Drew Brees endured an average of just 24 sacks per season in Evans' All-Pro seasons, despite typically dropping back to pass over 650 times per year. Steve Atwater. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. 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. 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. 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. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. So whaddya say, fans? Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. 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. There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. 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 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. 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. 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. In an era when 50 percent completion rates and 20-interception seasons were common for Pro Bowl quarterbacks, Anderson's 64.9 percent completion rate and quarterback ratings above 90 look like temporal anomalies. 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. Web12. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. Sutton hauled in 72 catches for 1,112 yards during his second season in the league before a knee injury cut short his 2020campaign after 1 game. 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. While Stafford's game is Hall of Fame worthy, an 0-3 career record in the playoffs on some flawed Lions teams has done little to elevate his name into the conversation of top QBs. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. Young played for some great 49ers teams, including a Super Bowl-winning squad as a rookie in 1994. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. 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. Robinson was one of those players. 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. "No one was going to catch no ball.". He headed to Washington and moved from the weak to strong side. And none of them produce the numbers he generated in less hospitable systems. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. 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. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. Bottom line: The 1970s Steelers won four Super Bowls two with a power run game, two with a potent pass attack and who better than Jon Kolb to do the heavy lifting? But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. Here are ten of the most underrated college football players of all time. Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. 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. Allen made a lot of plays. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. 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. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. Six All-Pro selections. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. Today we look back at the most underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and a few of these should be in Canton. The Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the 27-0 championship rout of 1964. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. 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. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. 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 Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. 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. 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. 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. Actually, theres a simple explanation. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. 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. in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are "Whichever one has Marv Fleming" would have been a correct answer. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Hull was not just a great lineman but a groundbreaking one. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. 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. He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. But Brown was a unique and underappreciated player for over a decade on a team that nearly revolutionized the way football is played. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. The Packers were a team with more history than identity when Butler arrived. With Warfield hurt nearly all of that season, Ryan helped make a Pro Bowler out of receiver/punter Gary Collins. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. Efficient? He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. Raphael Guerreiro - Borussia Dortmund. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. It doesn't matter: If you are a Broncos defender, you might as well forget about a bust in Canton. 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. 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. Wouldnt you know it? WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. 25 Feb/23. DeForest Buckner plays great team defense and has done so successfully for two franchises. The most underrated player on all 32 NFL teams Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs with the ball while being tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. #5. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. More than anything, though, Rote was a leader and winner. In both New England and Arizona, Jones has wreaked havoc on quarterbacks, demonstrating versatility as a 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. While most Giants fans remember Meggett, he is still one of the most underrated players of all time. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. chants for the best players who didnt get their just dues over the years. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. That may tick him off. Measurables. 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. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. Robertson's Rams made a habit of reaching the playoffs every year and losing to the Vikings or Cowboys. David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. 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. Juszczyk has made five Pro Bowl appearances, including each season since joining San Francisco in 2017. 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. Robertson was one of the NFL's fastest linebackers in the 1970s. David entered the league as a terrific coverage linebacker and has continued to grow into an all-around complete linebacker and playmaker. 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. Meet every NFL team's all-time most underrated player. 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. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. But what peak years they were: 14- and 13-win seasons, annual playoff appearances, routine 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons. At only 510, Johnson lacks the ideal size. Graham has only missed one game since 2012 prior to 2021, and similar to Hughes is a winning culture type of player. He was a Pro Bowler in 1974 and 75, and he was an All-Pro selection from 1976-78. That may be unfair to players like Robinson, Jerry Kramer and L.C. While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. 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. Or as astute NBC broadcaster Dick Enberg scored it, "KO for Ken Norton.". Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes? The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Then again, the fourth-round draft pick had no choice. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. 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. Know who created those wide-open spaces? TGT Tips! 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 In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. WebTop 20 Most Underrated Footballers in 2022 1. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. 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. Buckner is a smart player and one of the better-run defenders in football. Ogbah improved against the run while putting up a career-high in both sacks (9) and QB hits (21). But so were teammates like Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Curley Culp and Jan Stenerud, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. If Anderson had failed, the 49ers may never have lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. It was rival 49ers tackle Bryant Young who the Rams were most concerned about before the 1999 season, when they signed Timmerman as a free agent. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. He won 65 percent of his NFL starts. Try Dave Krieg. He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. 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. 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. In the 1950s and the days of 12-game regular seasons, he rushed for 3,078 yards, nearly 1,000 more than the runner-up. Developing a rapport with new QB Trevor Lawrence should only help Shenault quickly reach his true potential. Ryan made three Pro Bowls, but All-Pro status was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr. Sanders was an extremely If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. 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. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. 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. He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. Theyre the core players who are overshadowed by more well-paid, high-profile teammates and just plain pathetic, shameless self-promoters. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. Bottom line: OK, kids, lets play Name That Hall of Famer. Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. McDole played 251 professional games as a defensive lineman, a remarkable feat in any era that should not be forgotten. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. Tom Jackson. The Hall of While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. 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. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund Looks Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. He intercepted 34 passes for the Eagles and 54 in his career. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. 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 Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. 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 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. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. Moton started all 16 games each of the last four years, gradually improving and joining the conversation of best right tackles in football. ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. FEDERICO CHIESA. No modern coach suppressed passing offenses quite like Fisher, and no team produces offensive stats that look like they come from the early 1930s quite like the Ravens. Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. 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. He didnt just take up space, either. 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. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. 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. Shenault is dynamic after the catch and plays like a running back with the ball in his hands. 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).
