For the average NFL fan, few things are more frustrating than seeing some of the game’s greatest players see their prime years wasted on garbage teams. Think of legends like Dick Butkus, Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson, who were too loyal to teams that failed to build a consistent winner around them.

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of NFL superstars who are going through similar and maddening experiences. With that said, let’s dive into 10 NFL superstars who are currently stuck on garbage teams.

Justin Herbert

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 10: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers prepares to pass during a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
When you look at the NFL’s list of elite quarterbacks, you’ll notice that almost all of them play on a Super Bowl contender.

Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa. All of them are in good spots with their respective clubs, who’ve surrounded them with star players and grade-A coaching.

And then there’s Los Angeles Chargers’ superstar Justin Herbert, who’s still playing like a top-five quarterback. Too bad he’s on the Chargers of all teams.

After leading the Bolts to the postseason a year ago, Herbert has noticed the team around him crumble big time. Yes, losing Mike Williams for the year was a tough blow — but Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett, Josh Palmer and rookie Quentin Johnston should be able to step up and help Herbert here.

Sadly for Herbert, the Chargers’ defense is also a mess despite the presence of Derwin James Jr., Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack and Asante Samuel Jr. Herbert is forced to play hero every week, but he can only do so much behind an inept o-line, a miserable defense and Brandon Staley — who clearly isn’t suited for an NFL head coaching role.

The Chargers remain levels below the rival Kansas City Chiefs. And they don’t look like a playoff team in an AFC loaded with contenders. Herbert isn’t going anywhere, though, after just signing a five-year extension worth a shiny $262.5 million.

So he’ll have to accept that 2023 is a year of garbage-filled football in LA and hope that the team can turn it around in 2024.

It’s a darn shame to see the Chargers already waste four of Herbert’s incredible prime years.

Davante Adams

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 07: Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on as the United States national anthem is performed before a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Not even two years into the deal, and it just feels like the Davante Adams blockbuster will go down as a lose-lose for everybody.

In the 2022 offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders traded their first and second-round picks to the Green Bay Packers for Adams, who then signed a five-year deal worth a whopping $140 million.

So here’s what happened: The Packers offense struggled without Adams in 2022. They missed the postseason, and Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets.

While Adams has put up fine numbers, he quickly learned that both Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo aren’t exactly close to Rodgers’ level. Adams has continuously expressed frustration with the Raiders lack of a “winning culture” and admitted in the offseason that he doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler.

As a result, Adams is a superstar player stuck on a garbage team with no established long-term direction. It’s unbelievable how the Raiders mustered just six wins in 2022 when Josh Jacobs won the rushing title — and with Adams’ setting the franchise single-season record for receiving yards with 1,516.

Raiders owner Mark Davis remains content with mediocrity for some reason — and Adams is suffering for it. It’s a shame to see Adams’ remaining prime years go to waste in Sin City, but he also probably should have just stayed with Rodgers and the Packers. He should have known what he was signing up for.

Let’s just hope that for his sake, Adams eventually gets the chance to play for a winner again before he hangs up the cleats.

Saquon Barkley

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 07: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants walks off the field after a win over the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on January 07, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
It looked as though the New York Giants had finally broken through in 2022 under Coach of the Year Brian Daboll.

With a healthy Saquon Barkley and a career year from Daniel Jones, the G-Men snuck into the postseason and even stunned the 13-win Minnesota Vikings in the opening round.

With Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt and Deonte Banks joining the up-and-coming Giants, improvement seemed inevitable. But nope. Same ol’ Giants.

Jones has returned to his pre-2022 form, though the atrocious offensive line in front of him hasn’t helped at all. Even with Banks and Kayvon Thibodeaux playing like veteran Pro Bowlers, the New York D has also been a mess.

While Barkley remains a highlight reel machine capable of winning games on his own, the Giants have failed him once again. This is year five now of Big Blue stinking it up despite the presence of a top-five RB in the game.

The good news? Barkley’s in his contract year, so he’s got the clear-cut path to escaping Loser-ville and playing for a true contender in 2024 and beyond!

DeAndre Hopkins

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 07: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Hopkins will go down as a top-five wideout of his era. It’s an absolute travesty that through the first decade of his career, the man only got to experience two playoff wins — both wild card victories — with the Houston Texans.

The Arizona Cardinals only got to the postseason once with Hopkins. Curiously, he signed with the Tennessee Titans of all teams following his release from Arizona. We remain surprised that he didn’t just take a pay cut to play for a contender like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens or Buffalo Bills, but c’est la vie…

Anywho, the five-time Pro Bowler remains an elite wide receiver who can single-handedly take over a game at any moment. It’s just a shame that he’s become an afterthought on a hapless Titans team.

On the bright side, Hopkins only signed a two-year deal with Tennessee… so hopefully he won’t be stuck on this garbage team much longer.

