20 most underrated football players of all time

Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. During his first four seasons, three with the Ravens and one in Oakland, Waller caught just 18 passes on 29 targets while also being suspended all of 2017. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. He played for teams that were more interesting than outstanding, from the Ryan and Rich Kotite-era Eagles to the Jim Mora and Mike Ditka Saints to Jon Gruden's Raiders. "No one was going to catch no ball.". David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. Juszczyk has made five Pro Bowl appearances, including each season since joining San Francisco in 2017. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. So LeRoy Butler, innovator of the Lambeau Leap, is excluded from his own statue. Deion Jones is one interception away from tying the all-time record for pick 6's by a linebacker, and he's done it in a fraction of the games. Mostly Schlereth and sidekick Tom Nalen, who were masters of zone-blocking schemes, a major reason why Davis is in the Hall of Fame today. Oakland Raiders. Then it was off to Carolina, where he earned an All-Pro selection for leading the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team during his age-37 season. Victory propelled Montana to superstardom, while defeat left the 32-year old Anderson to play out the string as a high-percentage passer for a rapidly disintegrating franchise. Wide receiver Chase Claypool stole headlines as a rookie in 2020, while teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster always seems to attract headlines one way or another. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. That's not something to hold against a player. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. No one plays guard expecting fame and accolades, least of all Wisniewski, who is worthy of all the gritty cliches you can sling at him. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. Hence, the Campbell video. Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. Upon entering the league in 2019, Johnson recorded 59 catches as a rookie and then topped that mark in 2020 with 88 catches. No matter what the two-time All-Pro accomplished, he could never be Jerry Rice, who cast a long, tall shadow in the same conference. The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. Franklin-Myers has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line and is off to a strong start in the Jets' new 4-3 defense under head coach Robert Saleh. WebDon't hesitate to comment below with underrated players who you believe should have been on this list. Ogbah has always been a steady presence rushing the quarterback but broke out in 2020 during his first season with the Dolphins. The problem with Dierdorf is he played for a lot of bad Cardinals teams. Allen made a lot of plays. If McCree doesn't cough up that fourth-quarter pick, the Chargers beat the Patriots, and perhaps Philip Rivers leads a team that went 14-2 in the regular season to the Super Bowl. The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. "Even now I still get pissed off. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Yes, Marshall amassed that sack total by playing foreverhe started270 games (plus 19 playoff starts) from 1961 through 1979. Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. Ryan would blitz between five and eight defenders, plus some water boys and maybe a few boo birds from the 700 level of Veterans Stadium. Waller overcame addiction and his suspension to emerge in 2019, catching 90 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns while starting all 16 games for the Raiders. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. Along with the legendary Johnny Unitas, Rote probably did more to change the quarterback position than anyone in the pre-merger era even if so few know it. He also had some of the clutch gene. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. Brown is now best known as a television personality. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL history. Kenn was one of the leaders of the NFL Players Association during the era of replacement players and court battles over free agency. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. Randy Gradishar. Sanders was an extremely While every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. But the former NFL Man of the Year award winner and two-time All-Pro should not have had to wait so long. So whaddya say, fans? There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound. Taylor Moton has quietly emerged as a dominant presence at right tackle for the Panthers. He's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses. Karl Mecklenburg. You will find some familiar Hall of Fame snubs on this list (like Jim Marshall, pictured above), but also plenty of players who were even snubbed from the Hall of Fame snubs, plus some current players who aren't getting their due. Measurables. For years, the team couldn't even harken back to its glory days properly, as Smith's Pride of the Jaguars induction was delayed until he was sober and no longer under house arrest. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. If not for Schlereth's many health problems that included 29 surgeries, 15 on his left knee alone, he would have been a perennial Pro Bowl selection. Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos Date of birth: March 21, 1989 Age: 33 years old (as of 2023) Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Height: 1.70 m Current team: Both Courtland Sutton and teammate Tim Patrick could easily make this list together as neither player is discussed nearly enough. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. But what peak years they were: 14- and 13-win seasons, annual playoff appearances, routine 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons. There have been too many players in NFL history to count, so naturally, many of them werent going to get the attention they deserved for their play. McLaurins numbers through two-plus seasons are very similar to Stefon Diggs, who went through a similar quarterback situation early during his career in Minnesota. Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. Perhaps it's time we look back on how much of an impact he and his Jaguars had on the NFL two decades ago. Neal Anderson replaced Walter Payton. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. Teams: Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1986, 1987, 1992), Super Bowl championships: Two (1985, 1991). Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. You know the type. Without Kenn, there might not be free agency in the NFL, to say nothing of limitations on practice conditions and other initiatives that make pro football less dangerous than it was decades ago. There are no official sack statistics before 1982, but the Minnesota Vikings credit Jim Marshall with 127 career sacks. During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. Super Bowl victories? If he started his career a decade earlier or a decade later, Young would have anchored the defense for one of history's great teams or helped push the Harbaugh 49ers over the top in the Super Bowl. There would not be another exchange of current Pro Bowlers in the NFL until the Broncos and Redskins exchanged Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis in 2004. Tom Jackson. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. Naturally, it also guarantees that some of the best players in the country get overshadowed and forgotten in the sport's warp-speed news cycle. And let's not place the full burden of history on his shoulders, as Marty Schottenheimer, Norv Turner, the Chargers front office and Rivers himself had a hand in making the team a playoff also-ran during those peak years. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. WebThis list is for those players the ones who were great football players and did not get the credit they deserve. Gheorghe Hagi, Romania. Fred Warner gets a lot of attention at linebacker for the 49ers, but Dre Greenlaw flies under theradar as a young playmaker quickly on the rise. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1993, 1995, 1997), Super Bowl championships: Three (1992, 1993, 1994). Membership on various All-1960s teams. Bottom line: Warrick Dunn overcame the murder of his mother, bouts with depression and 5-foot-9 size to have a successful 12-year NFL career. When London Fletcher retired after the 2014 season, Robert Klemko of The MMQBasked him if he was motivated by feeling underappreciated for most of his career. While most Giants fans remember Meggett, he is still one of the most underrated players of all time. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. But the diminutive Brees would not have been able to lead the Saints to a Super Bowl and several seasons as top contenders without a clean pocket, particularly right in front of him. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? Web113 Likes, TikTok video from FootWorld (@lovingfootbal): "The most underrated player of all time #dimaria #football". Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. He was a eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. MVP-caliber seasons (1,528 yards, 90 receptions, 16 total touchdowns in 2006) early in his career gave way to annual 1,100-1,200 yard, low-touchdown grinds as the Greatest Show Rams retired one by one and the team fell to 2-14 and 1-15. Overshadowed on a bad team for much of his early career, Bates also came from a draft that featured top safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. Quarterback is the most important position in organized football and maybe in all of sports, so it should be no surprise that men who play QB dominate the top spots of this list. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars overtake Detroit for No. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. Bottom line: Terrell Davis rushed for 2,008 yards in his momentous 1998 season, but look at the game films and you wont see him fake out many defenders or break many tackles. Anderson was the first quarterback to successfully orchestrate the beta version of Bill Walsh's West Coast offense for multiple seasons. An ever-growing backlog of outstanding safeties is queuing up outside Canton, as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed will soon joinJohn Lynch and Brian Dawkins. Graham has only missed one game since 2012 prior to 2021, and similar to Hughes is a winning culture type of player. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. Not bad for a guy who might as well have played in a straight jacket for 14 seasons. While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. They never had any playoff success, even when they did make it into the postseason. Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. original sound - ftbl vids 221. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. Anderson is no Hall of Famerthe middle of his career is a morass of ordinary-at-best seasonsbut he was a pioneer and an innovator. Along with Devin White, David was all over the field making plays around the ball and was one of the more valuable players in shutting down the Chiefs offense in the Super Bowl. Bowman makes this list because he has the makings of a player who will be underappreciated historically. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. This commitment to team defense is perhaps one of the main reasons Buckner is not more recognized as one of the top interior defensive linemen in football. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. Actually, theres a simple explanation. Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. They didnt allow a sack in 84 pass attempts. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). It is absurd that Jones isnt talked about more with his ability to impact games. Beachum has lined up at both left and right tackle but displayed Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum, OT. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. Ron McDole falls into that final category. But things were different in the long-ago 1990s, when the sports universe belonged to teal-emblazoned expansion franchises and a youngish Tom Coughlin received a binder full of press clippings from the mother of a wide receiver ready to call it quits after injuries derailed his Cowboys career. WebThe NFL is increasingly becoming a passing league. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, Let's hope the fame doesn't go to his head. Dunn left Tampa Bay as a free agent after the 2001 season and headed to Atlanta, largely because of his relationship with Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner. Not Fred Dean. But Brown was a unique and underappreciated player for over a decade on a team that nearly revolutionized the way football is played. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? But the run-'n'-shoot took away more than it provided, and the early 1990s Lions kept getting obliterated by better defenses in the playoffs. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. Or as astute NBC broadcaster Dick Enberg scored it, "KO for Ken Norton.". Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. "I dont get it. #5. Slot specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing game. He had the speed to get to the edge and beat defenders down the sideline, the power to plow through tackles, the elusiveness to make things happen in the open field and receiving chops to rival contemporaries Roger Craig or Thurman Thomas. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. 'Nuff said, right? Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. Antoine Griezmann is known for his excellent left foot and can score and create goals with it; hence, he is one of the best left-footed midfielders. Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes? But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. Hes on the short list of running back leaders in yards per rush (4.6, 17th), touches (2,824, 25th) and yards from scrimmage (14,079, 35th) in NFL history. The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag. How he slipped through the cracks for 13 years remains one of the unsolved mysteries in pro football. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. St. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. After the Bills failed to score, he knocked quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game in the next series. He led his team to an NFL championship. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. His .588 win percentage ranks second to Wilson in team history. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. Its hard to think of a player more dominant and less talked about over a long period of time than Chandler Jones. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. Bowman is a four-time All-Pro and tremendous all-purpose linebacker who emerged as a stalwart leader for teams that otherwise might have packed it in before Labor Day. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. Steve Atwater. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf never seems to have his name mentioned. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). Travis Kelce and George Kittle dominate the conversation at tight end but Darren Waller is quickly emerging as a name that should be discussed as well. If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. After making the Pro Bowl twice early in his career, David has failed to make it since 2015 while still playing at a high level. If Mel Blount, Mike Haynes and teammate Lemar Parrish hadnt been in the same conference, Riley would have made more a few more Pro Bowl trips. Jordi Alba. The Hall of Fame eluded Ellard for several reasons: comparisons to Rice, the Rams' move to St. Louis (it takes hometown writers and buzz to mount a campaign) and those five early seasons in a ground-and-pound offense. WebThe 10 most underrated football players of all time are: Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Gaetano Scirea, Hristo Stoichkov, Matthias Sammer, Davor Suker, Gunter Netzer, 1. As Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase earn praise for helping bring competitive football back to Cincinnati, safety Jessie Bates is a huge reason for the Bengals turnaround on defense. There is one football player who could score from literally anywhere, and his name is 2. McDole was a starting defensive end for two of history's legendary defenses: the AFL champion Buffalo Bills of 1964 and '65 and Washington's "Over-the-Hill Gang" of the early 1970s. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. WebWhile every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. An all-underrated team like this one can get flooded with Zach Thomas, Hardy Nickerson, Tommy Nobis and Tedy Bruschi types if we don't get a little choosy. WebOnce called the toughest cornerback in the NFL by Jerry Rice, Lewis would have received much more acclaim in his career if hed played a position that wasnt just following other Hull was not just a great lineman but a groundbreaking one. Now that's underrated. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. Steve Atwater. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. Then again, the fourth-round draft pick had no choice. Theyre the flat-liners whose drop-dead consistency gets lost with average-to-bad teams, in smaller markets, with brain-challenged organizations that have little, if any, history of success. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then? Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. WebDuring the next few weeks, we here at NFL.com will unveil our Most Underrated and Overrated Players of All Time for all 32 teams and allow users to determine their He played 256 career regular-season games, never missing a start due to injury. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. The fullback has become a non-factor in many of todays NFL offenses, but Juszczyk remains an integral part of how the San Francisco 49ers run their offense. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. Ken Griffey Jr.? He isn't the dynamic threat thatTyreek Hill orDavante Adams are, but Allen is an elite route runner that consistently puts up elite production. By the time Rivers is retired for five years, the "San Diego Chargers" will be as relevant as the Dayton Triangles, and Hall voters will be too busy rubber-stamping Tom Brady and Drew Brees to get to a guy from a lost city who couldn't win the big one. (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. He picked off a dozen passes in his career two of them at 38 years of age an absurd number for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lineman. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by, Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images, Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. Ellard moved on to Washington in 1994 and enjoyed a late-career renaissance, averaging 61 catches and 18.8 yards per reception over a three-year span in his mid-30s. Tom Jackson. Pro Bowl? Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. Even without the same speed and athleticism as when he entered the league, David continues to find ways to make impact plays like a seasoned veteran. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. Chiesa is a winger who plays for Juventus. Know who created those wide-open spaces? WebTop ten under-capped England players is a list Foden and Maddison want to avoid Matt Le Tissier won 10 fewer England caps than Carlton Palmer. Both of those seasons came, ironically enough, after Allen and Buddy were separated. Derrick Mason recorded four 1,000-yard seasons for Jeff Fisher teams and four more for the Baltimore Ravens.

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