Top 5 Overpaid Free Agents

Since overpaying for a free agent is a bad move I am going to start off with criticizing the Buccaneers for the worst move of the offseason so far, releasing Darrelle Revis.  The Buccaneers essentially traded DROY of the year Sheldon Richardson and the #100 pick in this year's draft for a one year rental in which they paid a player $16 million to rehab on a 4-12 team.  Now I know Mark Dominik is no longer with the team so it is hard to bash the new regime for his misdoings, but with a player of Revis' caliber you tailor your scheme to fit him.  Imagine if the Broncos who run a 4-3 kept Von Miller at LB and never let him put his hand in the dirt and get after the passer?  The Buccaneers should have kept Revis and allowed him to shadow opposing #1 WRs and shut them down.  That is far more valuable than staying true to the zone schemes that Lovie Smith likes to run.  Revis rant over, now to the list of the top 5 overpaid free agents.

1. Atlanta Falcons - Tyson Jackson DE/DT (5yrs $25m $11m gtd.)

Atlanta obviously wanted to get tougher in the trenches as evidenced by their spending spree in the beginning of free agency.  It is also evident that they plan to shift full time to the 3-4 and need D-Lineman that fit that scheme.  Still there is no way Tyson Jackson is worth an annual average of $5 million per year.  Jackson is an above average run defender but is non existent as a pass rusher.  Last season he failed to log a single pressure, not sack, pressure in 12 of 16 games, according to profootballfocus.com.  He should of received a contract similar to the 2 year 6 million dollar deal that the 49ers gave his former teammate Glen Dorsey last offseason.

2. Minnesota Vikings - Everson Griffen DE (5yrs $42.5m $20m gtd)

Everson Griffen has started exactly one game in his NFL career so there is no way that he is worth over $8m a year and definitely not $20m gtd.  I understand that Griffen has a ton of potential and the Vikings see him as a double digit a year sack guy, but they are paying tomorrow's price today.  What happens if Griffen's production goes down when thrust into starting and playing more snaps?  The best case scenario is that he makes good on his potential and proves he is worth this kind of money, making the deal only have downside.

  

3. Denver Broncos - Aqib Talib CB (6yrs $57m $26m gtd)

Most people will point to the game from New Orleans and how Aqib Talib held Jimmy Graham without a catch.  What is left out is how Talib missed most of the second half of the game due to injury.  This is a lot of money for a guy who has been very inconsistent throughout his career and has only shown shutdown ability in a handful of games with New England.  Throw in a nagging hip injury and all the questions about his off the field issues and Denver can regret this signing rather quickly.  Talib without a doubt makes Denver better and I understand what they are trying to do with Peyton Manning only having a year or two left.  That doesn't mean they didn't severely overpay.

4. Detroit Lions - Golden Tate WR (5yrs $31m $13.5m gtd)

Golden Tate had a career high of 898 yards last season while being the "number one" in Seattle last year.  Truth is he is best as a slot WR third option so there is no reason why Detroit should be paying him $6 million a year, especially with a draft stacked with WR talent.  The Lions could of added a more talented player for much cheaper in the 2nd round.  

5. Cleveland Browns - Karlos Dansby ILB (4yrs $24m $14m gtd)

Karlos Dansby played out of his mind on a one year deal in Arizona, but the soon to be 33 year old will start to decline.  The Browns will most likely get one good year out of Dansby followed by an average season and his release.  Dansby has been one of the best ILBs in the league since he was drafted but at 33 the arrow is trending down.