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The underrated player from every NFL team. Who was the underrated player from each NFL franchise
Every NFL Team's Most Underrated Player of All Time
Every team has one player who has always been in someone else’s spotlight. While these players were not “superstars,” they were never given the respect they deserved during their prime.
Arizona Cardinals
Adrian Wilson, S
Adrian Wilson spent his entire 12-year NFL career in the desert. With the Cardinals, Wilson was a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time second-team All-Pro, and a one-time first-team All-Pro. However, despite being recognized in Pro Bowls. Wilson was often overshadowed by the high-end safeties of this decade. Wilson was able to make an impact both by hitting the QB (25.5 career sacks) and by forcing turnovers (27 career interceptions).
Atlanta Falcons
Jamal Anderson, RB
Jamal Anderson played a critical role in leading Atlanta to the Super Bowl during the 1998 campaign. In this season, Anderson led the league in rushing attempts (410) and ran for a career-high 1.846 yards. He found the back of the end zone 16 times. Even though this was clearly his best season, Anderson ran for over 1,000 yards in three other seasons and averaged 4.0 YPA.
Baltimore Ravens
Terrell Suggs, LB
Playing alongside Ray Lewis and Ed Reed can make you a prime candidate to be underrated. Terrell Suggs spent 16 of his 17 NFL campaigns in Baltimore. With the Ravens, Suggs was a two-time Super Bowl champion and a seven-time Pro Bowler. He was Defensive Rookie of the Year and tallied double-digit sacks in seven of his seasons.
Buffalo Bills
Fred Jackson, RB
Fred Jackson spent the first eight seasons of his nine-year career leading the Buffalo backfield. Even though Jackson never won any accolades, he was a very productive running back. From 2009 through 2013, Jackson averaged a strong 850 yards per season with an impressive 4.5 YPA. During this stretch, he scored 31 total touchdowns.
Carolina Panthers
Chris Gamble, CB
Chris Gamble was an excellent defender during his prime and was never rewarded with a Pro Bowl appearance. Gamble was drafted by Carolina with the 28th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Through his first six NFL seasons, Gamble averaged four interceptions and 69 tackles per season. He tallied a career-best seven interceptions during his sophomore campaign.
Chicago Bears
Lance Briggs, LB
Similar to Terrell Suggs, Lance Briggs was very underrated. He played alongside one of the greatest linebackers of his generation, Brian Urlacher. Briggs was a seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro. During his career, Briggs totaled 97 tackles for loss and forced 16 fumbles. He was also a lead defender in their Super Bowl victory in 2006.
Cincinnati Bengals
Corey Dillon, RB
Corey Dillon is one of the most underrated running backs in NFL history. Dillon was the leader of the Cincinnati backfield for the first seven years of his NFL career. During this span, Dillon posted a strong 4.3 YPA while averaging 1,152 yards per season. He found the back of the end zone 50 times (45 rushing). He later won a Lombardi Trophy with the Patriots, but never got the respect in Cincinnati playing for bad teams.
Cleveland Browns
Joe Thomas, OT
Joe Thomas is one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time, but he only started to receive his true respect once he retired. Thomas spent his entire career playing for the Cleveland Browns, who were typically at the bottom of the standings. Thomas was a six-time first-team All-Pro and a 10-time All-Pro. If he played for one of the top teams of that generation, like the Patriots or Packers, he would be well regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Dallas Cowboys
Jay Novacek, TE
Jay Novacek played a key role during the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s but was often overshadowed by the Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball. Through six seasons in Dallas, Novacek averaged just under 600 yards per season and found the back of the end zone 23 times. He was named to five Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro.
Denver Broncos
Rod Smith, WR
Rod Smith won two Super Bowls in Denver but was often overshadowed on these teams, similar to the previously mentioned Jay Novacek. Smith spent his entire 12-year career with the Denver Broncos. Smith was a three-time Pro Bowler and typically took the backseat to Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe. He led the league in receptions in 2001 and found the back of the end zone 68 times.
Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson, WR
While Calvin Johnson was one of the greatest wide receivers of the 2000s, he never got the love he deserved playing for the worst team of the past two decades, the Detroit Lions. Johnson reached the Pro Bowl six times out of his nine NFL seasons but was only able to play in one postseason game. In addition, Johnson cut his career short and was never able to match the total career production of the greatest players at his position. However, on a per-season basis, Johnson was nearly identical in production.
Green Bay Packers
Sterling Sharpe, WR
Sterling Sharpe was on an impressive trajectory but saw his career cut short at just 29 years old. However, during his brief seven-season NFL career, Sharpe was highly productive and eventually was inducted into the Hall 0f Fame. Sharpe led the NFL in receptions three times and yards once. He was named first-team All-Pro three times. If he played a longer career, Sharpe could have broke records.
Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans, LB
DeMarco Ryans led the Houston defense during his six-year tenure. He had an incredible rookie campaign, leading the NFL in solo tackles (126) and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Across his time in Houston, Ryan averaged 106 combined tackles per season but was never seen a high-end option at his position playing on losing Houston teams.
Indianapolis Colts
Robert Mathis, LB
Similar to many names on this list, Robert Mathis played alongside elite options on the field. Mathis typically took the backseat to Dwight Freeney. Mathis was a five-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro once. Mathis forced the most fumbles in NFL history (54) but was never viewed as an elite difference-maker during his prime. He also led the NFL in sacks during the 2013 season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jimmy Smith, WR
Jimmy Smith was a dominant wide receiver for the Jaguars, but never received much recognition given where he spent the majority of his career. As a Jaguar, Smith tallied 12,287 yards with 67 total scores, which are quite impressive marks. However, he was only named to five Pro Bowls and never to an All-Pro roster. He posted nine total 1,000-yard campaigns as well.
Kansas City Chiefs
Len Dawson, QB
Len Dawson was the first great quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led Kansas City to a victory in Super Bowl IV. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. However, while Dawson was the best quarterback in the AFL, he was often overshadowed during his prime as Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas of the NFL typically saw the national spotlight.
Las Vegas Raiders
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB
Nnamdi Asomugha was an elite shutdown corner in his prime, but never received the respect he deserved playing for the Raiders, as they were one of the worst teams in the NFL during that time. Asomugha was named to only two first-team All-Pro rosters and just three Pro Bowls. In addition, he only tallied 15 career interceptions, which caused him to take the backseat to Darrelle Revis.
Los Angeles Chargers
Antonio Gates, TE
Antonio Gates had an incredible career and never even stepped on the college football field at Kent State. Gates still developed into one of the greatest tight ends in league history, but he is still not given enough respect. Gates played in the same era as Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten, and Jimmy Graham, who often stole the spotlight. However, he made three-straight first-team All-Pros and found the back of the end zone 116 times in his 16-year career.
Los Angeles Rams
Isaac Bruce, WR
Similar to Gates, even though Isaac Bruce is also in the NFL Hall of Fame, he is rarely in the discussion of the best wide receivers of his generation. Bruce posted eight 1,000-yard campaigns and even led the league in yards during the 1996 season. Bruce also often took the backseat to Marshall Faulk and fellow wideout Tory Holt.
Miami Dolphins
Jake Scott, S
Jake Scott played a key role on the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, but is still underrated. Scott won Super Bowl MVP in 1972 but was always overshadowed by Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, and the “no-name defense.” Throughout his career, Scott was named to two first-team All-Pros and two second-team All-Pros. He averaged seven interceptions per season and made five Pro Bowls, but has still not reached Canton, Ohio.
Minnesota Vikings
Randall Cunningham, QB
Randall Cunningham was one of the first “true” dual-threat QBs in NFL history and began to change the position. Cunningham totaled 4,928 career rushing yards as a QB and 29,979 passing yards. He is still the fastest QB to reach 50 rushing scores. However, despite his success, he was only named first-team All-Pro once and reached just four Pro Bowls.
