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The 2024 NFL playoffs enter the second round this weekend, and all eight teams have stars or superstars who have been key reasons why their squads are still alive. Everyone is familiar with marquee players like Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Nick Bosa, and Mike Evans, but each team is also made up of a ton of under-the-radar studs on offense and defense.
Talent at the top of a roster isn't enough to make a run toward a Super Bowl, so it's important to highlight underrated players and contributors for regular season and postseason success.
In this article, we'll dive into one offensive and one defensive player for each NFL team remaining in the playoffs who is underrated and deserves a shoutout.
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Baltimore Ravens
Underrated Offensive Player: Kevin Zeitler, Guard
Kevin Zeitler has earned an "above average" PFF grade in all of his 12 seasons in the NFL. This includes stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have had no shortage of stud offensive linemen during Lamar Jackson's career, including Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, and Orlando Brown Jr. But Zeitler is a road-grading run blocker and solid pass protector, which is obviously important in Baltimore's smash-mouth offense.
Underrated Defensive Player: Jadeveon Clowney, Edge
Jadeveon Clowney was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and while he was a productive player early in his career, he has not lived up to the draft capital. However, he quietly had arguably the best season of his career in 2023.
He finished the regular season only behind Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, Will Anderson, and T.J. Watt in pass rush win rate (25%) and had a career-high 9.5 sacks. His performance this season would make headlines with most organizations, but since he shares a field with Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and Justin Madubuike, he's fallen under the radar. Expect him to make an impact in the NFL playoffs.
#Ravens Jadeveon Clowney celebrates his 750K Bonus on that SACK!pic.twitter.com/T83aBJCTlJ https://t.co/SxD2SsWkYu
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 6, 2024
Buffalo Bills
Underrated Offensive Player: Khalil Shakir, Wide Receiver
Khalil Shakir's raw stats during his second year in the NFL aren't eye-popping, as he collected 39 receptions for 611 yards and two scores. However, he finished the 2023 season as No. 1 in yards per target (13.6), No. 20 in contested catch rate (50%), No. 9 in target separation (1.98), and No. 33 in yards per route run (1.93) among qualified wide receivers. Those advanced stats are courtesy of PlayerProfiler.com
Sure, some of those metrics don't suggest he's a game-changer, but he's a relatively unknown playmaker among NFL fans and has been solidly productive for quarterback Josh Allen. He caught three passes for 33 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown in the Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
HOW DID HE NOT GO DOWN?!
What an effort by Khalil Shakir
📺: #PITvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rnjmj1Pg4j pic.twitter.com/M7bifWZrrK— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
Underrated Defensive Player: Greg Rousseau, Edge
Greg Rousseau has 17 sacks through his first three NFL seasons (46 games), which is fewer than half as many since 2021 as superstars like T.J. Watt. However, he's an above-average edge rusher and earned an 85.6 PFF grade during the regular season. Has he been what Buffalo hoped for when taking him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft? Maybe not. Is he a key contributor to a defense that is playing its best football of the season when it matters most? Yes. He fits the bill here.
Detroit Lions
Underrated Offensive Player: Josh Reynolds, Wide Receiver
With Sam LaPorta, Kalif Raymond, and Jameson Williams all banged up in the Lions' Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Rams, Josh Reynolds stepped up in a big way against his former team. He caught five passes for 80 yards, and most of his work came early in the game, which set the tone for the contest.
During the regular season, Reynolds caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns. 80% of his receptions went for first downs, which puts him in the same range as Tee Higgins (78.6%), DK Metcalf (78.8%), and Brandon Aiyuk (81.3%). No, Reynolds isn't a Pro Bowler, but he steps up when it matters most and his receptions are usually meaningful. Despite Detroit trying to upgrade the WR2 spot with Williams in the first round last year, Reynolds has remained only behind Amon-Ra St. Brown as Goff's second-favorite WR target.
Former Ram Jared Goff with a dart to former Ram Josh Reynolds.
📺: #LARvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BMG9C6CXOw— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2024
Underrated Defensive Player: Alim McNeill, Defensive Tackle
Aidan Hutchinson is the star of the Lions' defense, but make no mistake, Alim McNeill is a dominant force in the middle of the defensive line. Despite missing four games on Injured Reserve this year, McNeill finished the season with five sacks, which is impressive given his 320-pound frame on the interior. He's become an immovable object for Detroit's run defense and earned a PPF grade of 88.5 in just his third NFL season.
Green Bay Packers
Underrated Offensive Player: Romeo Doubs, Wide Receiver
Romeo Doubs just had the best performance of his career in the playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys, so it's a good time to give him some recognition. Fans have been wowed by Christian Watson's speed and size, and rookie Jayden Reed has been a touchdown machine, but Doubs has been very productive in his own right.
Before catching six passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in his playoff debut last week, Doubs racked up 1,099 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first 30 NFL games. He had a few solid weeks with Aaron Rodgers in 2022 before Jordan Love took over the QB job, and he was Love's most-targeted pass-catcher in 2023 (98 targets). He's not flashy like Reed and Watson, but he's arguably the WR1 for Green Bay moving forward.
https://t.co/RkM18JyTJg pic.twitter.com/7aq8c312Mp
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) January 15, 2024
Underrated Defensive Player: Preston Smith, Edge
In eight NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers, Preston Smith has recorded eight or more sacks five times. He's also missed just two games in his entire career, meaning he's one of the most consistent edge rushers in the league. However, he has never been to a Pro Bowl, unlike his star teammates Jaire Alexander and Kenny Clark. Even Rashaan Gary gets more national recognition, but Smith has arguably been better.
