2012 NFL Free Agency: 5 Most Overrated Players Available

For teams outside of the NFL playoff picture, 2012 free agency looms large as a method for improvement during the offseason.

This year's free-agent class offers team-changing talent at the skill positions, which will make for an exciting spring and summer for fans.

Established stars like Arian Foster, Matt Forte and Dwayne Bowe are all scheduled to be free agents in 2012. Others, like Jermichael Finley, will be searching for a large pay raise. 

Pooling from the 2012 class, here are the most overrated free agents in the NFL. 

DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson is a marquee talent capable of putting people in the seats solely for his ability to break long, scoring plays on offense and in special teams.

However, trends in his output show troubling signs going into the tipping point of his NFL career.

Jackson had a monster 2009 with 1,167 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Since that year, Jackson's yards have decreased both in 2010 and this season, barring a record outburst in Week 17.

This is despite being surrounded with better weapons in Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy during the previous two seasons.

The biggest issue with Jackson being a concrete No.1 guy is his playing style. He is either open or he is not.

Guys like Calvin Johnson can go up and make catches even when being closely covered.

Jackson, on the other hand, lacks the size to make catches in traffic, leaving his value embedded only in his elite speed. 

It will be interesting to see if the Philadelphia Eagles hold on to the services of Jackson over the spring and summer. Given his skill set, Jackson's best fit appears to be right where he currently resides. 

Marshawn Lynch

When Marshawn Lynch turns into "Beast Mode," there are few backs in the NFL who can match his tackle-breaking prowess.

Lynch broke out during last year's playoffs with a breathtaking run that sealed the fate of the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round.

That run served as a springboard for the 2011 season, as Lynch has produced a career-high 1,118 yards rushing through 15 weeks.

However, the Seattle Seahawks and other teams alike should never pay for a player's best season.

In 2009 and 2010, Lynch rushed for 450 and 737 yards respectively. Part of that was injury. Most of that was ineffectiveness, as Lynch averaged just 3.7 yards per carry during that time.
 
The Buffalo Bills considered Lynch to be inferior to undrafted running back Fred Jackson and first-round speedster C.J. Spiller.

The ideal home for Lynch appears to be right in Seattle. Be forewarned, though, Seahawks fans. 2011 could be the best you get from "Beast Mode."  

Vincent Jackson

The season-by-season numbers for Vincent Jackson are undeniable.

In three of the last four years, Jackson has accrued more than 1,000 yards receiving.

What makes Jackson overrated is his game-to-game output.

Take the San Diego Chargers' first six games in 2011 for instance. Jackson's yardage totals were 31, 172, 63, 108, 34 and 15, respectively.

His production is all over the map, putting into question his value as a No.1 receiver.

Teams will be fighting hard for the services of Jackson over the offseason.

However, he has yet to convince critics that, when the chips are down, Jackson is capable of catching passes in spite of double teams and tough defense.



 

Peyton Hillis

Cleveland Browns wrecking ball Peyton Hillis is the worst player to ever grace the Madden cover.

Hopefully that will be the last time a fan vote determines the face of the best football game ever made, but I digress.

On the field, Hillis has accounted for just one good season.

In 2010, the bruiser rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 scores.

In his other three campaigns, Hillis averaged 318 yards per season on the ground. That is hardly the stuff of a lead back for any NFL franchise.

Moreover, Hillis is nagged with injuries that held him to just nine starts in 15 games so far this season.

Hillis is the ideal short-yardage back, capable of substituting in at certain opportunities when just a couple yards are needed.

However, Hillis and his agent will seek more than that on the market. Potential bidders would be wise to avoid investing too much money in the glorified fullback.  

Cortland Finnegan

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan has been known as the shutdown corner for the Tennessee Titans for about five seasons.

The problem is that Finnegan is not fit for No.1 corner status.

The seventh-round draft pick has more than outperformed expectations throughout his young career in the NFL. However, Finnegan's size limits his potential as the best corner on any given roster.

At 5'9" and 177 pounds, Finnegan gets overmatched versus physical receivers such as Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans. Johnson has 1,123 yards over 15 games against the Titans in his career.

Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts has more than 1,000 yards in his career versus the Titans as well. Against the elite pass-catchers, Finnegan struggles to hold his ground.

As a result, Finnegan is best served as a No. 2 corner for defenses looking to upgrade this offseason.