Jake Delhomme and the 15 Most Overpaid Players in the NFL

My NFL previews continue today with ranking the 15 most overpaid players in the NFL.

You have the case every year. Players don't live up to their contract in the previous seasons, or have recently gotten huge paydays that does bring some questions.

Jake Delhomme is arguably one of the most overpaid quarterbacks in the league, but does he sit on top of this list?

Feel free to give me your thoughts, and most importantly, give me a follow on twitter: http://twitter.com/MattMiselis

15. Derrick Ward

Derrick Ward rushed for over 1000 yards with the New York Giants in 2008, which propelled him to a bigger contract with another team.

He then signed a four-year, $17 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, in 2009 he reverted back to his play as a backup running back, only rushing for 409 yards and a touchdown.

14. Joey Porter

Since his days in Pittsburgh, Joey Porter has not been the same pass rusher he once was.

He left the Dolphins in bad terms, dealing with injuries and seeing the body slowing down.

The Arizona Cardinals must have been desperate to give Porter a three-year, $24.5 million deal with $17.5 million in guaranteed money.

13. JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell may not be in the league right now, but it still doesn't mean he isn't one of the league's most overpaid players.

Despite being released by the Raiders this year, Russell will be making near $10 million over the next three years.

That is a lot of money for a guy who will be sitting home and watching the NFL on Sundays.

12. Glenn Dorsey

Coming out of LSU, it seemed that a big future was in store for Dorsey.

However, he has been a disappointment thus far, and has made quite a few position changes as he switches different schemes.

Still, I can't feel bad for him. In 2008, he signed a five-year, $51 million contract with $23 million in guarantees.

Up to this point, Dorsey has two career sacks.

11. Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart will have his final shot at proving that he can be the future starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

He hasn't lived up to his contract when being drafted 10th overall in 2006.

The deal was six years, for $51 million.

10. Karlos Dansby

Karlos Dansby may be a solid inside linebacker, but he is not worth the contract the Miami Dolphins gave him.

Miami signed Dansby to a five year, $43 million contract with $22 million in guarantees ( second highest contract for ILB in NFL history).

OK, maybe there is an argument for him being a top-10 linebacker, but even then he isn't worth the large deal he received.

He isn't in the elite class such as Patrick Willis and others.

9. Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs has put fear into opposing linebackers the past few seasons.

However, injuries have continued to slow him down the past few years.

Still, Jacobs signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Giants.

Jacobs needs to return to form of a few seasons ago, or he may be jobless at the end of 2010.

8. Clinton Portis

Someone needs to explain this to me.

Since Clinton Portis was in his prime and signed his big contract in 2004, he has declined every year.

Well, I guess it's better to say he has been a locker-room problem in recent years and injuries have continued to kill him.

He is still in his contract of eight years, $50.5 million, and is fine in the situation he is currently in.

7. Bob Sanders

I hate to be the one that picks on NFL players whose careers have declined due to injury.

But we can't ignore the fact that Sanders signed a contract in 2007, making him the highest paid safety in the history of the NFL.

A few years ago, he was arguably the best safety in the league. Injuries have continued to take a toll on him, and every season there are rumors of Sanders being cut by the Colts.

Sanders signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with $20 million guaranteed.

6. Antonio Bryant

Antonio Bryant has bumped around quite a few NFL teams. However, after having one good year in Tampa Bay, the Bengals gave him a four-year deal worth about $28 million (and possibly more with incentives).

What has happened? Bryant has faced trouble recovering from a knee operation, and has seen the Bengals sign Terrell Owens to replace him on the depth chart.

5. Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers is a good player, and when at his best, is one of the NFL's elite pass rushers.

However, his new contract with the Bears smells like a 2010 version of Albert Haynesworth.

I won't rule out him having success within the next few years. But Peppers has had a questionable work ethic, and with $42 million guaranteed over the next three years of a six-year $91.5 million contract, don't be surprised if you are disappointed with the big investment, Bears fans.

4. Matt Cassel

Matt Cassel is continuing to prove every NFL fan that he is a product of the Bill Belichick system.

Cassel dealt with injuries and, as a result of playing around a bad team, played poorly, finishing 4-11 as a starter in 2009.

Cassel signed a six-year, $63 million contract, $28 million guaranteed.

I had my doubts of Cassel not being able to succeed in Kansas City before the trade from New England, and nothing has changed up to this point.

3. Jake Delhomme

After being released by the Panthers, Jake Delhomme signed a two-year deal with the Browns, in which he would receive $7 million this season.

But that isn't all. Here is a quote from ESPN as to how much money Delhomme will make this season: "ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter first reported the deal, and a source told Schefter that Delhomme is scheduled to make $7 million this season, including just under $900,000 in base salary. With $12.7 million from Carolina, Delhomme will make $19.7 million in 2010."

This is all for a quarterback who has faced multiple surgeries, and is in a serious decline as a quarterback.

If he couldn't hang around last year in Carolina, no one knows how he could survive the whole year in 2010.

2. Sam Bradford

It doesn't matter if Sam Bradford is a rookie.

He is the most overpaid quarterback in the league right now, and it will stay this way for many seasons.

Bradford agreed to a six-year, $78 million deal, that has $50 million guaranteed and can reach up to $86 million dollars in incentives.

So basically, I am being told he is making more than the elite quarterbacks (Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, to name a few).

I haven't cared for Bradford as a pro prospect, and it may be tough to see him have success in St. Louis for the next few years.

1. Albert Haynesworth

There is no question of Albert Haynesworth is the most overpaid player in the NFL today.

He signed a seven-year, $100 million contract last season with the Washington Redskins.

ESPN reported that the front-loaded deal pays Haynesworth $32 million in the first 13 months of its duration and includes $41 million guaranteed and has the potential to reach $115 with incentives.

This is all for a guy who has a poor work ethic, and based on the past two seasons, has shown he is all about the money.

Head coach Mike Shanahan did a good job of making an example of Haynesworth, but even Big Al couldn't care less.