Jason Kelce is the best in the business at what he does, but that value gets lost in the fandom and politics of the NFL. The Eagles versatile center played through various ailments all season and was rewarded with his second straight Pro Bowl snub. Not everyone is disrespecting the cog that allows the Eagles offense to flow, and he was recognized by NFL.com, which named the Philadelphia Eagles center the most underappreciated player in the league.
1) Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
Drafted: Sixth round (No. 191 overall), 2011
Pro Bowls: Two (2014, 2016)Kelce had the highest win-contribution metric for any center in the NFL last season. My favorite stat on him: No center kept opposing defenders at least five feet from his quarterback on passing downs more than Kelce last season (24.1%; next closest was 18.8%). Measuring O-line play this way helps quantify “stopping pressure” or “clean pockets” and it shows Kelce set the standard for the elite at his position last season.
Kelce was followed on the list by Kevin Byard of the Titans, Bears star defensive end Akiem Hicks, Chargers cornerback Desmond King II and Adam Humphries of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
