Five years ago today, the Denver Broncos were reminded of a painful lesson: in the NFL, even the biggest contracts can turn into the biggest headaches. On May 4, 2021, free agent tackle Ja'Wuan James tore his Achilles while working out away from the team—a moment that would become the final nail in the coffin of one of the franchise's most infamous signings.

Let's rewind the tape. In March 2019, the Broncos inked James to a four-year, $51 million deal, briefly making him the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history. The hope was that he'd anchor the offensive line for years to come. But reality had other plans. In his very first game—a Monday night season opener against the Raiders—James suffered a knee injury that essentially ended his tenure with the team. He managed to suit up for just three games that season, but the expected impact never materialized. In 2020, he opted out entirely due to COVID-19 concerns.

Then came the Achilles tear. The Broncos had seen enough. Just ten days later, on May 14, 2021, they released James. But the damage was done: they had paid $18.2 million for a total of three games. When James filed a $15 million grievance over what he believed he was owed, the Broncos settled for $1.09 million just to move on.

At $6 million per game, it's hard to call that anything but a disaster. It ranks alongside other Broncos free-agent flops like Dale Carter and Daryl Gardener. But in the bigger picture, this was just one symptom of a team struggling in the post-Peyton Manning era. Even if James had stayed healthy, the Broncos weren't exactly poised for greatness. Still, for fans and analysts alike, the Ja'Wuan James saga remains a cautionary tale about the risks of big-money gambles in free agency—and a reminder that sometimes, the best play is knowing when to cut your losses.