary tale of what signing another team's backup to be your starter can do to set you back.