[h=1]NFL's most undervalued players[/h][h=3]The 24 players in the NFL who most outperformed their cap hits[/h]By Khaled Elsayed | ESPN Insider
We're always busy looking for new ways to break things down at Pro Football Focus. Inspired to some degree by the "Moneyball" phenomenon, we combined our own grades and players' cap hits to find out which NFL players truly were the most over and undervalued.
On Monday, we examined the most overvalued players in the NFL. Today, we take a look at the team composed of 24 of the most undervalued NFL players. The "cap difference" noted is the value by which a player's production outpaced his cost against the cap. (Note: We've excluded those who missed a significant amount of time due to injury.)
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Cap difference: $12 million
It stands to reason that a third-round rookie quarterback who turns out to be one of the better players in the league (tied for fifth overall in our rankings) is going to represent great value. Wilson, with a cap hit that barely registers ($540,000) will save the Seattle Seahawks a ton of cap space at a premium position until renegotiation time rolls around, especially if he keeps up his ridiculously high adjusted accuracy percentage of 77.1 (fourth in the league).
Running back: Alfred Morris
Cap difference: $9.4m
You should be noticing a trend developing here at some spots. Indeed, part of the beauty of finding late-round rookies who contribute is that they invariably cost a lot less than their more experienced peers. Morris, who was third overall in our running back rankings, counted just $420,000 against the Redskins' cap this year. He proved extremely adept at forcing missed tackles, with his 59 from scrimmage tied for fifth-highest in the league.
Fullback: Marcel Reece
Cap difference: $3.7m
Reece has always been something of a special attraction in Oakland: a fullback who can stretch the field. What will they think of next? Only this season, with backs hampered by injury and ineffectiveness, he was forced to carry the load and produced in a way that speaks volumes about his versatility, as he forced 19 missed tackles on 111 touches. He also counted only $840,000 against the Raiders' cap, which is less than 10 percent of what Richard Seymour cost.
Tight end: Dwayne Allen
Cap difference: $5.5m
It may strike some as odd that Allen and his 521 receiving yards for the Colts could warrant so much money. A lot of it comes down to his blocking, which netted him the third-highest mark of all tight ends. It's often overlooked, but what tight ends can do in the run game has a huge impact on how their team can run the ball.
Wide receiver: Reggie Wayne
Cap difference: $7.2m
With many thinking Wayne was on the scrap heap, he went and produced one of the better seasons of his career. Becoming the safety net for Andrew Luck, the long-time Colt enhanced his reputation and made a mockery of his $3.2 million cap hit. Wayne finished third among NFL receivers with 179 targets, showing how vital a part he was of the Colts' offense.
Wide receiver: A.J. Green
Cap difference: $5.3m
The former first-round pick already has emerged as one of the league's most dangerous receivers, despite some uneven play from quarterback Andy Dalton. So the Bengals must smile to themselves when they remember Green only cost them $4.8 million against the cap this year. Not bad, considering he picked up 2.32 yards per route run, the sixth-highest mark of all receivers.
Left tackle: Joe Staley
Cap difference: $11.3m
Staley's contract is worked in such a 49ers-friendly way that even the "loaded" last three years of the deal are only worth $16.1 million. This year, the cap hit was $2.5 million, meaning Staley's impact was worth a cool $13.8 million. Why? Well, it's his work in the run game that sets him apart. The 49ers averaged 6.3 yards per carry off left tackle this season, and Staley finished as our top-ranked tackle.
Right tackle: Anthony Davis
Cap difference: $5.5m
After two disappointing years, Davis used 2012 to show how far he's come. One of the very best right tackles in the league, it wouldn't be a surprise if the 49ers tried to lock him down beyond 2014 because at this rate, his value is heading in only one direction. His pass-blocking efficiency score of 93.8 was good for 40th out of 52 tackles, which should go some way to explaining how good his run blocking was when you consider he finished the year as our third-ranked right tackle.
