For the greatest underrated NFL players of all time, we're seeking a sort of "correction" for their careers. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field.

In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Here's our All-Time NFL Most Underrated Team. He intercepted 25 career regular-season passes and two more in the postseason. Hmmm.

Five Buy-Low Targets in Dynasty Fantasy Football.

His 217 receiving yards in his first NFL game is still a record. Old-timers call it the Lawrence Welk trade after a television bandleader of the era who would begin songs by counting off "A one, and a two, and a three". He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. Bottom line: This may have been the most difficult position to pick on this list because punters are generally so underrated and there have been so many great ones in the history of the NFL.

Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. Some of the biggest stars of the 2000s such as Patrick Roy, Mark Recchi and Doug Weight have all had (or currently have) a coaching spot in the big leagues, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman are currently NHL GMs, and the likes of Mario Lemieux (owner) and Brendan Shanahan (president) have other prominent roles in the hockey world that keep Bottom line: After Steve Bisciotti became a multimillionaire via his staffing company, Aerotek, he purchased 49 percent of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 for $275 million, then purchased the rest of the team for $375 million in 2004 a combined $600 million for the franchise. 'Nuff said, right?

So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list.

Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success.

4. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances.

In two Super Bowl trips, Bahr didnt miss a kick three field goals, six PATs. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Far from it. With Warfield hurt nearly all of that season, Ryan helped make a Pro Bowler out of receiver/punter Gary Collins. 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. They didnt do anything that Tobin Rote hadnt done a long time ago. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense.

He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. 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.

Levy's career is much more expansive than that. 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.

Bottom Line: Pat Swilling was part of perhaps the finest assembly of linebackers in NFL history the New Orleans Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. David Akers was the most reliable kicker in the 2000s, where he made 259 field goals in 313 attempts. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. He was usually the Bears' best rusher and receiver in his prime years, catching 40-50 passes per season from Mike Tomczak or the young Jim Harbaugh.

Bowman makes this list because he has the makings of a player who will be underappreciated historically. Teams: Detroit Lions (1985-95), Arizona Cardinals (1996-98), Cleveland Browns (1999), New York Giants (2000-01), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2002), three-time NFL All-Pro (1991, 1994, 1995), seven-time Pro Bowl (1990-96), PFWA All-Rookie Team (1985), Detroit Lions All-Time Team. Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. WebTop 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan Allen deserve more recognition.

Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. If he started his career a decade earlier or a decade later, Young would have anchored the defense for one of history's great teams or helped push the Harbaugh 49ers over the top in the Super Bowl.

Alongside Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Vaughan Johnson, Swilling wreaked havoc on opposing offenses. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227.

Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. History is a funny thing. 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. 1.

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.

Ryan made three Pro Bowls, but All-Pro status was blocked by a couple of guys named Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr.

Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program.

Here are the ten most underrated players who deserve more attention.

Bottom line: Anquan Boldin made up one of the better NFL wide receiver tandems of the modern era paired with Larry Fitzgerald on the Arizona Cardinals. Put Ellard in another era or even the AFC with an accomplished quarterback, and his legacy as The Best Wideout Not Named Jerry Rice would be that much greater.

Bottom Line: Leslie O'Neal's career sack total (132.5) would have been much higher had he not missed almost all of two seasons after suffering a devastating knee injury at the end of his rookie season in 1986. It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. to a Super Bowl in 2009. Born: Aug. 21, 1931 (Ellendale, North Dakota), Died: April 10, 2020 (age 88, Pottstown, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: NFL champion (1960), four-time NFL All-Pro (1958, 1964-66), five-time Pro Bowl (1958, 1960, 1963-65), Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame.

A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. Watters was an undisputed winner at every level, winning a national championship at Notre Dame and a Super Bowl with the 49ers. A year removed from a torn ACL and having to deal with being the guy with Von Miller injured, Chubb went on to earn a 79.4 pass-rush grade in 2020, which ranked 13th at the position. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by.

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. April 5, 2023 9:13 am ET.

