There are certain players and positions in football that always seem to hog the spotlight. Every Pittsburgh Steelers fan and their mother knows about players like Kenny Pickett, Diontae Johnson, and Najee Harris -- thanks to how much they touch the ball. Likewise, the 'big three' defenders of T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick have received plenty of praise.
However, there are lesser-known players who still perform at a high level and aren't given nearly enough credit for their contributions to the team. These players deserve the spotlight if only just for a moment. Here are the five most underrated players on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster entering the 2023 season.
5. OG James Daniels
Fans can be disappointed with the Steelers' offensive line if they want, but James Daniels is the last person you should blame for their struggles (most of which occurred early in the 2022 season). Daniels has been the most stable and consistent body on the OL since signing with the team last offseason, and his play and chemistry with the offensive line improved throughout the year.
Daniels certainly isn't a mauling run blocker, but he has quick and nimble feet for a big offensive guard listed at 6'4'' and 327 pounds. His length, technique, and movement skills make him a quality pass protector, and he quietly graded out as the 18th-best guard in this department last year, per Pro Football Focus.
It's important to remember that James Daniels is still just 25 years old, and his best football should be ahead of him. With added improvements to the offensive line, Daniels should look even better in 2023, and he could finally start earning more recognition for his solid play.
4. TE Connor Heyward
I know the sample size isn't big, but if want to talk about a jack-of-all-trades, Connor Heyward is that guy. Despite his obvious size and length limitations (5'11'' and 233 pounds with 31 7/8'' arms), Heyward still manages to hold up at the tight end position.
Though he can't pass as an in-line 'Y' tight end, Heyward never shies away from contact and is willing to take any block head-on. His lateral quickness and football intelligence behind his years help him excel wherever the Steelers decide to place him -- whether that's on offense or special teams.
Heyward is ideal for the H-back role in the NFL, but Pittsburgh can also use him as a fullback. Though he was only targeted 17 times as a rookie in 2022, he caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.
Heyward didn't play enough snaps to qualify for an overall ranking from Pro Football Focus, but assuming he did, his 74.1 overall grade would have ranked 9th in the NFL -- just above players like David Njoku, T.J. Hockenson, and Kyle Pitts. Heyward will never be a full-time player, but he's a Swiss army knife who can wear multiple hats for the Steelers -- making him one of the most underrated players on this roster.
3. S Damontae Kazee
Many fans probably view Damontae Kazee as just a journeyman safety who spent most of his 20s playing in Atlanta and then in Dallas. Though Kazee is a 30-year-old safety on his third NFL team, don't discredit him as being a good player. When healthy, Kazee has an innate ability to locate the football.
It's because of this that the Steelers may have felt comfortable enough to let Terrell Edmunds sign with the Eagles on a cheap deal during the 2023 free-agency period. In just 4 starts last season, Kazee recorded 2 interceptions. His play-making ability shouldn't come as a surprise either, as Kazee led the NFL in interceptions back in 2018 with 7 picks.
Kazee isn't the most complete safety in terms of his inconsistent play in the past, and his slight frame for the position (5'11', 190 lbs) causes him to get banged up frequently. For this veteran, it's about staying healthy, as we have seen the instincts and ball skills really pay off.
Like Heyward, Kazee didn't play enough snaps in 2022 to qualify for an overall grade (Kazee was on IR to begin the season), but if you prorate his 81.0 overall grade, it would have been good for the 6th-best among NFL safeties last season.
2. K Chris Boswell
Kickers typically don't get enough love even though their impact on the outcome of the game can be huge. Fans love to harp on Chris Boswell when things aren't going well, but they rarely give him enough credit for his consistency and keeping Pittsburgh in games.
Admittedly, 2022 wasn't his best season. Boswell struggled from kicks between 40-49 yards. However, he was nearly perfect from every other range -- including going 7 of 9 from kicks of 50 or more yards. Couple this with the fact that he was a perfect 100 percent when it came to point-after attempts last year, and you still have the makings of one of the very best kickers in the game.
Steelers fans who have been around for a while have seen the impact a bad kicker can have on the outcome of games (just think back to Josh Scobee). It's rare to have kickers who have both the leg and consistency of Boswell.
The former Pro Bowl kicker should have another good season in 2023, and it's time to start recognizing core special teams players for their contributions. Chris Boswell is a top-five player at his position, and we don't talk about his impact enough.
1. OG Isaac Seumalo
The number one underrated player on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster belongs to a player who has yet to take a snap in a Steelers uniform: Isaac Seumalo. Playing offensive guard, Seumalo wasn't a particularly well-known player with the fanbase when he was signed during the 2023 offseason. But don't mistake that for thinking that he's not good.
Seumalo was part of a spectacular offensive line that Andy Weidl helped build in Philadelphia before coming to Pittsburgh. While he was often overshadowed by All-Pros playing next to him like Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, Seumalo has been 'Steady Eddy' over the years.
In 2022, Seumalo graded out as the 10th-best guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus -- just behind Dallas Cowboys All-Pro, Zack Martin. According to PFF, Seumalo allowed just one sack on 753 pass-block snaps (1,350 total).
Seumalo is approaching 30 years old, but he's still in the thick of the prime of his NFL career as an offensive lineman. Guards don't often get a lot of attention unless you have one of the very best in the league, but Seumalo has excellent film with the Eagles and should be a huge asset for the Steelers if he can stay healthy. He might already be one of the best players on the team, and fans don't even realize it yet.