Welcome to the second installment of the worst offseason acquisitions series. This series reviews each division’s worst acquisition from the 2023 offseason. We will review the AFC North.
Criteria for this series
All individuals featured in this series must fulfill the specified criteria. The players on this list are those who joined a new team through trades or signings in the offseason, excluding draft picks, re-signed players, players claimed during roster cuts, regular season signings, or trades during the NFL Trade Deadline.
These players are also judged based on their contracts and expectations for the 2023 season.
Baltimore Ravens’ worst offseason acquisition: WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham battled injuries and wasn’t effective in the passing game in his first season with Baltimore. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and missed Weeks 3-4. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 11 but didn’t miss any games.
Beckham finished his 2023 campaign with 35 receptions on 64 targets for 565 and three touchdowns during the regular season. He also had four receptions on seven targets for 34 yards in two playoff games.
Cincinnati Bengals’ worst offseason acquisition: TE Irv Smith Jr.
Cincinnati signed Irv Smith Jr. to a 1-year, $1,750,000 contract with the expectation of being their tight end number one and a solid replacement for Hayden Hurst, who signed with Carolina.
Smith battled an injury and fell out of the tight-end rotation, losing the starting job to Drew Sample later in the season.
Smith missed Weeks 3-4 because of a hamstring injury and was a healthy scratch in Weeks 16-18. He finished his 2023 campaign with 18 receptions on 26 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown.
Cleveland Browns’ worst offseason acquisition: DT Trysten Hill
Cleveland signed Trysten Hill to a 1-year, $1,232,000 contract in an attempt to rejuvenate his young career and provide depth to the defensive line.
Unfortunately, Hill was released during roster cuts. He signed to their practice squad but was released on September 26.
He spent the rest of the season on New England’s practice squad.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ worst offseason acquisition: WR Allen Robinson II
Pittsburgh traded for Allen Robinson II with the expectation of being a reliable number three receiver.
Robinson struggled this season and didn’t step up when Diontae Johnson missed four games with a hamstring injury. Robinson recorded 34 receptions on 49 targets for 280 yards during the regular season and two receptions on three targets for 12 yards.
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