It's a feedback loop and they do it damn near every year. Aged vet is signed for millions . Proves he's aged and washed up and is an anchor dragging the team down. He must play all year because he signed for millions.
He blocks a rookie making league minimum and team never gets to see what rookie can do. Chances are rookie at least puts up numbers multi-milllion dollar vet does. Team wasted it's limited resources and rookie gets blocked.
Rinse. Repeat.