The offensive line of the Commanders struggled throughout the season, but Cosmi’s performance stood out. In his third year as a professional, he had a standout season, demonstrating his ability to create running lanes and improve as a pass protector. After playing two seasons at right tackle, Cosmi moved to right guard in 2023 and excelled. Despite allowing 31 pressures, he only gave up one sack and four quarterback hits in 17 starts on 736 pass-blocking snaps. According to PFF, this was the third-highest among all guards. The Commanders are expected to make changes to their team in 2024, including potentially shuffling their offensive line, but Cosmi has shown that he could be a key player on the interior.
The San Francisco 49ers had nine Pro Bowlers and seven players who were named to the All-Pro first or second teams. This made it difficult to find a player on their team who did not receive recognition during their impressive season. Despite missing the final five games of the regular season due to injuries in his foot and knee, Armstead still managed to rank third on the team with 38 quarterback pressures and five sacks. His ability to handle double teams, which occurred more frequently than any other player on the 49ers according to NGS, created opportunities for his teammates on the defensive line. Although his productivity may have declined due to injuries, Armstead is a key player who is willing and capable of performing the less glamorous tasks for a team that is competing for the Super Bowl.
Can you imagine the 2023 Panthers offense without Thielen? It’s hard to believe. The wide receiver had an impressive season, racking up 1,014 receiving yards and breaking the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since 2018. He also caught 103 passes and scored four touchdowns. In comparison, all other Panthers wide receivers combined for 1,238 yards and 116 catches. Thielen was one of only 11 receivers to reach 100 catches and 1,000 yards in 2023. He was a key player for the Panthers, often carrying the offense for long periods of time. His 103 catches tied Steve Smith Sr.’s record for most in a season by a Carolina wide receiver (second only to RB Christian McCaffrey among all players). Despite rookie QB Bryce Young struggling, Thielen was a reliable target for him. Now, the Panthers need to add multiple pieces to support their 33-year-old wideout and help their quarterback in 2024.
Today, he announces the NFC recipients. Please check back on Wednesday for the AFC recipients.
During the season, the Eagles experienced a decline, but Elliott remained consistent as their top performer. He successfully made significant kicks, such as a 59-yarder in overtime against Buffalo, a 54-yard winner in overtime against Washington, and a 61-yard smash against Minnesota. Out of 32 field-goal attempts, Elliott only missed two, with a success rate of 20.4% higher than expected. According to Next Gen Stats, he also had the second-highest win probability added at 60.7%. Although the team struggled towards the end of the season, Elliott’s impressive performances in the early games played a crucial role in their overall performance.
In his second season, Mafe emerged as a key player for the Seahawks, recording nine sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and four batted passes (according to PFF). He also led the team with 53 quarterback pressures and made 35 stops (according to NGS). Known for his athleticism, Mafe showed impressive speed with 24 quick pressures and consistently put in effort to reach the ball. He started strong with seven sacks in his first eight games, but his performance declined as the season went on, coinciding with the Seahawks’ struggles. Despite this, Mafe is still young and has potential to continue improving.
On Thursday, February 8th, the NFL will broadcast the NFL Honors at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on CBS, NFL Network, Paramount+, and NFL+. This event will recognize the top performers of the 2023 NFL season. However, what about the players whose important contributions went unnoticed?
Alim McNeill is on pace to become the latest overlooked interior defender, similar to players like Jeffery Simmons and Kenny Clark. This is evident in his seventh-place ranking among interior defenders by PFF metrics. Despite missing four games, McNeill was able to record a career-high five sacks in his third season, showing his value to the Lions’ defense. He also had the second-highest number of QB pressures on the team, highlighting his importance on the defensive front. If McNeill continues to improve, his name will become much more well-known in the future.
Could one be overlooked while playing with a star on their helmet? In Dallas, anyone shining bright is likely to make the Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster. Therefore, let’s take this chance to showcase Ferguson’s performance. The second-year tight end had a breakout season with 71 receptions, 761 yards, and five touchdowns, ranking top 10 in all three categories among tight ends. Ferguson came in second among Cowboys receivers in targets (102), receptions, and yards, and also ranked fifth among tight ends in receiving yards over expected (113), according to Next Gen Stats. He combined the ability to find openings in the defense with impressive run-after-catch skills (430 YAC, the sixth-highest among TEs). He has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the team.
The Saints signed a contract extension with the former undrafted free agent in September for a good reason. The 27-year-old has become the team’s most dependable defender in the front-seven, leading the team with 8.5 sacks and 64 QB pressures (26 more than any other Saint) according to NGS. He ranked second in tackles for the team with 60, only behind Demario Davis (69), and fourth among all defensive linemen. Granderson’s ability to pressure the backfield was crucial for the inconsistent Saints team, who struggled to sack the quarterback (tied for fourth-fewest in the league with 34 sacks).
Kevin Patra is acknowledging a single uncelebrated champion from every group, focusing on individuals whose efforts were not acknowledged through Pro Bowl invitations or All-Pro selections. There are a few familiar names, some who are valued solely by devoted followers, and others who unexpectedly make a significant impact but go unnoticed.
Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator, deserves credit for unleashing Metellus’ talent for creating chaos. Despite being drafted in the sixth round and only seeing limited playtime in his first three seasons, the Michigan alum proved to be a versatile asset under Flores. Metellus was utilized in various positions on the field, including safety, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, slot corner, wide corner, and even defensive lineman. He even had one snap as a defensive tackle, according to PFF. From these different positions, the 26-year-old made a significant impact with 112 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, one interception, five passes defended, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. According to Next Gen Stats, Metellus led all safeties with 30 QB pressures on an impressive 116 pass rushes (26 more than any other safety in 2023).
I almost selected cornerback Garrett Williams, who played exceptionally well as a third-round rookie in a challenging position. However, the significance of James Conner to the improving Cardinals team could not be denied. Despite missing four games due to injury, the running back still managed to accumulate 1,040 rushing yards on 208 carries with seven touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Conner had the highest average of 3.9 yards after contact per carry in the league and also had 60 forced missed tackles (third among running backs) and 31 runs of 10 or more yards (fourth). If he had maintained that level of performance over 17 games, Conner would have easily earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. Although the Cardinals did not have a successful season, Conner played a significant role in all four of their wins and helped establish a strong leadership presence for the team heading into 2024.
Despite being 37 years old, Calais Campbell proved he still has a lot to offer on the field. Although he may not be a top player in the Pro Bowl anymore, he played a vital role in the Falcons’ defensive improvement in 2023. According to Next Gen Stats, Campbell led the team with 43 total pressures and tied for the most sacks with 6.5 in his first season with the Falcons. He also contributed 49 stops and 10 tackles for loss. While the Falcons’ defense still had some weaknesses, Campbell’s performance, along with the team’s new additions, helped them improve from one of the worst defensive teams in 2022 to a respectable 11th in yards allowed. If Campbell continues playing in his 17th season, he will undoubtedly be an asset to any defense as a free agent.
Being in the shadow of Aaron Donald may not be easy, but Turner showed his talent during his first season. He had the most sacks among all rookies with nine and also had 47 pressures on the quarterback, tying with Jalen Carter of the Eagles for third place among rookies, according to NGS. Turner also had 45 tackles, which ranked 12th among all defensive tackles. His performance only got better towards the end of the season, with seven of his sacks and 34 pressures coming in the last seven regular-season games, according to NGS. While playing alongside Donald definitely helped, Turner’s success cannot be solely attributed to that. He also had the second-highest number of pressures when facing double teams, with 22, second only to Quinnen Williams’ 24, according to NGS. Turner’s impressive rookie season makes him an important piece for the Rams’ future.
It could be considered unfair to mention Okereke in this context, as the linebacker was not recognized on any awards lists and was not chosen for the initial Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. However, in his first year with the team, Okereke was a dominant presence on the field, recording a total of 149 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 21 QB pressures, two interceptions, 10 passes defended, and four forced fumbles while playing every defensive snap. He excelled in pass coverage and was strong against the run, serving as a key player for New York’s defense in 2023. He is expected to continue as a formidable force for the team’s new defensive coordinator in 2024.
In a team full of talented young players, Tom may go unnoticed. However, in his second year as a professional, he has become an exceptional right tackle who excels in both run blocking and pass protection. According to PFF, he has only allowed two sacks and two QB hits in 625 pass-blocking plays. While he did give up 33 pressures, most of them were against Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson, who has caused trouble for many right tackles. Despite this, Tom is a skilled technician with a strong physical presence and is able to hold his own against one-on-one matchups on the outside. NGS data shows that he had the best QB pressure rate of all right tackles in the regular season (minimum 300 pass blocks) at 5.6%. He also had the highest one-on-one QB pressure rate among all RTs at 5.8%. As the season progressed, Tom and the rest of the Packers offense improved and helped the team secure a spot in the playoffs.
Vea is a prime example of players who are not given enough credit. Standing tall and strong, he dominates the line of scrimmage unlike many others. Among the Buccaneers’ defensive linemen, Vea had the highest number of tackles with 35 and ranked third on the team with 29 quarterback pressures. He also recorded 5.5 sacks. Tampa even utilized him on the outside at times during this season to create favorable matchups against tackles. His ability to stop the run was a crucial factor in the Bucs’ defense tying for fourth in the NFL in yards-per-carry allowed (3.8). While Vea may not be recognized in popularity contests, you can be certain that offensive linemen feel his impact every game.
Edwards, like most of his teammates, had a difficult start to the season. However, he found his rhythm in the middle of the campaign when Matt Eberflus’ defense began to improve. Edwards stood out for the Bears, recording 155 total tackles, which ranked seventh in the NFL. He also had eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight QB hits, seven passes defended, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. With his ability to make tackles in open space and strong coverage skills, Edwards played a crucial role in Chicago’s defense. Watching him play, it was clear that the Eagles could have benefited from his presence on their team this year.
