Which risky, and not so risky moves paid off, or didn't, in the NFL?

When you're investing in a player in the NFL, more often than not, you never know what you're going to get. Will the pros outweigh the cons? Will the return on investment be there? All questions that get answered between the hash marks. Which got us thinking... What were some risky moves made this season, and which ones paid dividends? Which ones, well, not so much!

J.J. McCarthy as QB1 in Minnesota - (Medium Risk)

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I'm still going to give him the benefit of the doubt because the kid has shown flashes. But flat-out not wanting Sam Darnold around anymore after what he did for the Vikings, then seeing how he has played with the Seattle Seahawks, must sting a bit. The Vikings were all-in on McCarthy. So much so that they felt like they didn't even need a backup for him. When he started, he just hasn't been that good, but, as I said. I'm not ready to waive the towel yet.

Mac Jones On A 2-Year 7-Mill Contract - (Very Low Risk)

All Mac Jones has done for the San Francisco 49ers is win and keep them in playoff contention until Brock Purdy returned. Not just win, but play very, very well to the point that the 49ers will now likely lose him to a team that wants to plug him in immediately as a starter. An investment of just $7 million has proven to be massive for the Niners. Jones played so well that the team had a legitimate QB controversy over who to start. Other teams think they have a controversy, but never really do. This was a grown man's decision to make, and although the right one, Jones deserves to be a starter somewhere.

DeAndre Hopkins $5 Million Deal In Baltimore - (Low Risk)

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I realize that $5 million is just a drop in the bucket for an NFL franchise, and some folks are disappointed in the year that DeAndre Hopkins has had. But the move was low risk because he spent several games without Lamar Jackson, and he's no spring chicken as an NFL wide receiver. He did, however, have 22 catches on 37 targets for just 2 touchdowns on the season. So there's that.

George Pickens Hesitation Landing With The Dallas Cowboys - (Extremely Low Risk)

Do you think the Pittsburgh Steelers wish they still had George Pickens to pair with Aaron Rodgers and make a potential playoff run? Me neither. He wasn't happy there. But, when the trade came about with Dallas, some NFL officials thought that he was par for the course and primed to be a Cowboy. Pickens has always been a loose cannon at times, but for now, the Dallas Cowboys and their fans couldn't be happy with the steal that they received from the Steelers for a measly third-round pick, along with a fifth and seventh rounder.

Pickens has had a spectacular season and stepped right into the WR1 spot when CeeDee Lamb missed a few games with injury. This year, he has caught 92 passes for 1,420 yards and 9 touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Which risky, and not-so-risky moves paid off, or didn't, in the NFL?