Cleveland Browns' most underrated player comes as an absolute shock to team faithful

For those who watch the Cleveland Browns week in and week out, the team has countless players who fulfill their roles on the roster well. 

Recently, Pro Football Focus curated a list of the most underrated players on each of the NFL's 32 teams. For the Browns, the national outlet's selection comes as a shock.

PFF named Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II the most underrated player on Cleveland's roster. What makes the selection so shocking is that Hurst only played in 13 games, ending the season injured. During that time, he only racked up 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks. 

So let's examine how Pro Football Focus' Zoltán Buday explained the decision: 

"Although his season was cut short due to an injury, Maurice Hurst was playing the best football of his career in his sixth NFL campaign in 2023. In fact, after the first eight weeks of the season, Hurst ranked seventh among interior defenders in PFF overall grade (87.9). Admittedly, he was used as a role player in Jim Schwartz’s defense, but he was very efficient in that reduced role."

On the surface, it is a decision that is understandable – on principle. However, it is hard to rationalize putting a player who ended the year hurt on a list of "underrated" contributors. It would be like placing running back Nick Chubb on the list because he "looked" like a player fit for a career season until he tore up his knee against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

If it were my list, the Browns' most underrated player would be tight end David Njoku. By the end of the season, Njoku was an elite threat. He started the year as merely a talented tight end. His 2023 campaign placed him among the elite at the position in the league, without question.