This list begins with a quarterback who is preparing to play in the 2015 NFL regular season. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images. 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: There, he led a relentless Redskins pass rush in their Super Bowl XXVI ambush. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. Nope, not Charles Haley. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars overtake Detroit for No. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. WebThe Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time 1. The Lions drafted him as a running back. Bates finished tied for 6th in 2020 with 15 passes defended. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. 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. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. 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. Bahr converted 84 percent of his field-goal attempts (21 of 25), and 98 percent of his extra-point tries (40 of 41) when it counted most. 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. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. 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. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? 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. And you're never going to guess who's No. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. Is Jalen Hurts the Future of the Philadelphia Eagles? 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 2 Recap (Fantasy Football) 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. 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. Steve Atwater. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. 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. Coughlin gave Smith a tryout, then kickoff return duties, and then teamed him with Mark Brunell and Keenan McCardell to create one of the most dangerous passing attacks of the late '90s and early 2000s. He arrived in Buffalo at the same time Marv Levy was revolutionizing NFL offense with the help of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. 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. Most Underrated Moton started all 16 games each of the last four years, gradually improving and joining the conversation of best right tackles in football. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. 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. Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. 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. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. 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. We could just trudge onward to the next player right now. Robinson was one of those players. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive 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. 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. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. More than anything, though, Rote was a leader and winner. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. 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. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. With Warfield hurt nearly all of that season, Ryan helped make a Pro Bowler out of receiver/punter Gary Collins. Most Underrated American Football Players of All Time Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. You know the type. The Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players - ONE37pm Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. Jackson probably helped you win a fantasy title or two, but he would be remembered for so much more if he wasn't always on the wrong team at the wrong time. Kolb set the Super Bowl standard for left tackles in Super Bowl IV, when he smoked undersized Minnesota Vikings end Jim Marshall like a bad cigar. He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. WebA key ingredient of arguably the best back four to grace the game Mauro Tassoti, him, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini the Milan central defender made more than 450 The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. His 65 interceptions are fifth most in NFL history. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. Interior defensive linemen: The average height and weight for defensive tackles entering the league is 6-foot-3, 306 pounds. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. He announced his retirement from pro football in 2010, not long after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. There is one football player who could score from literally anywhere, and his name is 2. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. Turner was the ultimate plug-and-play guy, one of five 49ers to be part of all eight of their playoff teams in the decade. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. 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. 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 has started every game he has played in since 2014 (with four different franchises). Randy Gradishar. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. Edouard Mendy of Chelsea celebrates after his sides victory in the Premier League match 2. Bottom line: The 49ers of the 1980s are remembered most for Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, coach Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense. But McCree did fumble. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. TGT Tips! The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. Bowman is coming off an Achilles tear in 2016. If Morgan had played in a pass-happy offense with a Pro Bowl quarterback and hands-off rules, you would find him in Canton right now. Mike Williams is an elite deep threat at wide receiver and has maintained an average YPC of over 15 every year since 2018. 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. The difference between the great and the all-time great is often a matter of timing and luck. But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). 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 He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. Its hard to think of a player more dominant and less talked about over a long period of time than Chandler Jones. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. But Wright never posted massive interception totals, and his teams ended up on the receiving end of a pair of Super Bowl beatings. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. So LeRoy Butler, innovator of the Lambeau Leap, is excluded from his own statue. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag. The Hall of Mills was a USFL All-Star in all three seasons of the league's existence, and he led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars' Doghouse Defense (coached by Jim Mora) to a pair of league titles. 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. The best teams in the AFL proved to be NFL-caliber, but the bottom of the league was populated with a nearly bankrupt franchise or two, so the best players clumped on the best teams and stood out from the crowd. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. 20 Most Underrated Footballers on the Planet - Bleacher Report top 20 In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. Jerry Rice and John Taylor may have been the greatest receiving tandem of that era, but Ellard and Flipper Anderson were the most explosive pair of deep threats. 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. Hmmm. 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. "I dont get it. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. Karl Mecklenburg. Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. Year after year, Chandler Jones is one of the best pure pass rushers in football. As some players continue to grow their stardom and gain league-wide recognition, others are less talked about, often flying under the radar for several seasons or even entire careers without proper acknowledgment. The Packers believed they were a veteran quarterback away from a playoff run in 1974, so head coach/GM Dan Devine acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by surrendering a ransom of draft picks huge enough to cause even Ryan Pace to do a spit take: two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third-rounder. His career was cut short by injuries suffered in the first of those three Pro Bowls. Cooke is the most underrated player in the sport, performing mostly in the wonderful but considerable shadows of Boston, Staleys grand personality and all the noise at Colonial Life Arena. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. Robertson was one of the NFL's fastest linebackers in the 1970s. In two Super Bowl trips, Bahr didnt miss a kick three field goals, six PATs. The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. 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 Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Beachum has lined up at both left and right tackle but displayed Maybe he wasn't the best defender on the field for any one play, but he stayed on that field for an entire generation. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images). While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. They would rank first in the NFL in yardage four other times while Evans was a starter. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then? 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. He routinely beat defenders with quickness out of his breaks and clever change-of-pace moves, qualities that also served him well as a punt returner. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. 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. most underrated players in football at He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. DeForest Buckner plays great team defense and has done so successfully for two franchises. Angel Di Maria. 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. Ogbah improved against the run while putting up a career-high in both sacks (9) and QB hits (21). He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). While coverage is Bates' strength, he can still lay the big hit and be a factor in run support. It was a motivating factor for a number of years in my career. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. With his career spread evenly across three teams and zero All-Pro selections (a consequence of playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher), Fletcher is a Hall of Fame long shot. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. "Even now I still get pissed off. They didnt do anything that Tobin Rote hadnt done a long time ago. 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. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. 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 Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund Looks Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. 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. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. most underrated player Bottom line: One of the premier long-ball threats of any era, Stanley Morgan ranks 10th in yards per reception (19.2) and 39th in touchdown catches (72) on the all-time list. Waller was a sixth-round draft pick at wide receiver by the Ravens in 2015 and struggled to find targets early in his career in spite of his 66 frame. Wouldnt you know it? Steve Wisniewski played guard on a Raiders team that moved in the middle of his career and was just good enough to remind you it was not in the same class as the great Raiders teams that preceded it. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. Lets not forget they also dominated with cold-blooded efficiency at the other side of the ball, where Keena Turner was rarely out of position at right outside linebacker.