Budda Baker

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 31: Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Baker entered the NFL in 2017 — two seasons after the Cardinals made a run to the NFC Championship Game with Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald. Bad timing for Baker, alright, because the Cardinals have been an embarrassment since his rookie year.

Quite frankly, there’s just no telling just how much worse the Cardinals would be without this guy patrolling their defense. Baker is a five-time Pro Bowler with two first-team all-pro selections and one second-team all-pro nod on his resume.

It’s just so disappointing to see a top-tier safety like Baker put his heart and soul out there every game to no avail. Arizona wasted the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins. Now they’re wasting Baker and Kyler Murray.

When Baker signed that extension with Arizona in 2020, the team appeared to be on the cusp of something special. Fast forward three years later, and the organization is once again mired in nothing but losing, dysfunction and misery.

Hey Mr. Baker, it’s also not too late to ask for a trade. Just saying!

Terry McLaurin

LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 07: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 07, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
McLaurin has been the model of consistency since his 2019 rookie year, recording over 50 catches and 900-plus yards every year.

McLaurin has also exceeded the 70-catch and 1,000-yard marks each year since 2020. Pretty impressive considering that career backup Taylor Heinicke is the best QB McLaurin has played with in Washington.

Yes, McLaurin and the Commanders won the NFC East in 2020, but that was with a 7-and-9 record. Yippee. And they were ousted in the Wild Card Round by Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers anyway.

McLaurin’s Commanders are always in that seven-eight win range, but they’re never good enough to realistically contend for a Super Bowl.

The 2023 group looks like the worst Washington team since 2019. That means McLaurin is stuck on a club that isn’t going anywhere. Once again.

McLaurin is going to keep putting up fantastic stats, but it’s clear that his only path to winning is if  the Commanders trade him.

Patrick Surtain II

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 29: Patrick Surtain II poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected ninth by the Denver Broncos during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
While the Denver Broncos remain stuck in the AFC basement,Patrick Surtain II continues to rise among the ranks of nfL corners.

The Alabama product was drafted ninth overall by the Broncos in 2021. He had a superb rookie year and earned Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro nods in his sophomore season after recording two picks and 10 pass defenses.

Per PFF, Surtain had a ridiculous 86.7 coverage grade and posted 12 games where he allowed less than 25 yards. You just didn’t notice his Sauce Gardner-like play because, well, the Broncos were a disaster in 2022.

And they remain a disaster in 2023 — even with two future Hall of Famers in Sean Payton and Russell Wilson leading the offense.

Throw in the head-scratching decision to bring in ex-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph as the defensive coordinator, and everything in Mile High City has added up to a colossal mess. You feel for guys like Surtain who brings his A-game every week.

If the Broncos continue to stink, Surtain might want to seek a trade. He’s too talented to have his talents wasted on a team that’s spent almost a decade in mediocrity now.

D.J. Moore

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 31: DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears catches a pass during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field on December 31, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Moore just can’t catch a break. He finally escaped the awfulness that was the Carolina Panthers this past offseason by getting traded to…another joke of a team in the Chicago Bears.

It doesn’t make any sense. Moore is putting together incredible stats in the Windy City, and the Bears are still a garbage team! What more does he have to do to help his team become a winner?

The three-time 1,000-yard wideout is on pace for a career year with the Bears. You just wouldn’t know it because the team is borderline unwatchable. It’s especially frustrating because Moore hasn’t had the chance to work with an above-average QB, if you keep in mind that 2018 Cam Newton was hardly effective.

Beyond us how the Bears continue to be a joke in a pretty weak division when they have so many big-named talents like Moore, D’Onta Foreman, Khalil Herbert, Tremaine Edmunds, Jalen Johnson and Eddie Jackson. But that’s the Bears for you.

If there’s one silver lining, it’s that the Bears are in the running for the Caleb Williams sweepstakes — if they actually have the guts to move on from Fields.

Maxx Crosby

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 10: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders leaves the field at halftime of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
If it makes Davante Adams feel better, he’s not the only Raiders’ standout whose all-world play is going to waste in Sin City.

Two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby surely thought special days were ahead for the Black and Silver when he signed a four-year extension worth $98.98 million in 2022.

While Crosby remains one of football’s most explosive pass-rushers, the Raiders remain, ahem, a garbage team. Crosby, who posted a personal best 12.5 sacks a year ago, is on pace to set a new career-high in 2023.

And yet, the Raiders just keep taking more and more steps back following a surprise postseason appearance in 2021. Yet roster mismanagement and McDaniels’ lackluster coaching job has contributed to uninspiring football for this once-proud franchise.

Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, Rodney Hudson, Amari Cooper, Khalil Mack…now Adams and Crosby. How much longer must the Raiders waste the primes of so many big-named stars until they start winning again?

Crosby and Adams both deserve so much better.

Which other NFL stars are suck on a garbage team here in 2023?