Left guard: Evan Mathis
Cap difference: $9.2m
Proving 2011 wasn't a fluke, Mathis firmly established himself as the most consistent, dependable and impressive guard in the league. Despite getting rewarded by the Eagles in the offseason, Mathis still showed he's a great value and wound up our top-ranked guard for the second consecutive season.
Right guard: Alex Boone
Cap difference: $4.9m
It's almost criminal just how smart the 49ers have been in locking up some of their players. Boone grabbed his chance to start this season, finishing as our second-ranked right guard and yet it won't be until 2016 that he's scheduled to hit free agency. In that period he's scheduled to earn $7.5 million. This past season, his play meant he was worth $5.8 million alone.
Center: Brian De La Puente
Cap difference: $4.2m
The Saints' De La Puente has proved something of a find since being forced into the lineup when New Orleans realized Olin Kreutz no longer could get the job done. Since then, De la Puente has emerged as one of the league's better young centers, and for his agent's sake, it's a shame the Saints have the leverage of restricted free agency to prevent him getting the big contract he deserves for his play on the field.
[h=3]Defense[/h]
Defensive end: J.J. Watt
Cap difference: $16m
We all know how good Watt was this season. He was our highest-graded player, earned our Dwight Stephenson Award, and generally redefined what you can expect from a defensive lineman in the modern game. What's more, he cost only $2.6 million in cap money. That got the Texans 76 combined sacks, hits and hurries (fourth-most of all defensive players); 21 tackles for a loss (most of all defensive players); and 15 batted passes (the most we've recorded in any one year).
Defensive end: Muhammad Wilkerson
Cap difference: $9.9m
Wilkerson is one of a number of players destined to be overshadowed by Watt. A fellow 2011 draftee, he had a breakout season in 2012 with his work in the run game warranting far more praise than was given. Most notable may be that despite being the Jets' best defensive player, his cap hit was only $1.6 million. Not bad when you can register a run stop percentage of 10.9 percent, helped by 46 defensive stops in the run game (sixth-most of all defensive players).
Defensive tackle: Geno Atkins
Cap difference: $13.7m
While he's by no means a nose tackle, sometimes you have to be creative to get the most undervalued players on the field -- as we're doing with this all-value "team." Atkins was fantastic in 2011 and on another level in 2012, which should ensure a big payday in his future. His pass rushing productivity score of 12.7 was the best of all defensive tackles -- the next best was a mere 9. He cost the Bengals just $660,000 in cap room this year despite ranking as our best defensive tackle.
Outside linebacker: Von Miller
Cap difference: $12.3m
Possibly the most explosive defensive player in football, Miller is at times simply unstoppable and a right tackle's worst nightmare. The Broncos apportioned $4.7 million of their cap to him this year, but that number is way too low for a player who had 86 regular-season quarterback disruptions (the most by any defensive player in 2012).
Defensive end/outside linebacker: Cameron Wake
Cap difference: $12.5m
Wake's ability to play with his hand off the ground (as he did prior to 2012) means we can use him to turn our defense into a hybrid -- which is always handy. He got his new deal but in 2012 it was extremely cap-friendly, costing the Dolphins just $2.1 million. It's going to rightly get more expensive, which is no surprise considering he was our top-ranked 4-3 defensive end this season and finished atop the pass-rushing productivity chart at his position.
Inside linebacker: Bobby Wagner
Cap difference: $9.7m
It didn't take Wagner long to earn every-down duty and even less time to catch our eye. By the end of the season he was our top-ranked 4-3 middle linebacker, and all it cost the Seahawks was $780,000 of their cap. He did it by earning the highest run-stop percentage (14.4 percent) of all middle linebackers.
Inside linebacker: NaVorro Bowman
Cap difference: $8.1m
A new deal signed by Bowman ensures that his cap hit is only heading one direction, with him scheduled to receive $46.8m over seven years. This year he cost the 49ers a measly $2.2 million, and although he wasn't quite as spectacular as in his breakout 2011, he was still seventh in our inside linebacker rankings. What's more, he gave up just 0.59 yards per snap in coverage, the lowest amount among his peers.
