Giant list, each player and why. Thanks much to Sportsline.com
Sporsline.com Says that Fred Taylor (of the Jags.) is the most UNDERATED Nfl player, he agrees, and So do I.
Arizona Cardinals Underrated: Strong safety Adrian Wilson has the physical tools to be a star, but he needs to be a little more consistent. Watch this guy in the new regime's defense.
Overrated: Since Emmitt Smith is starting, we'll go with him. He shouldn't be starting at this stage of his career for any team -- even the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons Underrated: Left tackle Kevin Shaffer is a third-year player who played so well after veteran Bob Whitfield went down last season that he has kept the job. The Falcons love this kid and the coaches think he could have Pro Bowl ability.
Overrated: Warrick Dunn is a nice change-of-pace back, but he isn't worth the money the Falcons paid him nor should he get the majority of the carries ahead of T.J. Duckett. It's time to go with the big guy.
Baltimore Ravens Underrated: Playing alongside Ray Lewis doesn't help Edgerton Hartwell get the attention he deserves. But he's a big hitter who fits in perfectly next to Lewis.
Overrated: Linebacker Peter Boulware is a good player when he's on the field, but he has too many injuries and he has never quite lived up to the hype.
Buffalo Bills Underrated: Defensive end Aaron Schobel has emerged as one of the better pass rushers in the AFC. Schobel is a smallish player who gets by with his effort and quickness. Teams love guys like him.
Overrated: The Bills won't come out and say it publicly, but they are disappointed in a big way with right tackle Mike Williams. He is too immature and he doesn't seem to care about being a great player. This is a bad draft pick as of right now; Buffalo used the fourth overall pick in 2002 to get him.
Carolina Panthers Underrated: Center Jeff Mitchell isn't a Pro Bowl player, but his presence in the middle will help keep a young line together. They better hope so because there are plenty of new faces around him.
Overrated: Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad is one of the most-overpaid players in the league. He isn't nearly as good as he thinks he is, and edges out Julius Peppers for this spot.
Chicago Bears Underrated: Charles Tillman is a second-year corner who had a sensational rookie season. He is a glider, those corners who make it look easy in coverage.
Overrated: Urlacher is a good football player, but he isn't as good as those clippings.
Cincinnati Bengals Underrated: Keep an eye on second-year guard Eric Steinbach. He is going to be a perennial Pro Bowl player. Steinbach played to that level as a rookie last year, but didn't earn a spot. He will this year.
Overrated: Safety Kim Herring doesn't run that well, which shows up in coverage. He is a smart player, but nowadays when you have a safety who doesn't run well it shows up.
Cleveland Browns Underrated: Middle linebacker Andra Davis is a rising star. He led the team in tackles and gets to the ball with his quickness and range. If more Browns players played with his intensity, they'd be a better defense (see below).
Overrated: Quarterback Jeff Garcia was a quality player in San Francisco's offense, but the feeling here is that he was a product of the offense. He's average to above average, nothing more.
Dallas Cowboys Underrated: Coach Bill Parcells wanted to replace middle linebacker Dat Nguyen when he got there. Too small, he thought. Then Nguyen went out and was the defensive MVP. He is a tacking machine, his speed and nose for the ball helping him overcome his lack of size.
Overrated: Guard Larry Allen says he is rededicated, but he was bad last year. Opponents say he quit against them during games. Allen was once a premier player, maybe the best lineman in the league, but he's not close to that anymore.
Detroit Lions Underrated: With Matt Birk, Mike Flanagan and Olin Kreutz in the same division, Lions center Dominic Raiola doesn't get his due. But he's in the same class with those other guys.
Overrated: Earl Holmes might not be starting at middle linebacker on opening day with rookie Teddy Lehman pushing him. If the Lions are smart, they'll sit down Holmes, who lacks coverage skills.
