NFL Free Agents 2011: The 6 Most Overrated Free Agents on the Market

There plenty of big name players that have been thrown into the free agent pool this offseason. Some of them are high-caliber players that will command big money contracts. Others have commanded big money paydays but have yet to live up to the hype.

Some of the free agents have been considered to be draft pick busts, while others have reached the plateau of their playing careers and haven't yet realized when it is time to hang up the cleats and call it quits.

And no, I'm not talking about Brett Favre, it would be in his best interest to actually stay retired.

I'm talking about players that are considered overrated, players that were once the buzz of the football world but have taken a fall from grace.

While this piece could potentially be the cause for plenty of debate (which I welcome), I hope you enjoy my list of the six most overrated players on the free agent market.

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

While, I don't necessarily feel that Nnamdi Asomugha is overrated at this point, he is one of the best corners in the league. The question is will he get the money he wants and live up to the hype he has built for himself?

Asomugha, who was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, has spent his entire eight year career with the Oakland Raiders. He has garnered the attention of other teams in the NFL as being the one of the best shutdown corners in the game.

He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) in his eight year career, and has averaged 34 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per season.

In 2009, Asomugha signed a incredibly complex three-year contract extension with the Oakland Raiders that made him the highest paid defensive back in the NFL (that title now belongs to Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets) history. The first two years of the contract which are guaranteed will pay $28.5 million, however there was a little know clause in his contract that allowed the Raiders to void it should he not achieve certain incentives.

With his contract now void, Asomugha is now able to test the free agent market.

It will be interesting if Asomugha would be able to command the same amount of money he did with his previous contract extension with the Raiders or if a team would be willing to give him Darrelle Revis-like money making him yet again one of the top-paid defensive backs of the game.

One thing is for certain, the next time he comes back to play in Oakland, it will be wearing a different teams uniform. 

Matt Hasselbeck, QB

Matt Hasselbeck has been the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks since 2001.

He is quite arguably remembered for his "We want the ball, and we're gonna score!" gaffe in an overtime 2003 Wild Card playoff game against the team that drafted him, the Green Bay Packers. Hasselbeck would go on to through an interception that would be returned for a touchdown

Hasselbeck has consistently put up solid numbers. He thrown for 29,434 yards and has averaged 17.4 touchdowns in his 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

He has led the Seahawks to six division titles and one Super Bowl appearance during his tenure.

However, just like with Brett Favre, time and injuries have caught up with Hasselbeck. While he does have the ability to go out and be a starter, I believe his role will be that of mentoring a young rookie quarterback.

I believe Hasselbeck has a few seasons left before he hangs up the cleats for good. While he in the long run I don't feel that he is overrated. I do believe he won't command the salary and contract that he thinks he really deserves.

I mean let's face it, what team is willing to pay big money to a quarterback that is prone to injuries and his on the downward side of his playing career.

Randy Moss, WR

Randy Moss, has went from amazing rookie phenom to outspoken wide receiver who believes he deserves better than what he is given.

Moss, who was projected to be a potential high first-round draft pick in the 1998 NFL draft fell to the Minnesota Vikings with the 21st overall selection.

Many teams were unwilling to take a chance on Moss due to his numerous and often well-documented off-field problems with the law.

Moss would prove to all the other teams that passed on him (especially those who greatly need a wide receiver) how good he really was. 

In his rookie season, Moss with the help of veteran quarterback Brad Johnson would power the Vikings to a No. 1-ranked offense and an impressive 15-1 record on their way to a NFC Championship game showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.

In 16 games during his rookie season, Moss would amass 1,313 yards and catch 17 touchdown passes. 

Moss would go on to play seven seasons with the Vikings before being courted and later signing with the Oakland Raiders.

His stint with the Raiders was brief. Only playing two seasons with the silver and black, Moss would rack up 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns. Moss, would be traded to the New England Patriots in hopes of bolstering their passing offense led by Tom Brady.

After stating that he, "did not feel wanted" in New England, the Patriots traded a disgruntled Moss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, things in Minnesota would be short lived.

Moss, was waived by the Vikings after playing only four games with the team that drafted him. He would eventually be picked up off waivers by the Tennessee Titans (the only team to have placed a claim on him) and finish the season with his third team during the 2010.

