Who does Nick Mangold think is the most underrated NFL player?
Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold is a delight to follow on Twitter. The seven-time Pro Bowler is one of the most active former NFL players on the entire platform and always has something interesting to say.
On Tuesday, Mangold responded to a tweet from Barstool Sportsbook that essentially asked people to name their pick for the most underrated NFL player (it was not specified whether the player had to be active or not). His pick brings back fond memories for Jets fans who enjoyed the team’s successes of the late-2000s and early-2010s.
Brandon Moore https://t.co/wtjWJZNtkd
— Nick Mangold (@nickmangold) January 26, 2022
Mangold went with Brandon Moore as his pick for the NFL player whose recognition comes nowhere near his talent level.
Moore was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2002. He went on to spend all 11 years of his NFL career with New York, starting at right guard in 142 regular-season games and nine playoff games. Over the final eight years of his Jets career, Moore never missed a start.
Mangold was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2006 draft, and for the next seven seasons, Moore was his right-hand man. The duo started beside one another in 110 regular-season games and seven playoff games from 2006-12.
Moore was consistently considered one of the NFL’s best guards and established himself as an integral piece of a strong Jets offensive line that powered the team for many years. During Moore’s nine-year run as a starter (2004-12), the Jets ranked eighth in the NFL in rushing yards.
Despite Moore’s success and excellent reputation, he only made one Pro Bowl, coming in the 2011 season.
Offensive linemen are always underrated in the NFL world, but Moore was especially overlooked, even in comparison to his Jets peers. Mangold and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson earned plenty of glory in NFL circles, with Ferguson earning three Pro Bowl appearances and Mangold earning seven.
Moore was often forgotten by national observers amidst a star-studded Jets offensive line that also featured players like Damien Woody and Alan Faneca throughout his Jets tenure. Regardless, true Jets fans and Moore’s teammates alike will always appreciate the crucial role he played in facilitating one of the most successful eras in franchise history.
