2012 NFL Free Agents: Underrated Acquisitions Who Will Have a Major Impact

The biggest free-agent acquisitions aren't always the ones that have the biggest impact on their new teams the following season. 

Last year, everyone was wondering what the Houston Texans would do to upgrade their secondary. The most coveted free-agent on the market was Nnamdi Asomugha. They intelligently passed on the more expensive Asomugha and signed Johnathan Joseph. In 2011, he had four interceptions for a vastly improved Texans defense. 

Sometimes, the huge splashes don't have the positive ripple effect everyone expects. Just ask the Washington Redskins. 

These three more underrated signees will have a major impact on their new teams in 2012. 

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals did a great job drafting two quality receivers to add to Andy Dalton's arsenal, but they still need to run the football to be a well-balanced club. 

Green-Ellis isn't a home run hitter, but he's tough between the tackles, is durable and doesn't fumble. In 2010 and 2011 combined, he compiled 1,675 and 24 touchdowns in the New England Patriots' pass-happy offense. 

Green-Ellis will fit right in as Cincinnati's feature back in the hard-hitting AFC North. 

To set up play-action passes down the field to A.J. Green, the Bengals will establish the run with this underrated and powerful back. 

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins 

With Robert Griffin III running the show in D.C., he'll need his most talented wide receivers to get open as frequently as possible. 

While Santana Moss may be more established than Garcon, the former Indianapolis Colts wideout is younger and can certainly stretch the field with his deceptive speed and acceleration. 

Garcon set career highs in receptions and receiving yards last season without Peyton Manning throwing him the football. He'll be 26 when the season begins, so by all accounts, he's entering the prime of his career.

Don't be surprised if he's RG3's favorite option by midseason. 

Richard Marshall, CB, Miami Dolphins

Marshall is a young, talented and efficient cornerback wo hasn't received a ton of publicity in his career. A lot of that was due to the fact that he was playing on a disappointing Cardinals team in Arizona.

B/R's Matt Miller listed him as the No. 14 cornerback in his famed BR1000 rankings.

Marshall had 69 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions for the Cardinals last season. 

The Dolphins already have one of the league's more underrated defenses, and he should team up with Vontae Davis and Sean Smith to formulate one of the more physically impressive and athletic secondaries in the AFC. 

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