5 most underrated Detroit Lions players heading into the 2022 season

1. LT Taylor Decker

As ESPN recently rolled out their NFL position rankings 1-10 heading into the 2022 season, tapping into the assumed wisdom of league people, T.J. Hockenson landed seventh among tight ends. Second-year offensive tackle Penei Sewell got an honorable mention. Center Frank Ragnow was an injury-driven snub, since he only played four games last year.

Decker misses some time himself last year–the first eight games of the season with a finger injury. But he stepped right back in and played well. In each of the last two seasons, the 2016 first-round pick has posted a top-10 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus (credit to Pride of Detroit).

2021: 84.0 pass blocking grade (6th)
2020: 85.8 (t-fourth)

Yet, Decker didn’t even get a mention in ESPN’s tackle rankings. Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire did name Decker the most underrated Lion, as the USA TODAY Wire sites tapped their site editors for the most underrated player on each team.

"Decker rarely gets mentioned with the top tier of offensive tackles. His play in the last two seasons indicates Decker definitely belongs in that listing. He’s allowed just three sacks in the last two seasons and does so despite almost never getting extra help from a tight end. The penalties that dogged his earlier career have diminished too, and Decker remains one of the better people-moving left tackles in the run game. –"

Decker’s refinement in terms of penalties and high level all-around play over the last couple seasons should be noted. But six years into his career now, as the longest-tenured Lion, he may never quite get the acknowledgement his play says he deserves (zero career Pro Bowl selections thus far).

Honorable Mentions: S Tracy Walker, WR Kalif Raymond