Denver Broncos Underrated: Running back Quentin Griffin will put up big numbers this year. He is a tough, little runner with quickness and deceptive speed. There is no running back controversy in Denver. Overrated: John Lynch is now a safety who doesn't run well. He also happens to have a neck injury that required surgery. This isn't the same player from three years ago.
Green Bay Packers Underrated: Center Mike Flanagan doesn't get the attention some other Packers linemen get, but he has developed into a quality center.
Overrated: Speed rushers always have a tendency to get overrated, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is no different. He is a decent pass rusher, but he has problems against the run.
Houston Texans Underrated: Right guard Zach Wiegert is coming off his best season, and should have been given Pro Bowl consideration. Wiegert is a tough brawler who gets be with a feisty attitude.
Overrated: Right tackle Todd Wade, the man next to Wiegert, is a solid player but he isn't worth the money the Texans paid to get him as a free agent. He is solid in the run game, but struggles with speed rushers.
Indianapolis Colts Underrated: Left tackle Tarik Glenn looks like he's going to burst out of his uniform. He's out of shape, his body is awful, but he's an athletic left tackle who does a great job protecting Peyton Manning's backside. Wonder what he'd be like if he ever got in shape?
Overrated: The Colts would like you to believe that second-year safety Mike Doss is special. He's not. He is a big hitter, which gets him attention, but he is a liability in coverage. That's not from rookie mistakes, either.
Jacksonville Jaguars Underrated: Taylor, who is the most underrated player in the league.
Overrated: Safety Donovin Darius is a big hitter, but he is suspect in coverage, which is why the team is reluctant to give him a long-term deal.
Kansas City Chiefs Underrated: Scott Fujita has quietly emerged as one of the better young linebackers in the league. He is a tough, hard-nosed player who gets to the football much better than his speed would indicate.
Overrated: Shawn Barber has the big-money deal, and he's a decent player, but he's not nearly as good as his checks would indicate. Good against the pass, but struggles when teams run at him.
Miami Dolphins Underrated: Defensive tackle Tim Bowens is a former first-round pick, so he has some high expectations. But in the past couple of years you haven't heard much about him. That's because he just goes about his job without much hoopla. He is a key to the Dolphins interior defense.
Overrated: Middle linebacker Zach Thomas is a good player, but he isn't as great as his reputation would lead one to believe. We love the guy and love his intensity, but he is a very good player, not a great one.
Minnesota Vikings Underrated: Guard Chris Liwienski probably outplayed all of his fellow linemen last year with the exception of Birk. He has played both guard and tackle, but has settled in nicely at guard.
Overrated: Right tackle Mike Rosenthal is the weak link on the Vikings line. He is adequate at best, and that might be a compliment.
New England Patriots Underrated: Center Dan Koppen proved to be a steal last year when he was taken in the fifth round and started all 16 games. Koppen is a tough player who gets by with technique more than strength.
Overrated: It's tough to find a guy who fits here because this is a team of non-stars (just ask them). Since someone has to go here, we'll go with running back Corey Dillon. At 29, he might be losing a step. He isn't the star back he was a few years ago.
New Orleans Saints Underrated: Right tackle Victor Riley is coming off his best season. He is a dominant run blocker who improved in pass protection last year. Saints coaches feel Riley could be a Pro Bowl player this year.
Overrated: Joe Horn is still a quality player. But is he the go-to guy anymore? It appears Donte' Stallworth is ready to assume that role, which is why Horn fits here. He's still a quality player, just not the best receiver on his team anymore.
New York Giants Underrated: Linebackers who can run are priceless nowadays, which is why Barrett Green got a big-money deal from the Giants. He has played in anonymity for the Lions the past couple of years.
Overrated: The Giants paid Luke Petitgout a lot of money to be their left tackle, and he is an average player at best. He doesn't dominate the way you would expect a player making his kind of money.
New York Jets Underrated: Right tackle Kareem McKenzie has developed into a quality player. He has always been good in pass protection, but he's now improving as a run blocker as he gets stronger.
