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#3 – Randy Moss (WR)
Randy Moss was a prodigious talent at wide receiver, even if NFL teams were petrified of him ahead of the 1998 draft. After slipping all the way to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 21, Moss systematically began a career of proving people wrong and making defenders look stupid.
Moss scored 156 touchdowns and caught 15,292 yards in his career, but he never found himself on the right team at the right time, except once.
The 2007 New England Patriots were boosted by the signing of Moss, who had burned his bridges with the Oakland Raiders. He proved to be the best receiver in the league as the Patriots had a 16-0 regular season and went all the way to the Super Bowl.
It seemed a given that they would steamroll the 10-6 New York Giants in the Super Bowl, but the infallible team was defeated in the biggest upset in modern Super Bowl history.
Moss would again be part of a losing Super Bowl effort with the 49ers in 2012, ensuring he retired without a ring.
#2 – Bruce Smith (DE)
With 200 sacks in the NFL, Bruce Smith lives on as one of the most feared pass rushers to ever play the sport. He was instrumental in the rise in popularity of defensive players after 1985 and won the Defensive Player of the Year award on two occasions.
He spent his entire career with two franchises: the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders. He was selected into the Pro Bowl 11 times but was also part of the infamous Bills team that reached four successive Super Bowls.
Having been one of the best players in his position ever to play, it is a shame Smith got so close but never over the final hurdle in the playoffs. However, it shows that even the most dominant defensive player in NFL history isn’t enough without a small slice of good luck.
#1 – Barry Sanders (RB)
Barry Sanders remains universally famous for being an NFL star who was relatable. He turned up every week to do his job and did it exceptionally well.
Sanders entered an ailing Detroit Lions franchise and became the greatest running back ever to play. In 10 seasons with the Lions, Sanders led the NFL in rushing four times. He won the Offensive Player of the Year award twice and the NFL MVP award on one occasion after rushing for 2,053 yards in the 1997 season.
Despite his individual brilliance, there wasn’t a huge amount of talent around him, and his postseason career was full of disappointment.
Sanders didn’t reach the playoffs until his third season in the league, winning his only playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.
In the four seasons in which Sanders reached the playoffs again, the Lions were one-and-done every single time. This left Sanders without ever having a realistic chance of a Super Bowl, despite his generational talent.
