Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 10 worst free agency signings in team history

Number 10: Jeff Faine – C (2008-2011)

In all fairness, Jeff Faine really wasn’t all that bad of a player. In fact, some would even go as far as to describe him as “adequate”. Hence his spot being on the outskirts of this list. However, when you get signed to a six-year contract worth $37.5 million with $15 million of that being fully guaranteed, you’re going to have to do better than that pal.

Up to that point in his career, Faine was a very good center as a member of the Cleveland Browns and Buccaneers division rival New Orleans Saints, so naturally, it was assumed that would carry over to Tampa Bay. Then again you know what they say about assuming.

While Faine wasn’t outright awful while in Tampa, the offensive lines he was signed to improve gave up 30 or more sacks every season during his tenure with the Buccaneers. If you’re going to pay an offensive lineman that kind of guaranteed cash, that simply can’t happen. While it’s unfair to blame all of that ineptitude of that era of Buccaneers football on Faine, he isn’t absolved of any blame either. It’s definitely fair to consider this free agency signing a swing and a miss.