Cornerback: Richard Sherman
Cap difference: $11m
Sherman's play on the field and attitude off it means he walked out of the 2012 season as one of the more polarizing players in the league. He's also one of the most underpaid, and it's hard to see that going on much longer. He was just a $515,000 cap hit for the Seahawks in 2012, but no other cornerback had as many combined interceptions and pass break-ups as the 23 he managed.
Cornerback: Chris Harris
Cap difference: $8.9m
The former undrafted free agent has made quite the leap in his short time with the Broncos. This past season he really showcased his full range of talents when he moved from the nickelback role to be an every-down player, and in the process finished the year our fifth-ranked cornerback -- all for a $470,000 cap hit. You won't ever get a lack of effort from Harris, who couples excellent coverage skills with active work in the run game. His 26 tackles in the run game were the second-most of all cornerbacks.
Safety: Reshad Jones
Cap difference: $8.1m
The Dolphins let Yeremiah Bell go because of their confidence in Jones, who had flashed skill but looked somewhat raw in his first two years in the league. Last season, the former fifth-round pick put it all together, making a mockery of his $585,000 cap hit and finishing third overall in our safety rankings with his eight combined interceptions and pass breakups.
Safety: Jairus Byrd
Cap difference: $7.8m
Byrd caught the attention of everyone as a rookie in 2009 with his habit of picking balls off. So it's somewhat strange that less attention has come his way in the following years despite his play improving. In the final year of his rookie deal, his cap hit was just $1.1 million, yet the playmaker had five picks and allowed a reception for every 35.1 snaps he was in coverage -- sixth-lowest of all safeties.
Kicker: Blair Walsh
Cap difference: $3.9m
The Vikings' rookie showed why a pick spent on a kicker isn't necessarily wasted. There were 30 kickers with higher cap hits than our top-ranked one.
Punter: Matt Bosher
Cap difference: $2.3m
What benefits Bosher is that he handles kickoffs for the Falcons and only had a $500,000 cap hit. That was the 27th-highest cap hit of all punters for our 16th-ranked punter.
We're always busy looking for new ways to break things down at Pro Football Focus. Inspired to some degree by the "Moneyball" phenomenon, we combined our own grades and players' cap hits to find out which NFL players truly were the most over and undervalued.
On Monday, we examined the most overvalued players in the NFL. Today, we take a look at the team composed of 24 of the most undervalued NFL players. The "cap difference" noted is the value by which a player's production outpaced his cost against the cap. (Note: We've excluded those who missed a significant amount of time due to injury.)
[h=3]Offense[/h]
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Cap difference: $12 million
It stands to reason that a third-round rookie quarterback who turns out to be one of the better players in the league (tied for fifth overall in our rankings) is going to represent great value. Wilson, with a cap hit that barely registers ($540,000) will save the Seattle Seahawks a ton of cap space at a premium position until renegotiation time rolls around, especially if he keeps up his ridiculously high adjusted accuracy percentage of 77.1 (fourth in the league).
Running back: Alfred Morris
Cap difference: $9.4m
You should be noticing a trend developing here at some spots. Indeed, part of the beauty of finding late-round rookies who contribute is that they invariably cost a lot less than their more experienced peers. Morris, who was third overall in our running back rankings, counted just $420,000 against the Redskins' cap this year. He proved extremely adept at forcing missed tackles, with his 59 from scrimmage tied for fifth-highest in the league.
Fullback: Marcel Reece
Cap difference: $3.7m
Reece has always been something of a special attraction in Oakland: a fullback who can stretch the field. What will they think of next? Only this season, with backs hampered by injury and ineffectiveness, he was forced to carry the load and produced in a way that speaks volumes about his versatility, as he forced 19 missed tackles on 111 touches. He also counted only $840,000 against the Raiders' cap, which is less than 10 percent of what Richard Seymour cost.