It will be interesting to see where Moss could eventually land. He has taken on a prima donna-like attitude comparing him to Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson and Terrell Owens. One thing is for sure that Moss won't command the typical contracts and money he has from other teams, and might even be relegated to a number two or three wide receiver.

Tavaris Jackson, QB

Tarvaris Jackson hasn't quite lived up to the hype of being the future of the Minnesota Vikings franchise.

Jackson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 64th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft. He was billed by former Vikings head coach Brad Childress as a "diamond in the rough", a quarterback that had raw talent and could be molded into a star quarterback.

However, we have yet to see that star quarterback. Granted, Jackson wasn't a first-round prospect and some teams had hoped he would still be available in the third-round of the draft.

Jackson was suppose to be the future of the Vikings organization, a quarterback that would soak up all of Brad Childress' teachings and could hopefully one day lead the Vikings into the playoffs and a Super Bowl title.

The closest the Vikings have come to a Super Bowl was a 2009 NFC Championship game led by Brett Favre and thwarted by the New Orleans Saints overtime field goal.

While Jackson has peaked the interest of some teams looking to fill a hole at quarterback, I don't believe he has the ability to compete for a starting job and that once again he will find himself in the backup quarterback role.

According to reports from NFL.com, Jackson will sign with the Seattle Seahawks and will compete with incumbent backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst for the starting job.

Matt Leinart, QB

Matt Leinart was the quarterback poster child for the powerhouse of NCAA football, the University of Southern California, however his fortune took a turn for the worse after he entered the NFL.

Leinart was billed as the next Carson Palmer. Palmer was also a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback for USC, that went on to establish himself a top NFL quarterback with Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2004, Leinart lead the Trojans to a BCS National Title, while also picking up a Heisman Trophy along the way.

He entered the 2006 NFL draft and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with 10th overall selection, however he wouldn't get off to a good start.

Leinart was involved in a long contract dispute during the offseason and into training camp which, forced then Cardinals head coach Dennis Green to start veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner stumbled out of the gate and Leinart would go on to replace him for the rest of the season.

In his rookie season, Leinart put up solid stats. In the 11 games Leinart played, he threw for 2,547 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

However, Leinart's days on top would soon be short lived. His playing time with the Cardinals would decrease dramatically as Kurt Warner's resurgence proved fruitful.

Following the 2010 season, Leinart lost his starting job during training camp to Derek Anderson. Leinart would go on to sign with the Houston Texans as a backup to Texan quarterback Matt Schaub, but he would never touch the ball during the 2010 regular season.

It will be interesting to see if Leinart can make a comeback and prove all doubters wrong.

I believe Leinart will end up being just another USC player that was hyped up and overpaid way too much, only to prove that he couldn't cut it in the NFL.

Terrell Owens, WR

Terrell Owens in the epitome of overrated. The once talented wide receiver has been often described as a self-centered, egotistical player that places blame on everyone else rather than taking the heat himself.

As you can probably tell I don't have a fond place in my heart for the eccentricity of Terrell Owens.

During his first few years as a professional in the NFL, I was amazed at his incredible talent, and his gifted ability to catch the ball and make impressive plays. Over the past few years, I have seen him turn into a reality television star who is not out to win a championship, but more about how much money he can make.

Owens, had a stellar career while with the San Francisco 49ers, amassing 1,000 yards receiving in four consecutive seasons. He became a breakout star, and with this garnered the attention of the media for his often outlandish touchdown celebrations.

After a dispute with the front office staff of the 49ers, Owens was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles were along with quarterback Donovan McNabb finally got a taste of the possibility of winning a world championship.

However, the happiness in Philadelphia was short-lived. After demanding a new contract from the Eagles, Owens was suspended without pay for four games then deactivated for the rest of the 2005 season. He would be released by the Eagles in March 2006. Four days following his release he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys.

It was during his time in Dallas that the self-centered ego of Owens emerged. On several occasions he questioned why the ball wasn't through to him enough. Soon his relationship with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo began to deteriorate.

In 2009, Owens was let go by the Cowboys and once again he publicly placed blame on Romo and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for his release.

Over the next two seasons Owens would play for two different teams, the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. He has failed to reach 1,000 yards in receiving with either team.

As of right now, I don't know of a single team in the NFL that be willing to add Owens toxic and egocentric behavior to their locker room. There is no chance of a team willing to commit a long-term big money deal to a player who proved that he has lost the commitment of being a team player.