The NFL DOMINATES ratings. There is no competition with the other sports leagues or any other television program. It's comical how much the NFL dominates. Late last month, the final PRESEASON game between the Steelers and Lions had more viewers than all of the NBA games on Christmas last year and more viewers than some of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Think about that. The Steelers and Lions 5th string players were a bigger ratings draw than the highest rated regular season (and best) NBA games. It's just absurd.
With that being said, NFL players have high marketability. But sometimes, the best players are not marketed as much as others and are grossly underrated. Below, we talk about the 5 most underrated players in the NFL, who are playing in the 2022 NFL season.
These players might not be in their primes right now, but their overall body of work has been outstanding. In no particular order, put some respect on the names of these players below!
Mike Evans:
Mike Evans is a 6 foot 5 behemoth of a Wide Receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's been wrecking defenses in the NFC South since he was drafted by the Bucs in 2014. Year in and year out, Evans just produces. Most importantly, he's always available.
From 2014 to 2021, Evans has played in an average of 15 games per season. In that same time period, he's averaged 76 receptions, 1,163 yards and 9 TD's per year. He also set the NFL record for most consecutive years to start an NFL career with a 1,000 receiving yards at 8.
Since 2014, he has the 3rd most receiving yards in the NFL, behind only Julio Jones and Deandre Hopkins. However, he has the most receiving TD's since 2014.
Despite the consistency he's displayed, he has only been named an All-Pro once. It's not like he's had Tom Brady throwing him the ball every year. He's had Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick throw him the ball earlier in his career. Not exactly an A-list of QB's.
Put some respect on Mike Evan's name!
Chandler Jones:
Yo, Chandler Jones can flat out ball. The man has been wrecking offenses in the AFC and NFC since 2012. And he has never received the hype other pass rushers have had in their careers, from Von Miller to Khalil Mack to TJ Watt.
Since 2012, Chandler Jones has averaged 14 games per year, while averaging 11 sacks per year. The man had 19 sacks with Arizona in 2019, 17 sacks with Arizona in 2017 and had 12.5 with New England in 2015, before New England traded him away in his prime at the age of 25 in 2015.
Even without sacks, the man is a menace in the backfield, averaging 20 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss per year.
Since 2012, no one has more sacks than Chandler Jones. If you want to take a look at more recent comps, since 2017, he only trails TJ Watt and Aaron Donald for most sacks in the league. In the first 125 games of an NFL career, Chandler Jones ranks 5th for most sacks in that span.
Also, if you didn't know, Chandler Jones is the brother of another NFL player, Arthur Jones and UFC legend, Jon Jones. Put some respect on the names of these brothers from Upstate New York!
Demario Davis:
Demario Davis from 2019 - 2021 has been the highest graded linebacker by PFF and still gets no love from anyone. I have never seen him on any commercials, nor do I see him on many lists for best defensive players in the NFL.
But, at least the "professionals" have recognized him for his great linebacker play. In 2019, he was named first team All-Pro and in 2020 and 2021, he was named second team All-Pro.
However, the casual fan probably has no idea who he is. Since being drafted by the Jets in 2012, Davis has played in every single game, never missing one (he hasn't started all games but he's played in them all).
What makes Davis's story great is things started off shaky for the current New Orleans Saints Linebacker. After playing 4 seasons with the Jets, he signed with the Browns in 2016 but then in 2017 was traded back to the Jets. This is where his career began to take off. He finished 2017 as the 8th highest graded linebacker by PFF. The Jets did not re-sign Davis, who went on to sign with the New Orleans Saints, where he's been an All-Pro 3 times.
Since 2017, only Bobby Wagner has more tackles than Demario Davis. Put some respect on the name of the heart of the Saints defense, Demario Davis!
Zack Martin:
I can guarantee you more than half of NFL fans have no idea who Zack Martin is. The Dallas Cowboys Guard is a beast. If I needed someone to protect my family or I, it would be Zack Martin.
If Zack Martin retired tomorrow, he'd be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Since he entered the league in 2014, Zack has been an All-Pro seven times. In 8 seasons, 121 games, he has only 5 holding penalties. That is ABSURD. There are offensive linemen out there who might have had 5 holding penalties in one game. In addition, he's only allowed 12 sacks in those 121 games.
At age 31, he still has a lot of football left in him. You won't see him in commercials or on any billboards but make no mistake about it, Zack Martin is a freak of a nature and you should put some respect on his name!
Kirk Cousins:
You like that?!
Yeah, that's right. Kirk Cousins is on this list. Get at me.
I don't care what people say, Kirk Cousins is a good NFL quarterback who gets a lot of hate for no reason. But I guarantee 2/3rds of the NFL would want him to be the starting QB for their team.
Since he became a full time starter in the NFL, back in 2015, taking over for RGIII, Kirk Cousins is the 6th highest rated QB in the league. In fact, he has a higher rating than Tom Brady (I am not saying he's better than Tom Brady).
Since 2015, here's where Kirk ranks in passing categories
TD's - 4th (behind Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson)
Yards - 3rd (behind Matt Ryan and Tom Brady)
Yards per game - 9th
Interceptions - 7th but his Interception percentage is 19th at 1.9%, which is extremely good
Since he joined the Vikings in 2018, he's averaged 4,100 yards a season, with 31 TD's and 9 Interceptions, with a QB rating of 104. What more could you ask for?
Put some respect on Kirk Cousin's name!
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