Houston Texans
Underrated Offensive Player: Dalton Schultz, Tight End
It was unclear whether or not Dalton Schultz was merely a product of the Dallas Cowboys' explosive offense from 2020-22, but his productivity in Houston has brought clarity to that question. The veteran has recorded at least 57 receptions, 577 receiving yards, and five touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. Those may not sound like video game numbers, but he ranks sixth, eighth, and fourth in those respective categories since 2021 among tight ends.
His numbers did not take a sharp decline in Houston, and breakout rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has targeted him in crucial situations. Although he's not in the elite tier with Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews, he's clearly a top-10 player at the position and should be mentioned as such. If Houston is going to hang with Baltimore this weekend, Schultz will likely have to ball out.
Underrated Defensive Player: Jonathan Greenard, Edge
Jonathan Greenard was an unknown name among most fans before the 2023 season, but under head coach DeMeco Ryans, he has blossomed into a star. Opposite Will Anderson, Greenard finished the 2023 campaign as the No. 6 edge rusher in pass rush win rate at 22% (ESPN).
He played limited snaps due to an ankle injury against the Cleveland Browns but made an impact and helped Houston win its first playoff game since 2019. He's a big reason why the Texans' defensive front has been dominant as of late, and now he'll get the chance to try to contain Lamar Jackson in the Divisional Round.
Jonathan Greenard bull rushes his blocker back into Flacco, who is forced to get the ball out of his hands to his check down. Texans D rallys & forces a punt! #PassRush #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/1mRM3bbeei
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) January 13, 2024
Kansas City Chiefs
Underrated Offensive Player: Trey Smith, Guard
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey and left guard Joe Thuney both made the Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster this year, but right guard Trey Smith is excellent too and is the final piece of the best interior offensive line in the NFL. Smith was once regarded as a first or second-round pick, but medical concerns from blood clots he dealt with in 2018 led him to fall to the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In his first season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team, and he has allowed just four total sacks over the last two years (PFF). He's a fringe-Pro Bowl-level guard who is paid like the day-three pick that he is, so his value to the Kansas City offense is mightily underrated.
Unbelievable block from Trey Smith here pic.twitter.com/dxOqsu8F9h
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) October 2, 2023
Underrated Defensive Player: L'Jarius Sneed, Cornerback
To be fair, Sneed is recognized as a solid corner around the league, especially since Kansas City gets no shortage of TV time. However, he's been overshadowed by his All-Pro teammate Trent McDuffie. Both players are excellent, and both should have made the Pro Bowl roster.
Sneed has limited some of the best wide receivers in the NFL to modest outputs. He did not allow a touchdown this year, he posted a 56.1% shadow rate (meaning he follows the best receivers often), and he allowed the third-lowest passer rating when targeted (64.5) according to PlayerProfiler.
San Francisco 49ers
Underrated Offensive Player: Brandon Aiyuk, Wide Receiver
Maybe selecting Brandon Aiyuk as the 49ers' most underrated offensive player is cheating, but honestly, the rest of their offensive skill players are rated appropriately. Despite sharing an offense with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, Aiyuk has led the team in receiving each of the last two seasons by at least 250 yards.
He doesn't see double-digit targets often like the best receivers in the game due to a crowded offense, but he makes the most of his opportunities and earned a second-team All-Pro selection in 2023. He'll rarely pop up in top-ten wide receiver discussions, but if he was in a more ideal situation with less competition, he'd likely be a fixture on that list.
AIYUUUUUUUUUUUK AGAIN.
📺: #SFvsPIT on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/G4uoYVOqQn pic.twitter.com/oe2fa730Im— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2023
Underrated Defensive Player: Arik Armstead, Defensive Tackle
Arik Armstead has played next to the likes of DeForest Buckner, Nick Bosa, Chase Young, and Javon Hargrave on the 49ers' defensive line, so it makes sense why he's underrated. It also doesn't help that he's missed 14 games over the last two years, but it's important to recognize that he is a stud.
He had five sacks in 12 games this year before picking up a foot injury, and he was number 10 in pass rush win rate among interior defensive linemen (ESPN). Somehow, he didn't even make the Pro Bowl when he registered 10 sacks in 2019, but he continues to be a well-above-average force in the middle of an always-good 49ers stop unit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Underrated Offensive Player: Baker Mayfield, Quarterback
Most NFL fans have probably doubted Baker Mayfield at some point during his career, but he has a lot to do with why the Buccaneers are one of the last eight teams standing in the NFL playoffs. In 2023, Mayfield set career highs in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044), and passing touchdowns (28). Sure, having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin helps, but he kept the Tampa Bay offense alive despite the team ranking dead last in rushing yards per game (88.8).
TD GODWIN! @Buccaneers putting this game on 🧊
📺: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rFlj59UzNi pic.twitter.com/YYuieKDTBK— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
Against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round, Mayfield threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, which is something Tom Brady did not do in his three seasons as a Buccaneer.
Underrated Defensive Player: YaYa Diaby, Edge
YaYa Diaby is a third-round rookie and led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks this season. Not much analysis is needed here. He was drafted outside the top 80 picks and made an immediate impact for the NFC South Champions, posting just two fewer sacks than Shaquil Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka combined.
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