A dominant presence as a run blocker, Moton uses his athleticism to get to the next level of the defense in a hurry. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl appearances: Four (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987). Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. Dunn finished his career with 15,655 all-purpose yards, 25th in league history, one of the best players never to be a champion. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Today we look back at the most underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and a few of these should be in Canton. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? And none of them produce the numbers he generated in less hospitable systems. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, tiers, sleepers Most Underrated American Football Players of All Time The Cardinals were 0-3 in the playoffs in Dierdorfs time with the team, and none of the games were particularly close. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | Stadium Talk They never had any playoff success, even when they did make it into the postseason. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" He played center, as well, before his career was over. 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. Dave Meggett -- RB, 1989-1994. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. Waller upped his game in 2020 and hauled in 107 passes and nine touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 2 Recap (Fantasy Football) Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. 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. He played 256 career regular-season games, never missing a start due to injury. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. 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. Robertson's Rams made a habit of reaching the playoffs every year and losing to the Vikings or Cowboys. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. Robinson was one of those players. 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's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. Hull was not just a great lineman but a groundbreaking one. A Hall of Fame voter once warned me that "every town has its linebacker.". Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. 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. 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. 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? Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. But no one remembers the Greatest Show on Turf for its defense, and Fletcher spent the prime of his career playing for mediocre Bills teams. Bottom line: OK, kids, lets play Name That Hall of Famer. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf 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. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. 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. The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. "No one was going to catch no ball.". Poor Louis Wright has a hard time even making the Broncos' overcrowded All-Snub Team. Overall, the total still ranks ninth at the position. Ogbah has always been a steady presence rushing the quarterback but broke out in 2020 during his first season with the Dolphins. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. He took over as the Bears' featured offensive weapon after the Super Bowl Shuffle years. 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. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. 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. David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? He intercepted 25 career regular-season passes and two more in the postseason. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. 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. Honourable Mentions Hajime Hosogai, Hertha Berlin DM, Age: 27 The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. A lifelong Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Davids 10-year career has been about consistency and productivity. Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes? He was a Pro Bowler in 1974 and 75, and he was an All-Pro selection from 1976-78. An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. 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. Brown is now best known as a television personality. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. Even without the same speed and athleticism as when he entered the league, David continues to find ways to make impact plays like a seasoned veteran. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest (Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN. Try Dave Krieg. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. Not Fred Dean. Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. 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 headed to Washington and moved from the weak to strong side. McDole was a starting defensive end for two of history's legendary defenses: the AFL champion Buffalo Bills of 1964 and '65 and Washington's "Over-the-Hill Gang" of the early 1970s. Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time by Team | Stadium Talk Modern centers don't get the credit they deserve. 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. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Not enough credit is given to Waller who lacks the Shanahan offense or elite QB to help take his game to the next level. Teams: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Experience: 13 years (1950-59, 1963-64, 1966), AFL All-Star Game appearances: One (1963). It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. 25 Feb/23. 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 was a eight-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion. So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. Whether they were disrespected by the media, or scrappy fan-favorites, every NFL team has had a selection of players that didnt get the attention they deserved. Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts Raphael Guerreiro - Borussia Dortmund. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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. The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. Once an arbitrary number of players from a historic team get enshrined, the committee moves on in search of underappreciated players from other franchises. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. 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. 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. Derrick Mason recorded four 1,000-yard seasons for Jeff Fisher teams and four more for the Baltimore Ravens. Following a strong start to 2021, McLaurin is slowly beginning to earn the respect his game deserves. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. 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. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. 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). One of the most well-traveled quarterbacks in NFL history, Vinny Testaverde hung around long enough to register the seventh-most passing yards ever in his 20-year career. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. WebDon't hesitate to comment below with underrated players who you believe should have been on this list. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. Quick: Name the 49ers' all-time sack leader. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. Sanders was an extremely WebTop 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time 20 Drew Brees. Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. 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. Measurables. 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. 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's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. 10 Most Underrated Promising Football Players In The World Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Top 20 most underrated footballers of all time: who are they? Super Bowl championships: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. That may tick him off. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. And almost nobody remembers that, when Edwards caught the ball, he knew what to do it. Most Underrated NFL Players Of All Time - The Onion 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 (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images). Some of the 19 C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Most Underrated 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. 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. 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. David entered the league as a terrific coverage linebacker and has continued to grow into an all-around complete linebacker and playmaker. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. Antoine Griezmann is known for his excellent left foot and can score and create goals with it; hence, he is one of the best left-footed midfielders. Giants: All-time underrated, overrated players Man Utd's double winning He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. The difference between the great and the all-time great is often a matter of timing and luck. And you're never going to guess who's No. 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. So whaddya say, fans? In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Top 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. Defensive Player of the Year awards? Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Taylor Moton has quietly emerged as a dominant presence at right tackle for the Panthers. 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 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. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. 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. 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. chants for the best players who didnt get their just dues over the years. Super Bowl victories? The rumors themselves were not surprising. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. 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. Gheorghe Hagi, Romania. Fred Warner gets a lot of attention at linebacker for the 49ers, but Dre Greenlaw flies under theradar as a young playmaker quickly on the rise. The linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. 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. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. NFL Combine records: Complete list of top 40 times, bench press Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. He announced his retirement from pro football in 2010, not long after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. 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 Hall of Fame has turned up its nose on all of them. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then? While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. 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. 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. Juszczyk has made five Pro Bowl appearances, including each season since joining San Francisco in 2017. At age 25, Franklin-Myers seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential and should benefit from some additional pieces being added to a young rebuilding Jets defense. 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. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. More than one scout considered Turner to be too light to play linebacker, too slow to play defensive back. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. 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. Shenault is dynamic after the catch and plays like a running back with the ball in his hands. Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. 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. In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. "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. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. Kenn was one of the leaders of the NFL Players Association during the era of replacement players and court battles over free agency. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. His stardom was spread among three teams, robbing him of local hero status (or Hall of Fame momentum) in any one city. But McCree did fumble. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Perhaps it's time we look back on how much of an impact he and his Jaguars had on the NFL two decades ago. Who are the top 20 best left-footed football players as of 2023? Rivers had neither, but he possessed just about everything else. Interior defensive linemen: The average height and weight for defensive tackles entering the league is 6-foot-3, 306 pounds. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). The problem with Dierdorf is he played for a lot of bad Cardinals teams. The guy should demand a recount, I tell ya. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, That's its own kind of recognition. 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. Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. But the former NFL Man of the Year award winner and two-time All-Pro should not have had to wait so long. Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. Then again, the fourth-round draft pick had no choice. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. 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. NFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History Even so, Smith was pretty much a well-kept secret outside Pittsburgh despite meeting or approaching Pro Bowl standards for almost a decade. Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Dierdorf. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. Beachum has lined up at both left and right tackle but displayed Bottom line: After eight seasons in Buffalo, where he had been a mainstay with the best defense in AFL history, Ron McDole took his two-bar helmet to Washington. Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. 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: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. With 4.35 speed, McLaurin can take the top off any defense but has also rounded out the rest of his game since his time at Ohio State. Buckner plays within the defense, often allowing others to make plays, but remains a nightmare trying to block one on one. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. Developing a rapport with new QB Trevor Lawrence should only help Shenault quickly reach his true potential. Wouldnt you know it? Anderson went on to duel with Walsh and Montana's 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. 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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. By the time the 49ers are great again, Bowman may be in his early 30s or on another team. 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. The correct answer is Player A (Ken Stabler), and if youre Player B (Brodie), you have to wonder if one Super Bowl should make that much difference. 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. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars overtake Detroit for No. 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. There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound.