Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Jones has also recorded at least 100 tackles every year since entering the league with the exception of 2018 when he played in only 6 games. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. 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. He played 256 career regular-season games, never missing a start due to injury. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. His 23 fourth-quarter comebacks (20th overall) are more than Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Sonny Jurgensen and Bart Starr, to name a few Hall of Famers at the position. It was a motivating factor for a number of years in my career. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. 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. On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. 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. Waller upped his game in 2020 and hauled in 107 passes and nine touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. 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? There are no official sack statistics before 1982, but the Minnesota Vikings credit Jim Marshall with 127 career sacks. Bowman is coming off an Achilles tear in 2016. Robinson was one of those players. Since 2013, Jones has registered six double-digit sack seasons including a 17 sack season in 2017 that led the NFL, and a career-high of 19 in 2019. A bit more well-known after recently signing a four-year contract extension, John Franklin Myers is an easy player to root for and deserving of the success he has achieved. Wright earned a second-team All-1970s nod from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, even though several of his signature years were in the 1980s. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. That may tick him off. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. He started for an offensive line that helped Barry Sanders win two of his four rushing titles. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. If the quarterback got rid of the ball before getting crushed, it was up to Allen to make a play. Bowman makes this list because he has the makings of a player who will be underappreciated historically. One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. Young was a devastating interior pass-rusher who recorded 30 sacks in the three-year span from 1998 through 2000. 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. As a pass blocker, Moton has developed into a steady presence capable of holding his own, and at times even dominating top pass rushers that include Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan. Entering 2021, Moton had allowed only 10 sacks in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. You know the type. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. His 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was far from elite level speed either, but none of that has not stopped Johnson from playing fast and producing at a high level for the Steelers. Or as astute NBC broadcaster Dick Enberg scored it, "KO for Ken Norton.". 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. He once sacked Dan Marino twice on the first two plays of a gamea remarkable achievement, as Marino was one of the least sacked quarterbacks in NFL history. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. But his Hall of Fame candidacy has been stuck in semifinalist limbo. 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. Tom Nalen protected John Elway in a pair of Super Bowl victories and helped trigger a zone-blocking revolution as part of Alex Gibbs' influential offensive lines. Hmmm. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. Teams: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. He enjoyed one of the greatest receiving games in NFL history: 15 catches, 291 yards and three touchdowns against the historic 2000 Ravens defense. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Brown did one thing terribly wrong in 18 NFL seasons, but for his teams to win as often as they did, he must have done an awful lot more right. He was a Pro Bowl regular, two-time All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971. Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. 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. They never had any playoff success, even when they did make it into the postseason. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. 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. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). Edouard Mendy - Chelsea. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. Bottom line: All Ken Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Super Bowl rings. There will never be another player like Marshall. Buckner is rarely discussed with the likes of Cameron Heyward, Fletcher Cox, or Grady Jarrett among the top interior defensive linemen (next tier behind Aaron Donald), but he is every bit as talented. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. 25 Feb/23. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. Defensive Player of the Year awards? They say you know an offensive lineman is doing a great job when his name is rarely brought up, but its time Moton is talked about more for his success. He is also infamous for admitting on ESPN Radio that he once purposely let Packers defender Sean Jones sack Scott Mitchell so the struggling quarterback would get knocked out of a game. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Nope, not Charles Haley. 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. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Dierdorf. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. Ronald Koeman. He is also proficient with his right foot and is a versatile player who can play multiple positions in the attacking third of the pitch. Web113 Likes, TikTok video from FootWorld (@lovingfootbal): "The most underrated player of all time #dimaria #football". That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. But the former NFL Man of the Year award winner and two-time All-Pro should not have had to wait so long. Then again, the fourth-round draft pick had no choice. In the nine seasons that Aaron Smith had double-digit starts, their D ranked among the top nine in yards allowed every time, but his consistent play went over the heads of many. He had 44 career sacks and as many as eight in a season on two occasions. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. 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. "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Shenault is dynamic after the catch and plays like a running back with the ball in his hands. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. 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. 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. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). Tom Jackson. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up. McDole, nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" because of his boogie on the dance floor rather than his on-field footwork, was known as more of a run defender than a pass-rusher. Make no mistake about it, Eric Bieniemys exodus from Kansas City to Washington is only one move on the chess board WebThe NFL is increasingly becoming a passing league. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. WebThe 10 most underrated football players of all time are: Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Gaetano Scirea, Hristo Stoichkov, Matthias Sammer, Davor Suker, Gunter Netzer, Bates started every game during his first three seasons since entering the league in 2018, recording three interceptions in each season and averaging over 100 tackles. 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. (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. He isn't the dynamic threat thatTyreek Hill orDavante Adams are, but Allen is an elite route runner that consistently puts up elite production. Some might say it's a stretch to put Allen on this list after four straight Pro Bowl seasons and 95+ catch seasons. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. The 6'2" Wright was renowned as a run-stuffing cornerbackthat's him tackling Walter Payton in the photobut he also intercepted 26 career passes, even though opposing quarterbacks spent much of his career avoiding him. Man Utd's double winning WebDon't hesitate to comment below with underrated players who you believe should have been on this list. Both of those seasons came, ironically enough, after Allen and Buddy were separated. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images. Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. original sound - ftbl vids 221. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. 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. Gheorghe Hagi, Romania. 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. Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. 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 They didnt allow a sack in 84 pass attempts. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. #5. Mason was frequently his team's most valuable offensive player, but he and Steve McNair made their short pitch-and-catch passes look a little too easy. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? The Jaguars upset John Elway's Broncos and reached the AFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team and then went on to three more playoff berths, culminating in a 14-2 season. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf DeForest Buckner plays great team defense and has done so successfully for two franchises. Old-timers call it the Lawrence Welk trade after a television bandleader of the era who would begin songs by counting off "A one, and a two, and a three". Evans, the best pass-protecting guard of his era, was charged with making sure pass-rushers didn't get close enough to Brees to bat his passes down, let alone sack him. He took over as the Bears' featured offensive weapon after the Super Bowl Shuffle years. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. WebBUY OUR MERCH: https://www.thegivengo.com/merchTIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegivengoSPOTIFY: 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. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. We could just trudge onward to the next player right now. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. 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. Both Courtland Sutton and teammate Tim Patrick could easily make this list together as neither player is discussed nearly enough. 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. Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. Today we look back at the most underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and a few of these should be in Canton. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. On the field, it is Diontae Johnson that has emerged as a favorite target of Big Ben. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. 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. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. At only 510, Johnson lacks the ideal size. FEDERICO CHIESA. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. Johnson can line up all over the field and consistently find space in the opposing defense. Beachum has lined up at both left and right tackle but displayed Actually, theres a simple explanation. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. 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. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. More than anything, though, Rote was a leader and winner. 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. Chiesa is a winger who plays for Juventus. Membership on various All-1960s teams. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. Randy Gradishar. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. 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.