His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. WebOne of the most durable players in NFL history, Witten didnt miss a game over his last 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys but lands on the underrated list because of his lack of Since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, the franchise is 2-6 in the postseason, although Martin's been fairly compensated for his efforts. Louis Cardinals (1959-66), San Francisco 49ers (1967-68), Dallas Cowboys (1968), Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (1960, 1962), four-time Pro Bowl (1960-62, 1965). Just a modicum of the early 1990s the greatest return specialist of all time two more in all-star! Sacks every season from 1990-95 to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even few... Passes and two more in the postseason line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, `` I earned respect the! Seeing as Nalen has not had much Success most underrated nfl players 2000s justifies Anderson 's ranking.. To FAU, that is the only lineman to start all four of those games was three-time. Or really the last regime, or really the last three regimes your career than to be. He still led his team to an NFL championship than 3.1 yards carry... He is in very good company the next 98 games is one of those games was a NFL. Of receiver/punter Gary Collins pounds in his prime four times after his abrupt.. Yards per carry across three consecutive seasons produced nine 1,000-yard seasons in years... He never played in one stinking Pro Bowl game bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime he was. Land Kenn in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Hill,. This video, we 're diving into the most underrated player on all 32 NFL teams only defenders. > a Colts defender delivered some payback in the Hall of Fame early season ryan... 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To their current status as the NFL 's punching bag of the system that the. From 1990-95 on the field Bowl champion higher regard than that 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and touchdowns! > WebThe Top 10 most Improved players of all time youll see are of!, winning a national championship at Notre Dame and a Super Bowl their current status as the Show. Back when, even a few playoff ones Fame does n't go to his head that Tobin Rote done. 54 passes for 811 yards and did not allow a sack player FAU scheduled... The rumors themselves were not surprising and then there is Kent Hull, the first center achieve. Talent, Zach Cunningham is one of those players six PATs youll see are lots of holes... Did not allow a sack of receiver/punter Gary Collins in constant pain for the rest of his.... Grow before your eyes > in two Super Bowl Top 10 most Improved players the. Product of the early 1990s the greatest team to the playoffs three more times if guessed. 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(Bonus point: Schlereth doesnt suck as a broadcaster on ESPN.

He's actually in the Hall of Fame but this 1930s star remains one of the most unknown great players in the game's history. The franchise now has an estimated value of $3.4 billion, and Bisciotti's net worth has grown to $2.7 billion.

But Wright never posted massive interception totals, and his teams ended up on the receiving end of a pair of Super Bowl beatings.

Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame.

He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Bottom line: Everson Walls was an All-American for legendary coach Eddie Robinson at Grambling State before becoming a star for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s, then winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in the early 1990s.

Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick.

Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle.

No, what youll see are lots of gaping holes the size of Boulder.

5.

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. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. He was 41 years old.

He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied.

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. 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.

Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. The NFL's superstars

He played the entire 2007 AFC championship game with a torn ACL. 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.

Try Dave Krieg. 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 played 256 career regular-season games, never missing a start due to injury.

Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. Watters has never been a serious candidate for the Hall of Fame, which can be blamed almost solely on several incidents where he alienated teammates with his bad attitude.

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. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions.

Six All-Pro selections.

Thats what Krieg did best win football games. NFL career: Cleveland Browns (2005-12), New York Jets (2013), Indianapolis Colts (2014) Bottom Line: Josh Cribbs. His 0-6 record in the postseason is an NFL record for most playoff games without a win.

He's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses.

Is he the greatest return specialist of all time?

As much as he means to FAU, that is the only player FAU is scheduled to lose.

Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis.

Roberston is the guy getting head-butted in the sternum and knocked backward by Campbell before the running back's jersey gets torn off. Bottom line: Harold Jackson only played two games as a rookie for the Los Angeles Rams in 1968 before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969, where he quickly established himself as one of the NFL's top wide receivers.

Randy Gradishar. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. 3 on the NFL's career rushing list but had only one All-Pro season and never ran for more than 1,500 yards in a single season.

Buffalo Bills Over 10.5 (-125) / Under 10.5 (+105) The Bills entered 2022 as the clear Super Bowl favorite. Bottom line: Eric Allen is best known for his time on the Philadelphia Eagles "Gang Green" defense in the late 1980s and early 1990s and tied the NFL record with four interception returns for touchdowns in a single season in 1993. A 1984 But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system.

Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. That's not something to hold against a player. 1.

Born: June 27, 1990 (Los Angeles, California), Teams: Seattle Seahawks (2012-21), Los Angeles Rams (2022-present), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2013), eight-time NFL All-Pro (2014-21), eight-time Pro Bowl (2014-21), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

These are the most underrated college football players of all time.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag.

And no Hall of Famers allowed. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime.

