3 NFL players who could get overpaid in 2024 Free Agency

Teams overpaying players happens every single season, and this year's NFL free agency period will be no different. Which three players could get overpaid? With free agency creeping up toward us, teams have already begun and will continue to deploy cap-creating methods to not only erase their cap overage, but also to create even more cap space.

Notably, the free agent running back market is quite deep this year, and there could be some opportunity for teams to gamble and perhaps make the wrong move if they pay a running back. The free agent QB class appears pretty deep, and I think if teams are searching for help along the defensive front, they could find some help there.

Among all of the free agents in the 2024 cycle, which three could be the most overpaid?

3 NFL players who could get overpaid in 2024 NFL Free Agency
1. Saquon Barkley, RB

Saquon Barkley failed to get a long-term contract extension with the New York Giants and instead played on a one-year deal in 2023 worth $10,091,000. Honestly, a team would be mistaken to pay Barkley a penny more than that. When he is healthy, there might not be a better pure runner in the NFL, but that itself has been an issue for Barkley.

Barkley is newly 27 years old and has played just one full season across his NFL career, which began in 2018. He's rushed for under four yards per carry in three of his six NFL seasons and has hit the double-digit rushing TD mark just twice. For someone who surely views himself as a top RB in the NFL and a bell-cow type of player, there isn't a lot to indicate he can consistently do that.

I think a team could get suckered into paying Barkley over $10 million per season, which would be a massive mistake.

2. Chase Young, DE

Someone who has seen his effort come into question across his brief NFL career is Chase Young, who has played out his entire rookie-scale contract and is set to hit the open market in 2024. Young began his career with the Washington Commanders but was traded to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2023 NFL Season.

Young had 7.5 sacks and 15 QB hits this year, but had just 25 total tackles across 16 games. Across the 2021-2022 seasons, he played in just 12 games due to injury. Chase Young has not lived up to his draft status and has not been a consistently reliable player.

Set to enter his age-25 season, Young does have youth on his side, but who's to say he will all of a sudden turn into the elite defensive end many of us thought he'd be when he entered the NFL? I think there is a lot of "buyer's beware" here with Young. You are definitely taking a risk with the injury history and the question of putting in consistent effort also seems to hang over Young's head.

And it's clear that teams simply won't find consistent success in the NFL without a dangerous defensive front, so there might be a team who pays a bit too much for Chase Young.

3. Kirk Cousins, QB

Kirk Cousins was on pace to have the best year of his career in 2023 until a torn Achilles prematurely ended his season. Now set to enter his age-36 season while coming off a torn Achilles, Cousins is still going to be handsomely paid. However, for the lack of consistent success across his NFL career, is it really worth it?

Cousins has a career 76-67-2 record as a starter in the NFL and has never consistently quarterbacked winning teams. The 1-3 playoff record also proves that teams don't usually go far in the playoffs with Kirk Cousins at the helm. According to spotrac.com, Cousins' market value this coming offseason is $39.3 million per season.

Not only is there no guarantee that Kirk Cousins will return to 100% of his old self after the injury, but what else would a team be paying for? It's clear that the QB has been efficient across his career but does need quite a bit to go right around him to lead a winning club.

And his age is definitely a concern even though he is a pure pocket passer. If I were a team looking for a QB in 2024, I would take it easy on the possibility of signing Kirk Cousins.