Tight end: Dwayne Allen
Cap difference: $5.5m
It may strike some as odd that Allen and his 521 receiving yards for the Colts could warrant so much money. A lot of it comes down to his blocking, which netted him the third-highest mark of all tight ends. It's often overlooked, but what tight ends can do in the run game has a huge impact on how their team can run the ball.
Wide receiver: Reggie Wayne
Cap difference: $7.2m
With many thinking Wayne was on the scrap heap, he went and produced one of the better seasons of his career. Becoming the safety net for Andrew Luck, the long-time Colt enhanced his reputation and made a mockery of his $3.2 million cap hit. Wayne finished third among NFL receivers with 179 targets, showing how vital a part he was of the Colts' offense.
Wide receiver: A.J. Green
Cap difference: $5.3m
The former first-round pick already has emerged as one of the league's most dangerous receivers, despite some uneven play from quarterback Andy Dalton. So the Bengals must smile to themselves when they remember Green only cost them $4.8 million against the cap this year. Not bad, considering he picked up 2.32 yards per route run, the sixth-highest mark of all receivers.
Left tackle: Joe Staley
Cap difference: $11.3m
Staley's contract is worked in such a 49ers-friendly way that even the "loaded" last three years of the deal are only worth $16.1 million. This year, the cap hit was $2.5 million, meaning Staley's impact was worth a cool $13.8 million. Why? Well, it's his work in the run game that sets him apart. The 49ers averaged 6.3 yards per carry off left tackle this season, and Staley finished as our top-ranked tackle.
Right tackle: Anthony Davis
Cap difference: $5.5m
After two disappointing years, Davis used 2012 to show how far he's come. One of the very best right tackles in the league, it wouldn't be a surprise if the 49ers tried to lock him down beyond 2014 because at this rate, his value is heading in only one direction. His pass-blocking efficiency score of 93.8 was good for 40th out of 52 tackles, which should go some way to explaining how good his run blocking was when you consider he finished the year as our third-ranked right tackle.
Left guard: Evan Mathis
Cap difference: $9.2m
Proving 2011 wasn't a fluke, Mathis firmly established himself as the most consistent, dependable and impressive guard in the league. Despite getting rewarded by the Eagles in the offseason, Mathis still showed he's a great value and wound up our top-ranked guard for the second consecutive season.
Right guard: Alex Boone
Cap difference: $4.9m
It's almost criminal just how smart the 49ers have been in locking up some of their players. Boone grabbed his chance to start this season, finishing as our second-ranked right guard and yet it won't be until 2016 that he's scheduled to hit free agency. In that period he's scheduled to earn $7.5 million. This past season, his play meant he was worth $5.8 million alone.
Center: Brian De La Puente
Cap difference: $4.2m
The Saints' De La Puente has proved something of a find since being forced into the lineup when New Orleans realized Olin Kreutz no longer could get the job done. Since then, De la Puente has emerged as one of the league's better young centers, and for his agent's sake, it's a shame the Saints have the leverage of restricted free agency to prevent him getting the big contract he deserves for his play on the field.
[h=3]Defense[/h]
Defensive end: J.J. Watt
Cap difference: $16m
We all know how good Watt was this season. He was our highest-graded player, earned our Dwight Stephenson Award, and generally redefined what you can expect from a defensive lineman in the modern game. What's more, he cost only $2.6 million in cap money. That got the Texans 76 combined sacks, hits and hurries (fourth-most of all defensive players); 21 tackles for a loss (most of all defensive players); and 15 batted passes (the most we've recorded in any one year).
Defensive end: Muhammad Wilkerson
Cap difference: $9.9m
Wilkerson is one of a number of players destined to be overshadowed by Watt. A fellow 2011 draftee, he had a breakout season in 2012 with his work in the run game warranting far more praise than was given. Most notable may be that despite being the Jets' best defensive player, his cap hit was only $1.6 million. Not bad when you can register a run stop percentage of 10.9 percent, helped by 46 defensive stops in the run game (sixth-most of all defensive players).
