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The Worst Cuts All 32 NFL Teams Have Ever Made

By Erik Lambert

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Trent Green #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 30, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chiefs won 28-24. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Trent Green #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 30, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chiefs won 28-24. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Brad Johnson #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes the snap from center Jeff Christy #62 during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns on October 13, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 17-3. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Brad Johnson #14 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes the snap from center Jeff Christy #62 during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns on October 13, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 17-3. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

NFL teams have plenty of fears. Perhaps none feels more empty or frustrating than realizing they let good or even great players escape their grasp.

Try as they might, no franchise has been immune to such blunders. Now the cutting season is at hand. With one more preseason game left, teams have already begun to trim their rosters down from 90 to 53 in preparation for the regular season to begin. There might be several notable names in the bunch, but also plenty of no-names.

Or at least some of them are no-names right now. Many times in the past certain players weren’t given the right opportunity with the teams that drafted them and were released, only to see a career revival elsewhere. This begs an interesting question. Who was the worst cut in the history of each franchise?

In order to determine this, criteria must be set. This list will only include players who were drafted after the 1970 merger between the NFL and AFL. It was at that point the league became a close comparison to what it is today. A player will have to have gotten cut having player three seasons or fewer for their first time. If they were traded or allowed to hit free agency, they do not qualify. They had to be waived or cut.

Prepare for quite a few shockers.

Arizona Cardinals

32. . C. Pitt. Jeff Christy . 1. player

Unfortunately the Arizona Cardinals weren’t known for great roster decisions in the 1990s. That was one of the darker periods in team history. Otherwise, they might’ve trusted their judgment when they made Jeff Christy their 4th round pick in 1992. Pitt offensive linemen in general at that time were of high quality. So why they chose to cut him as a rookie and not at least give him time to develop is a head-scratcher.

They certainly wished they did not too long after. The Minnesota Vikings scooped him up in 1993. By 1994 he’d become their starting center. He would be in the middle of one of the best offensive lines of the decade, paving the way for the historic 1998 Vikings offense that scored a then-record 558 points. Christy would make two Pro Bowls there before heading to Tampa Bay where he’d make a third Pro Bowl and then cap his career in 2002 with a Super Bowl championship.

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