With the NFL offseason approaching, teams will be looking to spend big money on out-of-contract players to improve their rosters and take advantage of their salary cap room. Because of this, every year, at least a handful of players are slated to get massive contracts that will leave fans scratching their heads. Those players are part of what I call “The Overpay Club” and it has included players like Christian Kirk, the Titans’ Harold Landry, and Deshaun Watson. Here are some names who could easily join them in “The Overpay Club”.
Dyami Brown
A common theme you will see is that these players are relatively young and are coming off strong seasons. Dyami Brown’s regular season was nothing spectacular at all—he was the fourth receiver on the depth chart. But during the playoffs, the former UNC wideout established himself as a potential number two option in the Commanders offense.
Brown hauled in 14 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown through three playoff games as Washington came within a game of the Super Bowl. Brown is now an impending free agent, and with Washington seeking an established veteran to partner Terry McLaurin, Brown may not stay with the Commanders. Should he become a free agent, teams like New England, Las Vegas, and Carolina could splash over $10 million on Brown despite the fact he was not an out-and-out starter for Washington in his first four seasons at any point.
Byron Murphy
Byron Murphy was key to the success of the Vikings’ defense this year. The ex-Cardinal has stood out in his two years with Minnesota, notching nine total interceptions and 27 total pass breakups, proving elite prowess in coverage. Reports have speculated that Murphy wants a massive pay raise, and with so many other Vikings about to hit the market, Murphy could be forced to walk in free agency. The former Washington Husky should be able to find a suitor and get his pay raise quickly. The question is how much will his $8.75 million salary from his current expiring deal increase. Bear in mind, he just turned 27 in January.
Ernest Jones
Ernest Jones has been an underrated player throughout his NFL tenure. He started as a linebacker for the Rams in Super Bowl 56 and remained the starter for two years before being traded to Tennessee and then Seattle. It was in Seattle where Jones reminded everyone of his capabilities, playing a key role in helping the Seahawks out of an October slump to finish 10-7. Jones is still only 25, so he is expected to get a long-term deal wherever he chooses to go. And Seattle’s cap situation isn’t the greatest. So somebody out there could fork out the $13 million+ that may be needed to court the former South Carolina standout.
Chase Young
Rookie Chase Young was amazing, but over the next three seasons, injuries got in the way of development for the Commanders’ top selection in the 2020 draft. Young struggled to get back to top form until this year when the Saints gave him a one-year deal. Young looks like he is back to his former self and was unlucky to not have more than 5.5 sacks. Teams in need of defensive help would likely need to pay up big time for Young’s service, and he may get more than an injury-prone pass rusher with middling sack numbers deserves.
Milton Williams
An often overshadowed member of the Eagles’ pass rush is Milton Williams, who is coming off a career-best year. In limited snaps, Williams showed genuine potential (especially during the Super Bowl with two sacks and a forced fumble), and I would not be surprised if a new team sees him as a full-time starter. However, his career high of 5 sacks is nothing worth more than $8 million. Still, being a defensive lineman is about more than sacks and that means you can expect that at least one team is going to offer Milton Williams over $10 million a year to buy him away from a return to Philly.
Osa Odighizuwa
Osa Odighizuwa has never been a highly productive player, but he has been dangerous. This year especially, the former UCLA star got after the quarterback more consistently than ever, setting career highs for QB hits and QB pressures. The Cowboys suffered major setbacks in 2024, and with Jerry Jones still being General Manager, it is unlikely that they will quickly rise back to contention. So Odighizuwa will probably get a massive amount of money off his career-best season. If he is overpaid, it is likely because Dallas is unable to keep him.
Mekhi Becton
Mekhi Becton has been very good when healthy. But he has not been healthy. The Eagles thus gave him a one-year deal and moved him inside to guard, giving him a chance to succeed at a new position. Becton has thrived as a right guard and a pending free agent, which puts him in the ideal position to get a huge contract. If the Eagles choose not to retain him, a guard-desperate team (think the Bears) will probably give him a lot of money on a long-term deal and take a high risk on someone with a very patchy history of injuries.
Dan Moore Jr.
Dan Moore has been a highly durable starter for Pittsburgh. In four seasons he has only missed two games (one in 2021 and one in 2023). Teams will covet having an offensive tackle who can be healthy for most, if not all, of the season and be a starter. However, Moore simply is not a world-beater, and his PFF grades seem to show he is an average player. He’s not the worst, but he’s also not the best. But expect some team to give him way too much money.
Jordan Mason
Jordan Mason is good, but he’s also the benefactor of a Kyle Shanahan system that has made basically all running backs in the system very productive, if not unstoppable. Still, teams that are desperate for offensive help will salivate at the chance of having a player like Mason on their roster. Mason is coming off a year where he was good when he started but was a backup with a limited sample size of starts. If a team sees high potential in the young Mason they will splash a ton of money on him. He may end up with a bigger salary than Derrick Henry.
Tee Higgins
Our last selection is very interesting. The Bengals’ Tee Higgins is one of the best receivers in the league, for sure. But there are many better players out there, including teammate Ja’Marr Chase, whose incoming extension next year will likely prevent Higgins from getting a long-term deal of his own in Cincinnati. So he will likely hit the market and look for a team that will make him their number one option. I predict the team that ultimately chooses him will give him a bigger long-term contract than CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson and make him the highest-paid receiver in the league. He will be good wherever he goes, but some team will find a way to give him excess pay for someone who has never been a consistent WR1.
