5 most overrated players in the NFC East ahead of the 2024 season

While the NY Giants are projected to finish middle of the pack in the NFC East, one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, there may be some flaws on the opposite end of the field that get too much recognition. Sometimes, these players take away from the opposing team's success because they are big-name players who get the most air time.

There will always be starters in the league who become household names without the on-field production or playoff success to back it up. However, even some of the best players in the league tend to be overhyped even with changes, such as a new contract, team, or coach. It's still being determined if these players will repeat their prior success even with these changes.

Every year, we see players who get a lot of attention but may not deserve the spotlight for different reasons. There's no particular answer to why certain players stand out more than others, but it sometimes detracts from the game. Let's look at the five most overrated players in the NFC East:

5. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson - Philadelphia Eagles

After spending last season with the Detroit Lions, C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back with the Philadelphia Eagles. Gardner-Johnson was on the 2022-23 Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl but came up short to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Eagles' safety may be considered one of the best in the NFC, maybe even the league, he is overrated, and here's why.

The veteran safety spent his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the Eagles before the 2022 season. He started the first 11 games with the Eagles before suffering a lacerated kidney in Week 12 but returned later in the year. Gardner-Johnson finished the 2022 season with one sack, 67 total tackles, six interceptions, and eight passes defended and had four tackles in the Super Bowl. He was one of four players with six interceptions, tied for the most in 2022, along with Justin Simmons, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Tariq Woolen. Despite an impressive season, Gardner-Johnson didn't receive any accolades.

Before last season, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year contract worth up to $8 million with the Detroit Lions, but his regular season was cut short after three games due to a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2. This was right after he suffered a non-contact leg injury during training camp and avoided a critical season-ending injury. The veteran safety is back with the Philadelphia Eagles in his second stint with the team after signing a three-year contract worth up to $33 million, making him the thirteenth-highest-paid safety in the league.

While the Eagles overpaid Gardner-Johnson this offseason, he joins a clear-cut contender in the NFC. Still, this time around, Philly will look a lot different with new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. We can expect a new defensive scheme compared to his previous stint with the NFC Champion Eagles, led by defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, now the Arizona Cardinals head coach. We'll see if Gardner-Johnson can duplicate his previous performance with the Eagles, but this time under Fangio.