15 worst Minnesota Vikings free agent signings of all-time

Viewed as one of the top young safeties in the NFL at the time, the Vikings thought they landed a future All-Pro when they signed Madieu Williams to a six-year, $33 million deal in 2008. After agreeing to a contract with Minnesota, he immediately became one of the highest paid safeties in the league.

But with a high salary comes high expectations. Williams was unable to live up to the hype during his time with the Vikings.

Thanks to a neck injury, he didn’t even begin his career with Minnesota until halfway through the 2008 season. During the nine games he actually did play in that year for the Vikings, Williams finished with 42 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions.

Over the next two seasons (30 appearances), the Minnesota safety was only able to intercept one pass and accumulate just six pass breakups. Williams never was able to turn into the superstar safety that the Vikings were hoping for when they gave him a bunch of money in 2008.

Minnesota eventually decided they were better off without Williams. The team released him during the 2011 offseason with three years still remaining on his original contract.