Defensive tackle: Geno Atkins
Cap difference: $13.7m
While he's by no means a nose tackle, sometimes you have to be creative to get the most undervalued players on the field -- as we're doing with this all-value "team." Atkins was fantastic in 2011 and on another level in 2012, which should ensure a big payday in his future. His pass rushing productivity score of 12.7 was the best of all defensive tackles -- the next best was a mere 9. He cost the Bengals just $660,000 in cap room this year despite ranking as our best defensive tackle.
Outside linebacker: Von Miller
Cap difference: $12.3m
Possibly the most explosive defensive player in football, Miller is at times simply unstoppable and a right tackle's worst nightmare. The Broncos apportioned $4.7 million of their cap to him this year, but that number is way too low for a player who had 86 regular-season quarterback disruptions (the most by any defensive player in 2012).
Defensive end/outside linebacker: Cameron Wake
Cap difference: $12.5m
Wake's ability to play with his hand off the ground (as he did prior to 2012) means we can use him to turn our defense into a hybrid -- which is always handy. He got his new deal but in 2012 it was extremely cap-friendly, costing the Dolphins just $2.1 million. It's going to rightly get more expensive, which is no surprise considering he was our top-ranked 4-3 defensive end this season and finished atop the pass-rushing productivity chart at his position.
Inside linebacker: Bobby Wagner
Cap difference: $9.7m
It didn't take Wagner long to earn every-down duty and even less time to catch our eye. By the end of the season he was our top-ranked 4-3 middle linebacker, and all it cost the Seahawks was $780,000 of their cap. He did it by earning the highest run-stop percentage (14.4 percent) of all middle linebackers.
Inside linebacker: NaVorro Bowman
Cap difference: $8.1m
A new deal signed by Bowman ensures that his cap hit is only heading one direction, with him scheduled to receive $46.8m over seven years. This year he cost the 49ers a measly $2.2 million, and although he wasn't quite as spectacular as in his breakout 2011, he was still seventh in our inside linebacker rankings. What's more, he gave up just 0.59 yards per snap in coverage, the lowest amount among his peers.
Cornerback: Richard Sherman
Cap difference: $11m
Sherman's play on the field and attitude off it means he walked out of the 2012 season as one of the more polarizing players in the league. He's also one of the most underpaid, and it's hard to see that going on much longer. He was just a $515,000 cap hit for the Seahawks in 2012, but no other cornerback had as many combined interceptions and pass break-ups as the 23 he managed.
Cornerback: Chris Harris
Cap difference: $8.9m
The former undrafted free agent has made quite the leap in his short time with the Broncos. This past season he really showcased his full range of talents when he moved from the nickelback role to be an every-down player, and in the process finished the year our fifth-ranked cornerback -- all for a $470,000 cap hit. You won't ever get a lack of effort from Harris, who couples excellent coverage skills with active work in the run game. His 26 tackles in the run game were the second-most of all cornerbacks.
Safety: Reshad Jones
Cap difference: $8.1m
The Dolphins let Yeremiah Bell go because of their confidence in Jones, who had flashed skill but looked somewhat raw in his first two years in the league. Last season, the former fifth-round pick put it all together, making a mockery of his $585,000 cap hit and finishing third overall in our safety rankings with his eight combined interceptions and pass breakups.
Safety: Jairus Byrd
Cap difference: $7.8m
Byrd caught the attention of everyone as a rookie in 2009 with his habit of picking balls off. So it's somewhat strange that less attention has come his way in the following years despite his play improving. In the final year of his rookie deal, his cap hit was just $1.1 million, yet the playmaker had five picks and allowed a reception for every 35.1 snaps he was in coverage -- sixth-lowest of all safeties.
Kicker: Blair Walsh
Cap difference: $3.9m
The Vikings' rookie showed why a pick spent on a kicker isn't necessarily wasted. There were 30 kickers with higher cap hits than our top-ranked one.
Punter: Matt Bosher
Cap difference: $2.3m
What benefits Bosher is that he handles kickoffs for the Falcons and only had a $500,000 cap hit. That was the 27th-highest cap hit of all punters for our 16th-ranked punter.
