2015 NFL Free Agents: Underrated Names Set to Have Major Impact on Market

Go ahead and focus on Ndamukong Suh, DeMarco Murray and other top names. 

While doing so, though, understand that some of the most underrated names on the market are set to create massive ripple effects on everyone involved.

Whether it's an underrated defender coming off the board and ruining the bargain plans of many a franchise or an underrated offensive contributor getting paid like a steal and driving the price up on all others, the market is ripe with not-so-obvious star names.

Many times the biggest free-agency names aren't the solution most thought they would be, but currently unheralded players such as those detailed below work out and change how each team approaches the market.

Pernell McPhee, LB

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Look at Pernell McPhee out of Baltimore.

The Ravens cannot afford to pay the Mississippi State product, but one team is going to swoop in and score a major steal while others attempt to throw the house at Jerry Hughes, possibly Greg Hardy and other more recognizable names.

Their loss.

McPhee is only 26 years old, but just last season he ranked as the No. 2 3-4 outside linebacker in 2014 at Pro Football Focus and tallied 7.5 sacks. ESPN's Louis Riddick hits the nail on the head concerning McPhee's strange market:

Linebackers close to their prime who can already be considered borderline elite—with plenty of time to grow further as a player—don't hit the open market all that often.

McPhee is there but continues to be overshadowed. That's great for a team with a need, and McPhee's exit from the market will do nothing short of seriously hurting the teams that counted on him as a backup plan.

He's the furthest thing from a backup.

Cecil Shorts, WR

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Don't sleep on what Cecil Shorts can do in a new locale after a trip to the market this offseason.

The numbers are deceptive with Shorts given his four-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars:

SEASON	REC	TGTS	YDS	TD
2011	2	12	30	1
2012	55	106	979	7
2013	66	125	777	3
2014	53	110	557	1

That is a marriage that will assuredly be put to permanent rest soon if recent comments by Shorts are any indication, per Fox Sports: NFL

The red flag with Shorts is obviously his health given the fact he has never appeared in a full 16-game season. That will drive the asking price down, though, which makes the Mount Union product one of the market's more interesting names.

Shorts is an unbelievable bargain whose 2012 numbers clearly show he could be something special in the right offense. Said offense will come calling while others fight for "bigger" names such as Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, Michael Crabtree and Percy Harvin.

The losers of those sweepstakes won't have a shot at Shorts and will instead have to resort to bigger gambles.

Dan Williams, DT 

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Dan Williams is not close to household-name status, which is quite a shame considering he is one of the better defensive tackles in the league.

Williams is smack-dab in his prime at 27 years old after five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com points out, Bruce Arians and Co. may not have the funds to keep the Tennessee product in town:

One of the league's best run-stuffing tackles, Williams ranked tied for 14th overall at his position last year at Pro Football Focus. Only seven names ranked ahead of him against the rush.

It's easy to focus on Suh, Nick Fairley, Terrance Knighton and others, but Williams is a name quietly heating up. Washington has an interest, per Kevin Sheehan of ESPN 980, and others are sure to come out of the woodwork as the market's opening nears.

Once Williams is off the market, tackle-needy teams need to overpay for recognizable names or gamble on lesser-known ones.

Ryan Mathews, RB

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It's borderline silly how many quality running backs are set to hit the open market.

Forget the big names such as Murray and C.J. Spiller. Think about solid rotational contributors such as Justin Forsett, Frank Gore, Shane Vereen, Roy Helu, Reggie Bush, Ahmad Bradshaw, Pierre Thomas, Darren McFadden, Steven Jackson and more.

One name flying under the radar? Ryan Mathews.

There hasn't been much of anything about Mathews just yet, which is strange given his productivity when healthy:

SEASON	GP	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
2010	12	158	678	4.3	7
2011	14	222	1,091	4.9	6
2012	12	184	707	3.8	1
2013	16	285	1,255	4.4	6
2014	6	74	330	4.5	3

As revealed last month by Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, teams such as the San Francisco 49ers view Mathews as a backup plan:

The thing is other teams may not be so inclined to wait around in today's committee approach.

Mathews can help in all phases, making him an ideal committee member. He's a fluid receiver when asked, hence his 50 receptions on 59 targets for 455 yards in 2011. The owner of a career 4.4 per-carry average, the team that elects to preserve Mathews' body as a rotational player will get him playing at a high level for a long time.

For teams that choose to look elsewhere, Mathews' coming off the market removes a reliable contributor.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 8. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.