2014 NFL Free Agents: Players who will be overpaid

NFL Free Agency has reached its soft opening period, where players cannot meet with teams, but clubs can start talking to representatives and, while a contract cannot be signed, an informal deal can be structured.  The grand opening of Free Agency comes at 4pm ET on Tuesday, when ink can meet paper, and players will begin changing teams.

In that process, some players will receive more money than they probably should.  NFL.com's Around the League team looked at the free agency landscape this year, picking their top ten players who are likely to be overpaid - and several of them could be Miami Dolphins targets.

The second player listed in the article was running back Ben Tate, a player many Dolphins fans are clamoring for this year after the dismal showing of Miami's run game last year.  Of Tate's spot on the overpaid list, Dan Hanzus wrote;

Tate is probably the best available running back on the open market. That doesn't mean he deserves to be paid like a proven starter, however. Tate showed flashes of ability during his time as Arian Foster's backup in Houston, but his struggles to stay healthy represent a legitimate red flag. Will it be enough to stop a team from throwing money at him to solve its backfield woes? Probably not.

Just behind Tate on the list is offensive tackle Michael Oher.  While he has not been a focal point for Dolphins fans as they look for ways to address the offensive line, the team's need for a right tackle could lead to Oher being on the radar.  Greg Rosenthal wrote the blurb on Oher, stating:

Oher won't get paid because he's the subject of a wildly overrated movie (and strong book): He'll get paid because he's a physically gifted tackle who was taken in the first round and has started all 80 possible games in his five career seasons. Someone will believe they can turn Oher around, even though he was a huge liability for the Ravens last season.

The seventh player on the top ten list is running back LeGarrette Blount, who, like Tate, is almost seen as a must have for some Dolphins fans.  Marc Sessler wrote of Blount:

He was a fitting addition to New England's deep backfield, but I struggle to project Blount as a foundation back elsewhere. The Patriots know enough not to overpay for a 27-year-old runner who doesn't help in the passing game, but another team is bound to pounce on him. Any suitor will quickly learn that Blount is best suited not for a lead role, but as the occasional thumper in a committee backfield. He won't be the same outside of Foxborough.

And, the final member of the list is absolutely considered on of the top targets for the Dolphins this year - left tackle Branden Albert.  Rosenthal explained the chances of Albert being overpaid, writing:

Desperation creates front-office mistakes. And there are a lot of teams desperate for a left tackle, notably Miami and Arizona. It only takes two teams to create a bidding war. The Chiefs are willing to let Albert go because he's a decent starter who wants to be paid as one of the best players at his position. And he'll probably get his wish.

Several other players made the list, including quarterback Michael Vick, cornerback Aqib Talib, and wide receiver Julian Edelman.  Head over the NFL.com to check out the full top ten free agents who will be overpaid.