Jake Delhomme & the 15 Most Overpriced Players in the NFL Today

The NFL lockout continues to drag on as players and fans are hopeful that the season will start on time this year, but while the players would like to get back on the field, no one should be worried about the current unemployment of the league's stars. 

There were plenty of players who had hefty salaries last season, and while many were deserving of their big contracts, there was also plenty of players who were not deserving.

The Washington Redskins were the biggest offenders when it came to shelling out big bucks to guys who failed to produce, and to players who were more of a problem than the solution.

Here is a look at 15 of the NFL's most overpriced players.

Clinton Portis

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 03: Clinton Portis #26 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 3, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Portis made over $7.5 million last season for the Redskins, but he was cut in February and now he will be looking for work once the lockout ends.

Portis ran for a whopping 227 yards and two touchdowns last season as just one of many overpaid veterans playing for the Skins.

For the second time during his career, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan got rid of of the former Miami star, he traded Portis to the Skins from the Broncos for Champ Bailey back in 2004.

Albert Haynesworth

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins stands on the sidelines during preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona

Haynesworth is still cashing in on the $100 million contract that he signed with the Redskins after coming over from the Titans.

The defensive tackle has done much more harm than good during his time in Washington but he will still be laughing all the way to the bank.

There should be little argument that Haynesworth is the most overpaid player in the league today.

Chester Taylor

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Chester Taylor #29 of the Chicago Bears runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Taylor made $7 million last season for the Bears to backup Matt Forte at running back.

Taylor ran for just 267 yards and three touchdowns, which isn't all that great even for a backup by today's standards, let alone one making as much money as he is.

Carson Palmer

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Carson Palmer says he would rather retire then play quarterback for the Bengals this season and based on the amount of money he made just last season alone, retirement will probably go just fine for the former Heisman Trophy winner.

Palmer made over $10 million last season while throwing 20 interceptions, some of which cost the Bengals a few wins last year.

Miles Austin

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Miles Austin #19 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Miles Austin is a very good NFL receiver, but I would not classify him as an elite receiver, and he is making elite receiver money.

Austin was scheduled to make a little over $17 million last season, that's more than both Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald combined.

Austin isn't on this list because he is a bad player, but because he is making far more than he should be when you compare him to the other top players at his position.

Matthew Stafford

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 05: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions sits on the sideline during the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on December 5, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bears defeated the Lions 24-20. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Stafford may $12 million last season despite attempting just 96 passes on the year due to injury.

The young signal-caller has been injury prone early in his career and if he is able to stay healthy than he will more then likely come close to justifying his salary, but it's hard to do right now when he hasn't been on the field all that much.

Deion Branch

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Wide receiver Deion Branch #84 of the New England Patriots celebrates a first down during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo

Branch made almost $5.5 million last season and although he was productive during his move back to the Pats, that is a lot of money to pay a receiver who is not a true No. 1 option.

Branch caught 48 passes for 706 yards and five touchdowns last year, as he showed a renewed energy after leaving Seattle to return to New England.

Reggie Bush

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints in action during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Many Saints fans will disagree but I believe Bush has been a disappointment thus far in his career, particularly when it comes to running the football.

Bush has been an effective return man for the Saints and active in the passing game, but does that justify a salary of $8 million a year?

I don't think so.

Darren Sproles

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Running back Darren Sproles #43 of the San Diego Chargers rushes against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 33-28. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Gett

Sproles is another overpriced running back who has done some good things in his career but who was making far too much money last season.

Sproles made over $6.5 million last year, but he was ineffective on special teams and not much of a help in any other area.

There is a good possibility he will be looking for a new team when the lockout ends, and it is too bad because he appears to have lost the dynamite ability that he once had.

Jake Delhomme

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns readies to pass against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo won 13-6. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Delhomme made more than $7 million last season for the Browns while he spent most of the season not actually on the field.

Delhomme attempted just 149 passes and he threw many more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (two) last season for Cleveland.

His best days are clearly behind him even if his big paychecks are not.

Kareem Jackson

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans avoids a tackle after intercepting a pass by Mario Manningham #82 of the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. The Giants defeated the Texans 34-10. (Ph

Technically the entire Texans secondary was overpriced last season given how terrible they were but I'm going to single out their rookie corner Kareem Jackson.

Jackson showed improvement as the season wore on but still not enough improvement to justify the guaranteed $10 million he made.

Kerry Collins

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Kerry Collins #5 of the Tennessee Titans throws a pass during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Collins wasn't terrible for the Titans last season, but he wasn't that good either, and he certainly was not as good as his $7 million salary warrants.

Collins completed just over 57 percent of his passes while throwing 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions in relief of Vince Young last year.

Ronnie Brown

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Running back Ronnie Brown #23 of the Miami Dolphins is upended by the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Brown's $5 million salary last season was yet another case of an overpriced running back who has seen better days.

Brown ran for just 3.7 yards per carry last season while finding the end zone five times on 200 carries. At 29 years of age, Brown is entering the final years of is NFL career.

Johnathan Joseph

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 21: Fred Jackson #22 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball while defended by Johnathan Joseph #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bills won 49-21.

Joseph is another good, but overpriced player because of the fact that he is making more than some of the game's elite players at his position.

Joseph made over $8 million last season to play corner for the Bengals, who appear to be running a close second behind the Skins in poor contract decisions.

Julius Peppers

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears reacts while taking on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Peppers is a stud, there is no denying that, but there are few players in the league who are deserving a $90 million contract and the Bears defensive end is not one of them.

Peppers did record eight sacks in his first season in Chicago last year and he definitely made his presence felt, but that is just way too much money to pay a defensive lineman in the league today.