NFL’s Most Overrated Players of 2024, The NFL is full of players who receive more hype than production, and the 2024 season has revealed several glaring examples of reputation outpacing performance. After analyzing game film, advanced metrics, and contract value, we’ve identified seven players whose actual impact falls far short of their perceived value. These aren’t just underperformers—they’re actively hurting their teams while still being discussed among the league’s elite.
Defining NFL Overrated Status
Before presenting our selections, let’s establish the criteria:
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Significant gap between reputation and production
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Contract value exceeding on-field impact
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Media/fan perception outpacing reality
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Negative impact on team success
According to research from NFL Newsz, overrated players typically share:
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82% have made multiple Pro Bowls in past 3 years
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67% play premium positions (QB, WR, EDGE, CB)
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91% have signature endorsement deals
1. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Decline:
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YPC: 4.6 (2023) → 3.4 (2024)
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Broken Tackles: 58 → 12 (through Week 8)
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Pass Block Grade: 78.1 → 42.3
Contract vs. Production:
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$14.8M cap hit (RB2)
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RB38 in yards from scrimmage
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Packers offense better with AJ Dillon
Why Overrated: Name recognition keeps him in “elite RB” conversations
2. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
The Reality Check:
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Completion % Allowed: 58% → 67%
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Passer Rating Against: 72.3 → 98.1
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TDs Allowed: 1 → 4 (already)
Advanced Metrics:
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Yards per coverage snap: 0.92 (CB48)
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Missed tackle %: 14.3 (worst among starting CBs)
Market Perception: Still discussed as “best CB in football”
3. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
The Chronic Underperformer:
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Yards/Game: 51.2 → 42.8
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Drops: 3 → 5 (through 8 games)
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Red Zone Targets: 18 → 4
Draft Position vs. Reality:
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Drafted 4th overall (2021)
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0 Pro Bowls
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Never top-10 TE in any major category
Why Overrated: “Unicorn” label persists despite ordinary production
4. Trey Lance, QB, Dallas Cowboys
The Developmental Disaster:
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Passer Rating: 38.7 in relief duty
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YPA: 4.1
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Turnover-Worthy Plays: 3 on 42 attempts
Trade Fallout:
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Cost Cowboys 2023 1st-round pick
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Now QB3 behind Cooper Rush
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49ers thriving with Purdy
Why Overrated: “Potential” still discussed over actual play
5. Chase Young, EDGE, Washington Commanders
The Invisible Man:
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Pressures: 56 (2023) → 19 (2024 pace)
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Run Stop %: 8.1 → 3.4
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Sacks: 7.5 → 2.0 (pace)
Contract Context:
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$17.5M franchise tag
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EDGE50 in win rate
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Being outplayed by rookie Andre Carter
Why Overrated: 2020 DPOY hype still influences perception
6. Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys
The Big Play Liability:
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Completion % Allowed: 59% → 68%
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Yards/Completion: 12.1 → 16.8
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Penalties: 1 → 6 (through 8 games)
Ball Hawk Myth:
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2021 INTs were outlier (11 vs career avg of 3)
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Allowing 18.3 yards per INT target (worst in NFL)
Why Overrated: Name recognition outweighs coverage flaws
7. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The Age Cliff:
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YPC: 4.2 → 3.5
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Breakaway Runs: 12 → 1
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Pass Game Usage: 4.3 targets/game → 1.1
Contract vs. Committee:
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$8M cap hit
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Losing snaps to Justice Hill
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Ravens run game more efficient without him
Why Overrated: “King Henry” mystique persists despite decline
Why These Players Remain Overvalued
Highlight Reel Bias
5 of 7 still make “Top 10 Plays” weekly
3 have signature celebrations that outshine play
Fantasy Football Distortion
4 remain fantasy starters despite poor efficiency
2 are “brand names” drafted too early
Media Narrative Inertia
All 7 still featured in national ad campaigns
5 regularly appear on pregame shows
The Financial Impact of Overrated Players
Worst Contracts Relative to Production
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Chase Young ($17.5M for 2 sacks)
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Josh Jacobs ($14.8M for 3.4 YPC)
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Kyle Pitts ($8.2M for TE18 production)
Dead Cap Nightmares Coming
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Henry: $5M dead cap if cut in 2025
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Diggs: $19M dead cap in 2025
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Young: $0 dead cap (blessing in disguise)
Teams Hurt Most by Overrated Players
Green Bay Packers
Jacobs’ contract preventing OL upgrades
Denver Broncos
Surtain not living up to “lockdown” reputation
Atlanta Falcons
Pitts’ draft cost passed on Jamarr Chase NFL’s Most Overrated Players of 2024
How to Spot Overrated Players Before Everyone Else
Scouts look for:
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Declining Athletic Metrics (GPS speed, burst scores)
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Scheme Dependency (Production tied to specific systems)
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Volume Over Efficiency (Big stats from excessive touches)
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Age Curves (RB/WR over 28, CB over 30 especially)
Why This Matters for NFL Fans
Recognizing overrated players helps:
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Fantasy managers avoid sunk costs
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Betting markets properly value teams
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Front offices make tough roster decisions
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Media narratives focus on reality over hype
The Bounceback Candidates
Not all hope is lost—some could rebound:
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Surtain with better pass rush
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Pitts with competent QB play
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Young if healthy (big if)
Read More: NFL’s Biggest Disappointments of 2024: Star Players and Teams Crashing Back to Earth
Final Verdict: Reputation vs. Reality
NFL’s Most Overrated Players of 2024, While casual fans and national media continue promoting these players as stars, the film and metrics reveal stark declines. Teams clinging to past reputations rather than current production are paying the price in the standings.
For more unfiltered NFL analysis and reality checks on player performance, visit NFL Newsz—your source for football truth beyond the hype.
Which player do you think is most overrated? Who did we miss? Join the debate in the comments!
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