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The overrated player from every NFL team. Who was the overrated player from each NFL franchise
Every NFL Team's Most Overrated Player of All Time
Every team has one player who has always been regarded as a more successful NFL player than their statistics show. While these players were not “bad” by any stretch, history remembers them more fondly.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald, WR
While Larry Fitzgerald enjoyed one of the longest successful careers as a wide receiver, he received his honors as a compiler. Fitzgerald was the definition of consistency, but he was never a top wide receiver in football. Fitzgerald only caught double-digit touchdowns in five of his 17 seasons. He also never led the league in receiving yards and fell under the century mark in eight seasons.
Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan, QB
Matt Ryan was a franchise icon in Atlanta for most of the 2000s. While Ryan enjoyed a successful career in Atlanta, he was never able to win the big game and emerge as one of the league’s top QBs. He only won one MVP award (this was the only season he ever received MVP votes) and he never led the league in passing scores and yards. In addition, Ryan was never viewed on the level of other QBs of his generation, such as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees.
Baltimore Ravens
Trent Dilfer, QB
Trent Dilfer is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback but is quite overrated. During the 2000 season, Dilfer was carried by one of the best defensive units in NFL history. During this season, Dilfer posted a modest 12:11 TD:INT. Throughout his 13-year NFL career, Dilfer has posted an underwhelming 3.6 percent TD rate and a 5.5 percent INT rate.
Buffalo Bills
Andre Reed, WR
It is hard to call a Hall of Fame wide receiver “overrated.” Reed was never the best wide receiver during his prime. Reed played alongside several top wideouts like Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice, and Chris Carter, all considered better wide receivers than Reed. Reed never led the NFL in receiving yards and scores. Across a 17-game average, he only posted a modest 959 yards per season.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton, QB
Cam Newton entered the NFL with high expectations after being drafted with the first overall pick out of Auburn. While he led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50 (and won the MVP that season), he never found consistent success after this campaign. After his impressive 2015 campaign, Newton would post a modest 60.4 percent completion rate and a 3.7 percent TD rate.
Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler, QB
Jay Cutler enjoyed several winning seasons during his time in Chicago but was never able to produce consistently. He led the NFL in interceptions twice and held an overall 154:109 TD:INT in Chicago. He posted an overall 51-51 record but was never able to lead the Bears to postseason success.
Cincinnati Bengals
Chad Johnson, WR
Chad Johnson would be considered overrated mainly because of his lack of success in the postseason, like several names on this list. During two postseason games in Cincinnati, Johnson caught just six passes for no touchdowns. High-end wide receivers always step up on the biggest stage. In addition, Johnson only led the NFL in receiving yards once and caught five or less scores in four seasons.
Cleveland Browns
Josh Cribbs, WR
While Josh Cribbs was a high-end performer on special teams, he was never able to translate this production to the offensive side of the ball. Unlike other high-end kick/punt returns of this era like Devin Hester and DeSean Jackson, Cribbs only caught 200 or more receiving yards twice in his career. In addition, he only scored nine TDs (seven receiving) on the offensive side of the ball during his career.
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo, QB
Tony Romo was a very successful regular-season quarterback in Dallas. During his career, he posted an impressive 78-49 record and averaged 3,725 passing yards and 27 passing scores per season. However, Romo was never able to translate this success to the postseason. In the playoffs, Romo posted a 2-4 record and was never able to lead Dallas back to the Super Bowl.
Denver Broncos
Tim Tebow, QB
Tim Tebow took the league by storm when he led the Denver Broncos to an improbable overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the postseason. However, he lost 45-10 to the New England Patriots the following week. He was then demoted to a backup with the New York Jets and was out of the league the following season. Tebow showed flashes of potential at times, but his poor decision-making limited his production.
Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford, QB
While Matthew Stafford eventually won a Lombardi Trophy in Los Angeles, he was never able to take Detroit to the promise land. In Detroit, Stafford threw 12 INT per season with just 24 passing scores per season. During his 12 seasons in Detroit, Stafford only made one Pro Bowl. Even during his Super Bowl campaign in Los Angeles, he led the league in INTs.
Green Bay Packers
Clay Matthews, ILB
Clay Matthews enjoyed a great NFL career, but he was never the best at his position during his prime. Matthews never led the NFL in sacks and only tallied more than 13 sacks in one season. In addition, he was only named first-team All-Pro once and never came close to the production of other elite edge rushers of his generation, such as Von Miller and Khalil Mack.
Houston Texans
Arian Foster, RB
Arian Foster is the greatest running back in Houston Texans history, but is quite overrated when looking at other running backs during his prime. Foster enjoyed a relatively short “prime” as he was only viewed as a top running back for five seasons. He only made the Pro Bowl four times during this stretch and was only named first-team All-Pro once.
Indianapolis Colts
Edgerrin James, RB
Calling a Hall of Fame running back overrated may seem like a poor take, but James benefited greatly from playing alongside Peyton Manning. With the Colts having several elite wideouts in Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, James was able to produce in a favorable setting. Despite this, he only made the Pro Bowl four times and only scored double-digit touchdowns four times (in 11 seasons).
Jacksonville Jaguars
David Garrard, QB
David Gerrard enjoyed a successful season leading the Jaguars to the postseason, but he was never able to carry that success during his career. Following his strong campaign in 2007, Garrard posted a 20-26 record over his final three seasons. During this stretch, he held a modest 18:13 TD:INT per season and made just one Pro Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe, WR
Dwayne Bowe flashed high upside during the first five seasons of his NFL career as he averaged 987 yards and seven scores per season. He led the NFL in receiving TDs (15) during the 2010 season. However, over the final five seasons of his career, Bowe saw his production take a significant dip as he tallied just 688 yards per season with 13 total TDs over this span.