New England Patriots
Tedy Bruschi, LB
Tedy Bruschi was the leader of the New England defense that won three Super Bowls, but he is often overlooked. Brushci played alongside elite defenders such as Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, and Willie McGinest. In addition, Bruschi’s stat line never stood out on paper. He was only named first-team All-Pro once and made just one Pro Bowl.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees, QB
Drew Brees would have been viewed as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time if he had not played at the same time as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers. Brees led the NFL in passing yards seven times and passing scores four times. However, he was only named first-team All-Pro once in his career. In addition, Brees was never in the same conversation as Brady or Manning, given that he only won one Super Bowl.
New York Giants
Mark Bavaro, TE
Mark Bavaro played a key role in both of the New York Giants’ Super Bowl victories (XXI, XXV). Bavaro was only named first-team All-Pro twice and to two Pro Bowls. However, Bavaro found most of his success as a blocker in addition to his pass-catching ability. He also rose to the occasion during their Super Bowl runs, making numerous clutch plays.
New York Jets
Wayne Chrebet, WR
Wayne Chrebet spent his entire 11-year NFL career playing for the Jets. He was an undrafted wideout but eventually became a top option in the passing attack. He averaged 824 yards per season and caught 65 passes per season, on a 17-game average. In addition, Chrebet remained productive despite playing with numerous QBs during his prime, such as Vinny Testaverde and Brett Favre.
Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Westbrook, RB
Brian Westbrook was an explosive running back during his prime, but rarely got the recognition, playing in the same era as LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. Westbrook posted a strong 4,6 yards per attempt as an Eagle and scored 37 total touchdowns. However, he did not receive many accolades, as he had reached just two Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro. He was also elite in the passing game, catching 50+ passes five times.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Hines Ward, WR
Despite winning two Super Bowls in Pittsburgh, Hines Ward remains quite underrated. Ward was the clear alpha in the Steelers’ wide receiver room, but was never viewed as that in the league, as Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss were often viewed as the top wideouts in the league at that time. In addition, the Steelers’ rushing game typically stole the spotlight, but Ward would often play a critical role in the blocking game. He also caught 85 career TDs and was named to four Pro Bowls.
San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Willis, LB
Patrick Willis was one of the most dominant linebackers in the sport, but he played in the same era as Ray Lewis and Bryan Urlacher. Willis also saw injuries hinder his career, but when he was on the field, he was potentially the best defensive player in the NFL. In just eight seasons, Willis led the NFL in combined tackles twice and was named to five first-team All-Pros and seven Pro Bowls.
Seattle Seahawks
Bobby Wagner, LB
Bobby Wagner was the leader of one of the most dominant defensive units in NFL history. However, the secondary of the “Legion of Boom” always stole the spotlight, being led by Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas. However, Wagner was potentially one of the greatest players of his generation. He was named to six first-team All-Pros during his 11-year Seattle tenure. He recently joined the Commanders, where he immediately became a leader on the defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronde Barber, CB
Ronde Barber does not get enough respect simply for his ability to play both cornerback and safety during his prime. Barber was the leader of the Tampa Bay secondary that won Super Bowl XXXVII. In their Super Bowl victory over the Raiders, Barber posted a critical pick-six, which sealed the contest. During his career, he tallied 47 interceptions with 28 sacks.
Tennessee Titans
Keith Bulluck, LB
Keith Bullock tallied triple-digit combined tackles in six of his 11 NFL seasons. However, similar to many names on this list, he rarely received the recognition he deserved, playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Bryan Urlacher. Bullock was named first-team All-Pro just once in his career. He also battled injuries that cut his career short.
Washington Commanders
London Fletcher, LB
London Fletcher tallied the fourth-most total tackles in NFL history, but remains very underrated in football. Fletcher tallied over 100 combined tackles in all but two seasons of his career. In addition, Fletcher never missed a game as he played in all 16 games during his incredible 16-year career. However, typically playing on underachieving Washington teams never gave him the national spotlight.
