Fansided

10 most underrated NFL players going into 2020

By Rucker Haringey

Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 24: Defensive End Maxx Crosby #98 of the Oakland Raiders rushes the Quarterback against the New York Jets in the first half in the rain at MetLife Stadium on November 24, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images). /

8. Maxx Crosby

Waller isn’t the only Raider star who isn’t getting the love they deserve. Crosby was also a revelation for Jon Gruden and his coaching staff in 2019. Clelin Ferrell was the rookie edge rusher with the elite draft pedigree, but Crosby was the one who made plays for the team on the field.

Generally speaking, defensive ends who post double-digit sacks in their rookie seasons tend to get a lot of love. Crosby has achieved some measure of notoriety around the league, but no one seems to think he has a chance to become an elite pass rusher.

His combination of size and speed off the edge gives him a chance to do just that. There’s no reason to think Crosby can’t become a 12-15 sack player on an annual basis. When you add that to his ability to hold up against the run on the edge and it’s easy to envision a scenario where he becomes a perennial Pro Bowler.

The odds are stacked against Crosby becoming an All-Pro caliber player, but that’s not what the Raiders were hoping for when they selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He’s already giving them tremendous value for what they gave up to acquire him.

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