Las Vegas Raiders
Ken Stabler, QB
Ken Stabler is a Super Bowl champion and, more importantly, a Hall of Fame quarterback. However, Stabler was never one of the elite quarterbacks of his generation but was instead carried by an elite defense and top-tier running backs. During his career, Stabler never led the NFL in passing yards and posted an overall 59.8 percent completion rate.
Los Angeles Chargers
Philip Rivers, QB
Philip Rivers enjoyed a long and successful NFL career but was never able to lead the Chargers to playoff success. Rivers was only able to make one appearance in an AFC Championship game and lost it. During his prime, he was always in the shadow of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. Rivers only led the NFL in passing yards once.
Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurley, RB
Todd Gurley looked like a rising star but was never able to enjoy extended success. During his first four seasons, Gurley averaged 1,137 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores per season. However, after this strong start, Gurley would never rush for over 900 yards in a single season over his final two campaigns. While he showed a small window of elite upside, he struggled to stay on the field due to injures.
Miami Dolphins
Bob Griese, QB
Bob Griese was a two-time first-team All-Pro but was never a true elite option at his position during his prime. Griese had the benefit of playing on dominant Miami teams that leaned heavily on their rushing attack. He never led the NFL in passing and only led the league in passing scores once. In addition, he held a career 56.2 percent completion rate.
Minnesota Vikings
Fran Tarkenton, QB
Fran Tarkenton is another Hall of Fame quarterback on this list. However, like other previous names, he was never able to win the big game. Tarkenton reached the Super Bowl three times but fell short in all three games. In addition, he only led the NFL in passing yards once and averaged 18 interceptions per season.
New England Patriots:
Julian Edelman, WR
While there is no doubt that Julian Edelman was a clutch performer for one of the greatest dynasties in professional sports, Edelman was never an elite wide receiver. The three-time Super Bowl champion never made the Pro Bowl and only caught 100 passes or more in two of his 11 NFL seasons. Edelman also only caught six or more TDs in four campaigns.
New Orleans Saints
Reggie Bush, RB
Reggie Bush entered the NFL with high expectations, being drafted with the second overall pick. In New Orleans, Bush flashed occasional upside, but was never able to enjoy it over an extended period. Across five seasons in New Orleans, Bush scored just 17 rushing scores and posted a modest 4.0 YPA.
New York Giants
Eli Manning, QB
Even though Eli Manning defeated Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl, his overall career was quite overrated. Manning led the league in interceptions three times and only threw 30 passing scores in a single campaign three times. He held a modest 60.3 percent completion rate and only made two Pro Bowls. He was never nominated for All-Pro honors as well.
New York Jets
Joe Namath, QB
Joe Namath’s Super Bowl victory changed the course of American football, but as a football player, Namath was overrated. Following his Super Bowl victory, Namath would only throw for over 2,000 passing yards in three of his final eight campaigns. During this stretch, he led the league in interceptions twice and only made one Pro Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles
LeSean McCoy, RB
LeSean McCoy enjoyed an impressive start to his career but was very ineffective during his final seasons. After rushing for 6,792 yards and 44 scores during six seasons in Philadelphia, McCoy would score just 29 rushing TDs over his final six seasons. During his final six campaigns, McCoy would make just three Pro Bowls and never receive any All-Pro honors.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jerome Bettis, RB
Jerome Bettis was a strong power running back during his NFL career, but did not enjoy many truly elite campaigns. He only scored double-digit rushing touchdowns twice and was only named first-team All-Pro twice. For a Hall of Fame running back, these numbers are quite low. He also posted a career 3.9 YPA, which is very low in comparison to other Hall of Fame running backs.
San Francisco 49ers
Frank Gore, RB
Similar to Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore enjoyed longevity but was never an elite running back. Gore made only five Pro Bowls during his 16-year NFL career. He was never named first-team All-Pro and only made second-team honors once. He never led the NFL in rushing yards or scores. His season-high rushing total was just 1,695 yards in which he set in 2006.
Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson, QB
Russell Wilson had the benefit of playing with one of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Wilson led the Seahawks to two straight Super Bowl appearances but was only able to win one. He only led the league in passing scores once and never led the league in passing. In addition, after these two Super Bowl runs, Wilson saw his production steadily decline.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derrick Brooks, ILB
While Derrick Brooks enjoyed a fantastic NFL career, he was never the best at his position. During his prime, he always played in Ray Lewis’ shadow. In addition, Washington linebacker London Fletcher was also considered just as elite as Brooks was. Brooks did win a Super Bowl, but he only led the league in combined tackles once. While Brooks is no doubt deserving of his Hall of Fame honors, he never reached Lewis’ impact and production.
Tennessee Titans
Vince Young, QB
Vince Young carried high expectations into his NFL career after being drafted third overall. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Young was never able to continue his success. Over his final five seasons, he posted a 34:38 TD:INT and averaged just 1,353 yards per season. He made just one Pro Bowl after his rookie season.
Washington Commanders
Robert Griffin III, QB
Robert Griffin III looked like the next franchise QB after his rookie season. However, in the playoffs during that season, he suffered a knee injury that hindered his career. Even when he returned to the field, he was never able to recapture his previous success. After his rookie season, he never made the Pro Bowl and threw for a combined 6,071 passing yards over his final six seasons.
