Braxton Berrios was the NY Jets 'unsung hero' in 2021

Heroes don't always wear capes. Sometimes they wear green and white. The NY Jets boast a young, super-powered offense that could save the team from yet another disappointing season in 2022, but one player may have been hastily overlooked this past year.

A return specialist, wide receiver, and otherwise all-in-one gadget player, Braxton Berrios posted a career-best season in 2021. Berrios earned his first All-Pro nod after recording 431 receiving yards while averaging 30.4 yards per kick return and 13.4 yards per punt return.

No one has forgotten about his touchdown return, either.

NFL.com's Nick Shook listed every AFC team's unsung hero from the 2021 season, and for the Jets, that player was Braxton Berrios.

"The Jets struggled through their first season under head coach Robert Saleh for a number of reasons, but Berrios wasn't one of them. Berrios finished fifth in receiving yards among Jets pass catchers, but he found an important role as a gadget player down the stretch."

Nick Shook

Braxton Berrios was one of the NY Jets' most underrated players in 2021

The team already has promising weapons in Elijah Moore and Michael Carter, but Berrios' versatility gives the Jets more options in the offensive scheme and in special teams.

Even when Berrios was cut by the Patriots before the 2019 season, New England coach Bill Belichick reportedly called then-Jets coach Adam Gase and told him Berrios was a quality player.

Berrios never received the recognition or playing time he deserved in New England, and he's forged a successful career so far in New York.

Shook notes that the third-year wideout is set to be a free agent this offseason, forcing the Jets to make a tough decision about Berrios' future.

While Berrios likely won't serve as a starting-caliber wide receiver next season, he continues to provide depth in the wideout room and has been nothing short of elite as a return specialist.

Braxton Berrios should be proud of what he accomplished in 2021, and New York should seriously consider keeping him around.