Overrated: The Jets thought they had a 15-sack player per year when they drafted John Abraham. He has that ability, but he has become an underachiever, and was actually mentioned as trade bait during the offseason.
Oakland Raiders Underrated: As a rookie last season, defensive end Tyler Brayton showed that he can be a player for years to come. With the Raiders going to a 3-4, he will play defensive end alongside Ted Washington and Warren Sapp. At this stage of their careers, Brayton might be better than both of them.
Overrated: There is no other choice here but defensive tackle/end Warren Sapp. His play has fallen off in the past two years, even if his mouth hasn't.
Philadelphia Eagles Underrated: Defensive tackle Darwin Walker should have gone to the Pro Bowl last season. He is a run stuffer who can also get pressure inside. Overrated: Left tackle Tra' Thomas has never lived up to his draft-day hype. He is a good player, but he certainly isn't as good as his reputation, which gives him this honor this year over Donovan McNabb.
Pittsburgh Steelers Underrated: We hear so much about receiver Hines Ward being underrated that you have to wonder if he is anymore. Ward plays hard all the time, and gets the most out of his ability.
No
Overrated: After a sensational rookie year, linebacker Kendrell Bell was expected to be the next Ray Lewis. Not quite. Bell struggles with the mental part of the game. That has slowed his development.
San Francisco 49ers Underrated: It's time for running back Kevan Barlow to show he can be a 1,400-yard back. Barlow has split time for too long, and now he will get his chance to show that he is feature-back material. Watch how good he looks.
Overrated: Defensive tackle Bryant Young is still a decent player, but he isn't close to being the player he was a few years ago. His name is bigger than his game right now.
St. Louis Rams Underrated: Cornerback Jerametrius Butler came out of nowhere to win a starting job last season. He is a player on the rise, which is why the Rams matched an offer sheet he signed with the Redskins.
Overrated: Marshall Faulk is still a quality runner, but age is starting to take a toll. Plus, Faulk isn't exactly a guy to keep in shape in the offseason.
San Diego Chargers Underrated: Third-year linebacker Ben Leber is a steady player who gets overlooked because of Donnie Edwards. Leber goes about his duties without much flash, but he gets the job done.
Overrated: Safety Kwame Lassiter is a decent player, but he isn't nearly as good as his reputation. He makes some plays on balls, but he isn't a great tackler and he gambles too much.
Seattle Seahawks Underrated: Cedric Woodard was the Seahawks best interior lineman last season, and the team expects him to get even better. Woodard signed a new deal with the Seahawks in the offseason, but if he didn't there were other teams lining up to get him.
Overrated: The Seahawks gave Grant Wistrom way too much money to play defensive end. He is a decent player who plays hard, but he is not a difference-maker as a pass rusher.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Underrated: Running back Michael Pittman ran for a team-high 751 yards last season and also caught 75 passes for 597 yards. He will be missed when he serves a two-game suspension to open the season.
Overrated: Kicker Martin Gramatica is not "automatica" anymore. He struggled last season and he needs to turn it around or he might not be around for long.
Tennessee Titans Underrated: Cornerback Andre Dyson isn't as good as his playing partner Samari Rolle, but he has developed into a solid player. Dyson is small, so he can have trouble with the bigger receivers, but he is a fighter.
Overrated: Has defensive lineman Kevin Carter ever lived up to his reputation? Carter is a decent player, but not nearly the player some expected. He will slide inside and play tackle this year, which will test him even more. Maybe that's where he should have been playing all along.
Washington Redskins Underrated: Cornerback Fred Smoot is coming off his best season in 2003, and with Champ Bailey gone, Smoot can now assume the role of shut-down corner.
Overrated: When and if linebacker LaVar Arrington stops freelancing and starts playing team defense, he will be a much better player. Arrington is good, but he isn't the next L.T. as some expected.
Most Underated/Overated Football Player list
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