2012 NFL Free Agents: Overrated Players Teams Must Avoid

While NFL free agency has cooled off considerably since Peyton Manning decided to take his talents to Denver, there are still a few big-name players left out there who could draw some interest. 

Not all players need to get a contract. Sure, there is a chance they have a good year of production in their bodies. However, given their recent track record of injury and/or poor performance, it would be foolish to waste money on them. 

Here are the most overrated players remaining on the free-agent market who shouldn't expect to get work.

Andre Carter, Defensive End

Carter's 2011 season was cut short due to injuries, but he was having one of the most productive seasons of his career with the New England Patriots prior to that with 10 sacks in 14 games. 

Given the way that teams value sacks and speed off the edge, you would think Carter would have been snatched up by now. However, he will be 33 in May and was a bust in Washington the previous year, so it makes sense that teams would be reluctant to grab him. 

Carter can work on his rehab to get back to 100 percent before making any decisions. Injuries are going to happen, which will give him more leverage when he does go somewhere. 

Cedric Benson, Running Back

Unlike Carter, Benson should just stay away from the NFL. More specifically, NFL teams should stay away from him. He is not a bad running back, per se. He just doesn't do enough to justify being on a team, and his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. 

It is not that hard to fill the running back position. Benson is 29 years old, wore down in the second half of the season and never runs with any desire or passion. He is content to just get by.

Teams know all the headaches that come with Benson, and that will be a big deterrent to him continuing his career in the NFL. 

Aaron Maybin, Linebacker

It is sad to say that an NFL player's career is over at 24 years old, but Maybin looks like one of the biggest busts in recent draft history. He was overrated coming out of Penn State in the first place, which unfairly raised expectations. 

Here he sits, on the open market with nothing to do but wait by the phone. Maybin is going to have to go begging for an NFL job in order for anyone to realize he is available. 

You can root for him to succeed, but right now it doesn't appear there will be many suitors for his services this year. 

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