Who Is the Jets' Most Underrated Playmaker?

The New York Jets have lacked playmakers—especially on the offensive side of the ball—for so many years that people seem to assume the team doesn't have any.

But after a busy offseason in which Gang Green brought in several notable free agents, traded for Brandon Marshall and Ryan Fitzpatrick, and drafted the likes of Leonard Williams and Devin Smith, that's an assumption that is just plain wrong.

The Jets are now a talented team. There aren't any questions about it. The defense looks like one of the league's best on paper, and the offense is littered with solid players.

Whether that talent leads to victories is another story, especially considering the team's weakness at the quarterback position.

However, New York's roster is full of guys who can make big plays and win games, and a handful of them don't come close to getting the respect they deserve.

You could make a case for Eric Decker being the team's most underrated playmaker. Yes, most casual NFL fans know who he is, but many see him as just as an average receiver who only emerged as a star because he was catching balls thrown by Peyton Manning.

Manning certainly helped Decker's career arc. There is no denying that.

However, Decker is much more than an average receiver. While he may not be a No. 1 option, he is certainly among the game's elite No. 2 wideouts.

Decker is a big (6'3", 214 lbs), strong receiver who can make tough catches look easy. He can move the chains if needed or can come up with long gains downfield. He is also a dangerous threat in the red zone, having scored more touchdowns in the last three seasons than Calvin Johnson (29).

The Minnesota product's productivity may have dropped off significantly last year, but who could blame him? He was playing in a run-first offense with two inept quarterbacks and was matched up with the opposing team's best cornerback every game. The fact that he came close to 1,000 yards is actually astounding given the circumstances.

With Brandon Marshall now taking the defensive pressure off him, as well as an improved quarterback situation, Decker should be able to improve in his second year in green and white.

Don't be surprised if he becomes the first Jets wideout to reach 1,000 yards since 2007.

On the defensive side of the ball, guys like Darrelle Revis, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson get all the headlines, but middle linebacker David Harris is the heartbeat of the unit.

Harris is one of the most consistent linebackers in the league and capable of making plays all over the field. He can stuff the run, rush the quarterback and drop back in coverage at an above-average level.

The Michigan product has surpassed 120 tackles in five of his eight seasons in the league, and he is among the best pass-rushing inside linebackers in football. In 2014, he recorded six sacks to put him up to 30 for his career.

Harris also has nine forced fumbles, six interceptions and 24 pass deflections in his career, as he has consistently made an impact in every department.

However, Harris has still never made a Pro Bowl, and many casual NFL observers don't realize his importance to Gang Green's defense. He helped make New York's defensive unit dominant in the Rex Ryan era, and he should once again contribute heavily in Todd Bowles' system this upcoming year.

Harris has to be considered the Jets' most underrated defensive playmaker.