20 most underrated football players of all time

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. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. 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? In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. 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. "Underrated" is in the eye of the beholder, so let's establish some ground rules for these rankings: After that, players are ranked based how underappreciated they are, not how great they are. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. After the Bills failed to score, he knocked quarterback Jim Kelly out of the game in the next series. 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. FEDERICO CHIESA. One of the most underrated players in AM Football, Brodie Croyle was drafted into the NFL by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006 after being a college football standout with the University of Alabama. Efficient? It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. 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. WebTop 20 Most Underrated Footballers in 2022 1. His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. Now that's underrated. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. The former top ten draft pick looks to be on the verge of breaking out. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? 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. Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. Young played for some great 49ers teams, including a Super Bowl-winning squad as a rookie in 1994. Graham has only missed one game since 2012 prior to 2021, and similar to Hughes is a winning culture type of player. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. WebTop 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time 20 Drew Brees. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. Moton started all 16 games each of the last four years, gradually improving and joining the conversation of best right tackles in football. 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. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder. He was a eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. 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. But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. WebThis list is for those players the ones who were great football players and did not get the credit they deserve. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). According to Pro Football Reference, he was flagged for 14 accepted holding penalties in 187 career games, little more than one per season. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. No matter. That "something" was throwing for more than 29,000 yards and going to four AFL All-Star Games and a Pro Bowl with the Chargers and then leading the Rams to a 12-2 record in 1973. 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. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. Know who created those wide-open spaces? Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. 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. Mason also caught 49 postseason passes and was one of the game's best return men for a few years. It was the era of great defensive lines with catchy namesthe Rams had the Fearsome Foursome, the Cowboys the Doomsday Defense, the Steelers later added the Steel Curtain, and so forthand Marshall was the Ringo Starr of the Purple People Eaters, the guy who once ran the wrong way for a touchdown and was happy just to be in the band. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. 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. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. So Kenn basically had three careers. But McCree did fumble. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. Robertson is so poorly remembered that it was hard to find a decent photo of him in our archives. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. 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. With that in mind, NFL He enjoyed one of the greatest receiving games in NFL history: 15 catches, 291 yards and three touchdowns against the historic 2000 Ravens defense. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. 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. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Neal Anderson replaced Walter Payton. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 10. His stardom was spread among three teams, robbing him of local hero status (or Hall of Fame momentum) in any one city. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. 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. Robinson was one of those players. Juszczyk has made five Pro Bowl appearances, including each season since joining San Francisco in 2017. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. 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 Man Utd's double winning 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. 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. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. Not Fred Dean. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. 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). Edouard Mendy - Chelsea. Hadl signed with the Chargers instead, and Sid Gilman built him into the trigger man for an offense from which all modern offenses descended. Jerry Hughes has been a consistent pass rusher and important piece to the Buffalo Bills defense. After spending a season on the practice squad and injured-reserve with the Jets, Franklin-Myers made the most of his opportunities as a rotational player throughout most of 2020, leading to a starting role in 2021 and a massive $55M extension. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). They didnt allow a sack in 84 pass attempts. 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. It takes bad timing and bad luck. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. 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. He finally won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Buccaneers. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. Bottom line: Wilber Marshall was the most athletic and versatile linebacker with the legendary 1985 Bears defense he often replaced the celebrated Mike Singletary in pass situations. And you're never going to guess who's No. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes? 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. Buckner plays within the defense, often allowing others to make plays, but remains a nightmare trying to block one on one. 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. 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. 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 For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). Honourable Mentions Hajime Hosogai, Hertha Berlin DM, Age: 27 Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. 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. WebThe NFL is increasingly becoming a passing league. 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. 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. Today we look back at the most underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and a few of these should be in Canton. Unless you live in Cleveland or are over 50, you probably have never heard of him. 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. As good as Ellard was at the time, he almost was never mentioned in debates about the best at his position. Juszczyk knows his role and is a winning player that will always fight to win those tough yards. They would rank first in the NFL in yardage four other times while Evans was a starter. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. In addition to the most underrated and overrated Raiders of all time, Adam Rank goes on a mini-tirade about a criminally underrated coach. He led his team to an NFL championship. 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. 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. Both Courtland Sutton and teammate Tim Patrick could easily make this list together as neither player is discussed nearly enough. There will never be another player like Marshall. Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. #5. WebThe Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time 1. At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. 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. Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. 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. The Hall of Fame has turned up its nose on all of them. 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. He intercepted 34 passes for the Eagles and 54 in his career. Derrick Mason recorded four 1,000-yard seasons for Jeff Fisher teams and four more for the Baltimore Ravens. 'Nuff said, right? Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. 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. 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. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. Bottom line: In his 15th and final season, the 36-year-old Ken Riley had eight interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns, one of the most incredible performances by an old man ever. But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. Tom Jackson. 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. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). Web20 most underrated football players of all time 1. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. 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. Even so, Smith was pretty much a well-kept secret outside Pittsburgh despite meeting or approaching Pro Bowl standards for almost a decade. 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. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. Franklin-Myers went from fourth-round draft choice of the Rams in 2018, to a final roster cut in 2019. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. And almost nobody remembers that, when Edwards caught the ball, he knew what to do it. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. 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. Ken Griffey Jr.? Taylor Moton has quietly emerged as a dominant presence at right tackle for the Panthers. 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. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. 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. 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. 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. 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. Meet every NFL team's all-time most underrated player. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. Ogbah improved against the run while putting up a career-high in both sacks (9) and QB hits (21). Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. The USFL may not have been the NFL in terms of quality, but being the Luke Kuechly of a league that featured Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young should count for something. The guy should demand a recount, I tell ya. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. chants for the best players who didnt get their just dues over the years. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Greenlaw is equally effective against the run and pass, a sure tackler, and brings plenty of energy to theNiners' defense. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. 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. 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. During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. Anderson became a footnote to the Ditka era, but fans who saw him play know he was far more than that. 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. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. Tom Jackson. 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. Allen made a lot of plays. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. "No one was going to catch no ball.". Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. They didnt do anything that Tobin Rote hadnt done a long time ago. He was a Pro Bowler in 1974 and 75, and he was an All-Pro selection from 1976-78. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success.