Cleveland Browns: 5 Worst free agency signings since 1999
By Randy Gurzi
5. Willis McGahee, Running Back
There was a point where Willis McGahee was one of the hottest names in the NFL. He was a first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills but even with his impressive collegiate career that felt like a bit of a risky pick. McGahee tore his ACL, PCL, and MCL in his final collegiate game, which was the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. With that injury, it was assumed he would his entire rookie season, which he did.
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However, he came back at full strength in 2004 and had what was arguably the best season of his career. McGahee finished with 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns. After three succesful seasons in Buffalo, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. This move came following the Browns signing of Jamal Lewis, which left Baltimore without a running back.
McGahee played there for four years and made it to his first Pro Bowl in 2007. He was released in 2011 and had a career resurgence that season with the Denver Broncos. At 30 years of age, McGahee went for 1,199 yards and added 731 the next season. That was enough to convince Cleveland to bring him in for the 2013 season.
The plan was for McGahee to replace Trent Richardson who was just traded to the Indianapolis Colts. This wasn’t the best plan considering he was 32-years old at the time. Unsurprisingly, McGahee struggled while averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. He finished with 377 yards on the ground in what proved to be his final season in the NFL.