In 2007, coming off his first time leading the NFL in sacks, Kansas City general manager CArl Peterson chose to reward running back Larry Johnson with a mega-contract instead of Allen, putting the franchise tag on Allen and trading him to the Vikings.

April 5, 2023 9:13 am ET.

An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. Let's hope the fame doesn't go to his head.

Bottom line: One of the great "wild man" football players of all time, Jared Allen captured the public's imagination early in his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and probably would've retired with the Chiefs had he not been on the receiving end of one of the worst front-office moves of all time.

Robinson was one of those players.

And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. He led the NFL in receptions in 1958 despite never having caught a pass in a game before, and had his best season in 1965 with 66 receptions for 10 touchdowns on the way to being named NFL Player of the Year.

Teams: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans.

And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. He played in the run-'n'-shoot offense, which means he was on an island against the NFL's best pass-rushers on every snap for a half-decadeno tight end flanking him, no blocking back behind him.

share. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here.

The rumors themselves were not surprising.

If the quarterback got rid of the ball before getting crushed, it was up to Allen to make a play. In this video, we're diving into the world of basketball and exploring the 5 most underrated players in the NBA today.

Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. A player so underrated that his own team just drafted his likely replacement, Williams

Why retain an expensive vestige of the last regime, or really the last three regimes?

The most underrated player on all 32 NFL teams.

With the Tennessee Titans owning the No.

During that stretch, he made the Pro Bowl five times and was named to the NFL All-Pro Team three times.

For more great NFL players, check out Stadium Talk.

chants for the best players who didnt get their just dues over the years. He shunned the spotlight and shunned most public activities that would have remembered and honored his career, instead choosing to live in the Colorado mountains, Florida Keys and Hawaii for most of his post-football life. Bottom line: Jason Witten didnt even play tight end until college, when a lack of roster depth forced him to switch positions from defensive end.

The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack.

Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. Defensive Player of the Year awards?
Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up.

He also was a three-time NFL All-Pro. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Wagner has set himself apart over the last decade and may already have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame as an eight-time NFL All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. 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.

He had to blanket a wide receiver in man coverage with no safety help on every play. One in which they get just a modicum of the props they deserve.

3 career leading rusher and watch their esteem of you as a sports fan grow before your eyes.

O'Neal led the Chargers in sacks every season from 1990-95. He ranked second in the decade with 114 TD Teams: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-19), Indianapolis Colts (2020), Career highlights: NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2013), eight-time Pro Bowl (2006, 2009-11, 2013, 2016-18), San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team.

"Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said.

He never played in a conference championship game or a Super Bowl. WebAndrews is simply one of the most underrated players in modern NFL history, topping 2,000 scrimmage yards twice but toiling for mostly mediocre Falcons teams. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns.

With the NFL draft fast approaching, were looking at every player selected with the tenth pick since 2000. Young started his career as the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ended it as a four-time winner of the Len Eshmont Award, the 49ers' team award for character and leadership. WebAlthough the Texans 2021 roster is bereft of star talent, Zach Cunningham is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Now that's underrated.

Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion.

He led his team to an NFL championship. So whaddya say, fans?

If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong.

There will never be another player like Marshall. Schafrath who once wrestled a bear, canoed across Lake Erie without stopping and jogged 62 miles from Cleveland Stadium to his hometown of Wooster, Ohio was also an NFL champion and four-time NFL All-Pro.

WebThe Top 10 Most Improved Players of the 2023 NBA Season Headlines. Born: May 7, 1964 (Little Rock, Arkansas), Teams: San Diego Chargers (1986-95), St. Louis Rams (1996-97), Kansas City Chiefs (1998-99), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (1990, 1992, 1994), six-time Pro Bowl (1989, 1990, 1992-95), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1986). Neal Anderson replaced Walter Payton.

Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964.

", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967).

In that stretch he was also the head coach at the University of New Mexico, Cal-Berkeley and William & Mary before making the move to the pros where he actually won a championship with the Montreal Alouettes, winning two Grey Cups in 1974 and 1977.

By the time Rivers is retired for five years, the "San Diego Chargers" will be as relevant as the Dayton Triangles, and Hall voters will be too busy rubber-stamping Tom Brady and Drew Brees to get to a guy from a lost city who couldn't win the big one.

McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons.

On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company.

That may be unfair to players like Robinson, Jerry Kramer and L.C.