One of the best NFL fan pastimes is to discuss the most overrated and underrated players the league has to offer. So why not kill two birds with one stone, as here are the 5 most overrated NFL players and the 5 most underrated at the end of the 2023 season:
Overrated: Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is one of those NFL players who went from underrated to overrated in the blink of an eye. Don't get me wrong, Joe Burrow is a good quarterback, but let's stop the comparisons to Tom Brady. While Burrow has put up elite numbers in the regular season, he hasn't risen to the occasion in high-pressure playoff situations, even though the media talks about him as if he's won a Super Bowl. Joe Burrow's proneness to injury is also well-documented, as multiple Bengals' seasons have been wasted due to his season-ending injuries. Burrow still has plenty of time to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of quarterbacks, but he needs to stay healthy and not let the overhype get to his head.
Underrated: Foyesade Oluokun
When you think of the best current linebackers in the NFL, probably Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith, and Zaire Franklin come to mind. Probably not Foyesade Oluokun, one of the most underrated players at the position and in the entire league. Oluokun has been an elite run-stopped ever since he broke into the league in 2018, and the Jaguars' linebacker recorded another great season in 2023, ranking 4th in the NFL in tackles. Oluokun was also instrumental in leading the Jags to an unexpected 2022 NFC South title, though he didn't get much recognition for it.
Overrated: Josh Allen
Similarly to Joe Burrow, Josh Allen is a good quarterback but doesn't belong in the same category as QBs like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Peyton Manning. Allen's lack of playoff success, especially against the Chiefs, is well-documented. And while he makes his fair share of wow plays, Allen also takes too many risks, throws too many interceptions, and generally tries to do too much with the football. But it's unlikely Josh Allen will ever win a Super Bowl because he doesn't have a coach like Bill Belichick or Andy Reid that helps him minimize those mistakes and makes sure he doesn't try to play heroball.
Overrated: Odell Beckham Jr.
One catch. One singular catch Odell Beckham Jr. made a decade ago somehow makes him an elite receiver. Beckham hasn't recorded a 1,000+ yard season since 2019, not only because he's overhyped, but because he can't stay healthy. In fact, quarterback Baker Mayfield actually played better without OBJ after Beckham tore his ACL in week 7 of the 2020 season. Odell Beckham Jr. is a solid receiver but not a game-changer and should be treated as such.
Underrated: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
The Browns' defense is one of the NFL's very best, and while stars like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward have greatly contributed to that eliteness, many have overlooked the impact of linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The do-it-all linebacker is one of the NFL's elite run-stoppers, with the second-most tackles for loss with twenty and 72 tackles. Owusu-Koramoah is also a threat to opposing passing games, with six passes defended and two interceptions this season. And when the rest of the Cleveland defense collapsed in the 45-14 wild card round loss to the Texans, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah still had a great game, recording nine tackles in the contest.
Underrated: Michael Pittman Jr.
Very few receivers in the NFL have displayed the level of consistency that Michael Pittman Jr. has shown with the Colts' game of musical chairs at the quarterback position. Despite catching passes from 6 different quarterbacks during his 4-year career, and the quality of those QBs' play varying greatly, Pittman has still recorded Pro Bowl stats year after year. Michael Pittman Jr. doesn't make many highlight reel plays like Justin Jefferson or Tyreek Hill, but his consistent production is rare when the only constant in the NFL is change.
Overrated: Laremy Tunsil
Laremy Tunsil has been considered an elite offensive lineman during the past few seasons, but the stats simply don't back it up. In 2023, Tunsil allowed five sacks on 877 offensive snaps, and most of his other seasons have been pretty similar. The overrated tackle only received an 80+ PFF grade once in his career, which was in 2022. Laremy Tunsil is a solid offensive tackle but doesn't belong in the top-tier category of O-lineman that consists of Penei Sewell and Trent Williams.
Underrated: Chris Lindstrom
Sticking with offensive lineman, Chris Lindstrom hasn't gotten enough love for his exceptional blocking. While the rest of the Falcons' offense has been dysfunctional, the offensive guard Chris Lindstrom has quietly been one of the best offensive linemen the NFL has to offer this season. Lindstrom has gotten better and better each year since the Falcons drafted him in 2019, and 2023 is no different, as he has recorded a career-best three sacks allowed and committed just six penalties on 1005 snaps.
Overrated: Alvin Kamara
Early in his career, Alvin Kamara cemented himself as one of the NFL's best dual-threat running backs. But like many running backs, he has only gotten worse with age. 2023 was his worst career season, rushing for just 694 yards and receiving only 466. But the media is slow to catch up with the fact that Kamara simply isn't the player he used to be. After hall-of-fame quarterback Drew Brees retired in 2020, Alvin Kamara was supposed to step up and lead a struggling Saints' offense, but his production only declined despite the extra carries he received.
Underrated: Tyrique Stevenson
The Bears' defense has gradually improved as this season has progressed, and the same can be said about the team's rookie cornerback. Tyrique Stevenson has quietly been one of the best corners the NFL has to offer, with 15 passes defended, four interceptions, and 79 tackles to round out a promising rookie campaign. Despite Stevenson not being considered for the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year honors for some reason, he should be a lockdown corner and franchise cornerstone for years to come.
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