Atlanta Falcons: 5 Most Overpaid and Underpaid Players on the Roster

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The Falcons are one of the best teams at managing the cap in the NFL and tend to pay players below what they're worth. However, there are five players currently under contract who are either over- or under-playing their contract.

Atlanta has a great general manager in Thomas Dimitroff. Without Dimitroff, there's no Mike Smith or Matt Ryan.

Without Dimitroff, these contracts aren't signed either, and some of these are great coups for the talent they got. However, there are also some bad values at this point that need to be pointed out.

Underpaid No. 3: DT Corey Peters

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Contract

Two Years, $1.065 million remaining

 

Production

Averages 630 snaps—60 percent of defensive snaps—in the rotation as the starting nose tackle the past two seasons.

2010: 33 tackles, one sacks, one pass deflected, 19 tackles for negative or no yardage

2011: 26 tackles, three sacks, one interception, three passes deflected, 22 tackles for negative or no yardage

 

How he's underpaid

Peters is one of the rising stars at the defensive tackle position. He started out as a head-scratching pick on draft day and has become one of the best picks of the 2010 draft.

He has been a solid pass-rusher the past two years, but his penetration in run defense has made him a more valuable tackle than Babineaux. Peters has been a steal for his value and should get a nice second contract in the NFL.

Underpaid No. 2: SS William Moore

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Contract

One Year, $565,000 left on his contract

 

Production

Averages 800 snaps—75 percent of defensive snaps—as the starting Strong Safety the past two seasons.

2010: 72 tackles, no sacks, five Interceptions, eight passes deflected, one forced fumbles, 19 tackles for negative or no yardage

2011: 54 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two Interceptions, nine passes deflected, two forced fumbles, 18 tackles for negative or no yardage

 

How he's underpaid

Moore is the kind of guy who's always improving. He's just part of a newer breed of safety who can take on anyone in coverage but also support in the run.

He's a ball hawk, and under Nolan's new defense, he should be even more productive. He's also a leader in the locker room and someone who deserves a big contract once this season ends as a rising star in the league.

Underpaid No. 1: WLB Sean Weatherspoon

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Contract

Two Years, $4,116,250

 

Production

Averages 770 snaps—70 percent of defensive snaps—as the starting weak-side linebacker the past two seasons.

2010: 42 tackles, one sacks, one pass deflected, 14 tackles for negative or no yardage

2011: 115 tackles, four sacks, eight passes deflected, 63 tackles for negative or no yardage

 

How he's underpaid

He went from a guy who had injury issues in his rookie season to arguably the best run-defending and blitzing 4-3 weak-side linebacker in the NFL.

He's on the verge of being the best outside linebacker to play in the NFC South since Derrick Brooks retired. He has easily outplayed his rookie contract, and once it runs out, expect him to easily trump the deal that Curtis Lofton just signed with New Orleans.

Overpaid No. 2: RB Michael Turner

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Contract

Two Years, $10.5 million remaining on his deal

 

Production

Averages 630 snaps—50 percent of offensive snaps—in the rotation as the starting running back the past two seasons.

2010: 334 carries, 1,371 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 catches, 85 yards, two fumbles

2011: 301 carries, 1,340 yards, 11 touchdowns, 17 catches, 168 yards, three fumbles

 

How he's overpaid

Paying $5 million a year for someone who isn't seeing the field over 50 percent of the time is completely illogical, especially once Jason Snelling's three-year, $4 million deal is taken into account.

Snelling is capable of similar production for much less in terms of cost. Add in an expanded role coming from Jacquizz Rodgers and paying starter money to someone who isn't even getting 50 percent of the snaps anymore is illogical.

Overpaid No. 1: CB Dunta Robinson

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Contract

Four Years, $33.5 million

2012: $5 million, 2013; $8 million, 2014; $10 million, 2015; $11.5 million

 

Production

Averages 990 snaps—95 percent of defensive snaps—as the starting right cornerback the past two seasons.

2010: 55 tackles, one Interceptions, seven passes deflected, 13 tackles for negative or no yardage

2011: 49 tackles, two Interceptions, nine passes deflected, 11 tackles for negative or no yardage

 

How he's overpaid

Robinson has been a very solid starter as the right cornerback. However, he hasn't been the two-time Pro Bowl player who most Falcons fans were expecting when he was signed to his current contract.

Robinson has been demoted this year to a nickel. However, the Falcons can get away with paying Robinson like a starter as they are paying newcomer Asante Samuel like a backup.

 

 

All stats in this slideshow are from either Pro Football Focus or NFL.com. All contract information is from Rotoworld or Spotrac.

 

Scott Carasik is an NFL draft and Atlanta Falcons Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek and also runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and the host of Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

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