While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. 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. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. Ryan made three Pro Bowls, but All-Pro status was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. Unlike many of Marshall's teammates, however, he wasnt an obnoxious self-promoter, which partly explained his absence from the NFC Pro Bowl roster that season. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. Hull started his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, where he helped Herschel Walker rush for 2,411 yards in one 18-game season. #5. Anderson went on to duel with Walsh and Montana's 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. A lifelong Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Davids 10-year career has been about consistency and productivity. Hull was not just a great lineman but a groundbreaking one. Smith produced nine 1,000-yard seasons in 10 years, including two 100-plus-catch seasons in an era when they were still relatively uncommon. The former top ten draft pick looks to be on the verge of breaking out. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum, OT. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. Hence, the Campbell video. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. According to Next Gen Stats, Johnson averaged 3.6 yards of separation for each target during his rookie season, the most of any receiver in football. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Beachum has lined up at both left and right tackle but displayed Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. Hes the only quarterback with AFL and NFL titles on his resume and he darn near pulled it off in the Canadian Football League as well. Not only was Fleming good enough to stick with great teams, but he also was the luckiest son of a gun on the face of the earth. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYERS OF ALL TIME - YouTube One of the greatest defenders of his era reduced to stuntman status in Campbell's action movieall it takes is a moment to make a player underrated forever. 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. most underrated nfl players Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. Although it is tough to put a second-year player on this list as underrated when he is still relatively unproven, Laviska Shenault has such a unique skill set at wide receiver that will quickly start to garner more attention. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. McDole played 251 professional games as a defensive lineman, a remarkable feat in any era that should not be forgotten. By being overshadowed by Brown, achieving his greatest success just before the dawn of the Super Bowl era and getting stuck behind the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of your grandfather's generation, Ryan earned the title of the NFL's All-Time Most Underrated Player. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. Some might say it's a stretch to put Allen on this list after four straight Pro Bowl seasons and 95+ catch seasons. The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. 1. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. He was a eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. A mauler of a right guard, Timmerman also was agile enough to escort Marshall Faulk on screens and sweeps. Slot specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing game. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, tiers, sleepers And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. While the 2021 season is still early, Johnson looks to have cleaned up some issues with drops that hindered his 2020 performance and is perhaps the only thing stopping him from gaining more notoriety. Defensive Player of the Year awards? Make no mistake about it, Eric Bieniemys exodus from Kansas City to Washington is only one move on the chess board The guy should demand a recount, I tell ya. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. Jones is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest Far from it. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. On the final play a year later, he picked off a Roger Staubach pass in the end zone that put the Cowboys to rest. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 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. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. 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. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). You know the type. Most Underrated 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. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he didnt wow anyone physically. If Marlon McCree hadn't fumbled that interception in the playoffs after the 2006 season, everything might have been different. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll NFL and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Williams' career-high in receptions is only 49, but with increased targets, he has already recorded 31 catches over the first five games in 2021. David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. When the team inducted Smith into the Pride of the Jaguars ring of honor last year, it was the strange case of a moribund franchise honoring a former receiver still on parole for succumbing to the demons of addiction. Ogbah has always been a steady presence rushing the quarterback but broke out in 2020 during his first season with the Dolphins. Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. Efficient? Sam Mills rises above the rest of the gritty linebacker pack, at least when it comes to being underrated, because three of his greatest seasons have been erased from history. Who are the top 20 best left-footed football players as of 2023? ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). Karl Mecklenburg. Nope, not Charles Haley. Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. Barca star Pedri hails Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time Buckner earned his first All-Pro honors in 2020 and still has plenty of untapped potential to take his game to another level at just 27 years old. To understand why he is not in the Hall of Fame, you must familiarize yourself with both the era he played in and the vagaries of Hall voting. Six All-Pro selections. He accounted for all his teams points in a 15-13 white-knuckler that wrecked the 49ers three-peat bid and sent the Giants to Super Bowl XXV. Lets hear some "un-der-ra-ted!" One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. Johnny Robinson's credentials make you want to drive to Canton, kick down the Hall of Fame's door and clear a spot for his bust yourself. Chiesa is a winger who plays for Juventus. Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. But c'mon: 289 regular-season and postseason starts, 127 sacks and four Super Bowl appearances, yet the Hall of Fame turns up its nose at Marshall as just a pretty good defender with a long career? Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Norton made the key play of the game in the second period, when he stood up Buffalo Bills back Kenneth Davis mere inches from the goal line. The Cardinals were 0-3 in the playoffs in Dierdorfs time with the team, and none of the games were particularly close. One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. St. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. Bottom line: All Ken Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Super Bowl rings. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. 100-91). But run defense was king in the era when McDole played, and his 16-year career is littered with big plays: 12 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, three safeties and a pair of sacks in the 1966 AFL Championship Game. He then became a staple of trivia questions and All-Time Worst Trades listicles, as the Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed an even more impressive moment in Hadl's transaction history. There's a statue outside of Lambeau Field commemorating the Lambeau Leap, perhaps the most recognizable and beloved (except to Packers opponents) end-zone celebration in the NFL. He had 44 career sacks and as many as eight in a season on two occasions. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. Robinson was one of those players. Guys who played in Jacksonville repeatedly have been crapped on in Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame votes, none more so than Taylor during and after his 11 seasons there. WebDeion Sanders: Deion Sanders is one of the most underrated players of all time. So whaddya say, fans? If the soft-spoken scatback had been in the right place at the right time, he would have filled his one nagging void a Super Bowl title and the exposure that accompanied it. Buckner is a smart player and one of the better-run defenders in football. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. And almost nobody remembers that, when Edwards caught the ball, he knew what to do it. 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. Jackson then moved on to Atlanta just after the collapse of the Mike Smith playoff teams but before the rise of the current Dan Quinn contenders. Hmmm. 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. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. 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. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. He led his team to an NFL championship. Giants: All-time underrated, overrated players During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. WebThis list is for those players the ones who were great football players and did not get the credit they deserve. Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. Because he is one of the NFL's best defensive players, for one thing. He was an All-Pro for the Orange Crush defenses of the 1970s, and then he stuck around to play for the 1986 Broncos Super Bowl team. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. 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. Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. If Isiah Robertson is famous at all, it's for being "posterized" by Earl Campbell in one of the most famous NFL Films highlights of all time. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. He announced his retirement from pro football in 2010, not long after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. The most similar current player to Anderson is Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell, but Bell plays in a modern offense that amplifies his production instead of suppressing it. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. 10. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." 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. But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. Starting in at least 13 games every year since entering the league in 2012, David has finished just one season with less than 100 tackles. "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | Stadium Talk And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. There, he led a relentless Redskins pass rush in their Super Bowl XXVI ambush. 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. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. 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. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. A longtime semifinalist, his case is about to be handed over to the Veterans Committee, which has done a fine job recently of correcting oversights from Kenn's era. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. MOST UNDERRATED PLAYERS OF ALL TIME Let's hope the fame doesn't go to his head. Most Underrated NFL Players Of All Time - The Onion Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. WebWhile positional drills may be more indicative of a player's success in the NFL, other events like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press are less obvious. Bottom line: The 49ers of the 1980s are remembered most for Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, coach Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. Randy Gradishar. FEDERICO CHIESA. It was a motivating factor for a number of years in my career. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. That voter meant every fanbase has a beloved old defender, renowned for his toughness and leadership, that they swear belongs in the Hall of Fame. WebThe Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time 1. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. 10 Most Underrated Promising Football Players In The World While most Giants fans remember Meggett, he is still one of the most underrated players of all time. FanDuel NFL 2021: Best lineup for Week 16, Jets HC Robert Saleh tests positive for COVID, could miss Jaguars game, LeVeon Bell fires back on Twitter at fans trolling him for signing with Buccaneers. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. Web12. 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. But none accomplished more than Ryan while receiving less acclaim. 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. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. 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. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. Wisniewski reached eight Pro Bowls and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 1990s, so he's not exactly obscure. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. Terry McLaurin has played through one of the more unstable quarterback situations in football with Washington since entering the league but continues to emerge as one of the top wideouts in football. 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. He must either play for teams so good that they overshadow his accomplishments, or teams so bad that he had to do it all by himself. He played center, as well, before his career was over. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Shanahan uses Juszczyk as a traditional lead blocking back, but he provides plenty of versatility out of the backfield and with the ball in his hands. Entering 2021, Moton had allowed only 10 sacks in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. The Most Underrated Spanish Player Of All Time? - YouTube