Will OBJ defy his long-shot odds to lead NFL in receiving yards? Hilton, DE Justin Houston, DT DeForest Buckner, CB Xavier Rhodes. (1:43). If James gets back there this season, he might even be able to jump into the Likely category. Gordon made it to two Pro Bowls during his five seasons with the Chargers, but injury concerns and fumble woes make it tough to see a Hall of Fame ceiling for the 2015 first-rounder. Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Baker Mayfield, DE Myles Garrett. Sensing that many people might disagree with me, I decided to post a poll on Twitter. Both are locks for election. Over that five-year span, Landry ranks third in the NFL in catches and seventh in receiving yards. Do you have a blog? As it stands, though, Gurley doesn't have enough on his rsum to get in. What happens next is critical for Gurley, who would have seemed on the road to Canton after taking home Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 and adding an Offensive Player of the Year award two years later. Aaron Rodgers has had a lack of weapons on the Green Bay Packers In 1996, he decided to play football full-time. The only player in the Hall of Fame primarily for his work as a punter is Ray Guy, and you could make a case that Hekker is on that track. (You might remember Mitchell Trubisky in the Pro Bowl in 2018.) Wagner turned 30 in June, and after eight seasons in the league, he has six Pro Bowl appearances and five first-team All-Pro nominations. Eagles fans will be furious, but the reality is that Wentz has made one Pro Bowl and hasn't won a playoff game or led the league in a major statistical category (outside of fumbles) during his first four seasons. The only wide receiver from Carmichael's era who had more TD catches was Paul Warfield, who had 85. Texans great Andre Johnson fell short of election to the Hall of Fame again this year in his second time as a modern-era finalist. It hasn't been for lack of trying on his part, though. Once again, its wait til next year for Texans great Andre Johnson when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With Anthony Harris hoovering up interceptions and Jamal Adams and Minkah Fitzpatrick emerging, 31-year-old Smith probably needs to earn that nod in the next year or two. While James is closer to the 69% end of the spectrum here, Bosa's more toward 40%. If a receiver can enter the league and perform well right away at a boyish age, that speaks well for his future as he develops. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Heres what you need to know. The Museum of Broadcast Communications also named its first 33 "Legends" inductees, one for each year of the hall's . If Kelce can earn that nod in 2020, that might be enough to get him in. The 49ers' two-decade-plus string of Pro Bowl quarterbacks and near-two-decade run of employing an all-time receiving talent abruptly stopped in 2004. He figures to have a strong case for first-ballot election. With the onset of COVID, the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year moved its annual board-of-selectors meeting from an in-person session the day before the Super Bowl to a virtual communication . The former Philadelphia Eagles great and St. Louis Rams star will become the 28th and 29th wide receivers to be honored with a place in Canton, OH. Unless Evans has a Powell-esque decline or gets radically overshadowed by a teammate la Holt with Isaac Bruce, then Evans seems to have a good chance to get into the Hall eventually. Things would be different if he had actually won the MVP award or been the quarterback who ran the Eagles through the playoffs in 2017. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH. While Pro Bowls and All-Pro awards are hardly gospel, they're the best measure we have of how league observers valued a particular player in his time. The Hall of Fame Game, like the rest of the preseason, has been canceled during the coronavirus pandemic. He led that sports section to three Associated Press Sports Editors top-10 national awards and his work has been honored by APSE and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors. podcast, future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, aware of the Raiders and Jets being interested in trading for the always-grumbling MVP. Dan Orlovsky denounces the NFL Network's Top 100 players for 2020 for excluding Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. It's not too late to play with friends and family. McShay's favorite pick for all 32 teams Stafford posted gaudy numbers earlier in his career when the Lions had him lead the league in attempts, but he has made it to one Pro Bowl and hasn't won a playoff game in 11 seasons. Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants, winning MVP both times. We still have no idea how Thomas will perform, but if we look back through history, four of the 32 offensive linemen since 1970 who were drafted with a top-five pick have made it to the Hall of Fame. Warren Moon played until he was 44. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. The star inside linebacker made his first Pro Bowl last season, which is incredible given that it was his age-21 season. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Cam Newton, CB Stephon Gilmore. His PFR Hall of Fame score of 94.2 ranks ahead of several wide receivers already in the Hall of Fame, including Michael Irvin, Art Monk, Andre Reed and Lynn Swann. Hes top-10 in passing yards and touchdowns, so hell get a gold jacket at some point, if not on the first ballot. Draft a league now and start fresh with a 0-0 record and a shortened schedule. Gore is third in career rushing yards, which owes much to the fact that he also ranks third in carries. The superstar edge rusher has made the Pro Bowl every year except 2013, when he was suspended before going down with a torn ACL. Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Joe Burrow. Art Monk. Only nine players have done that in league history; outside of Green, the only player of the bunch who isn't in the Hall of Fame or a lock to get in is offensive tackle Richmond Webb, who played a much less notable position. In the running (40% to 69%): DE Danielle Hunter, S Harrison Smith. He shared a receivers room with four Hall-of-Famers and caught balls from a pair of Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner while playing in eight post-season games . Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Matthew Stafford, CB Jeff Okudah. White got his just due last season and was named a first-team All-Pro while tying for the league lead in interceptions (six). Marriott has since been ordered by a judge to release footage of Irvin and the woman's altercation and the name of the . At the same time, Green has missed 23 games over the past two years with injuries. 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Fitzpatrick went from getting benched for the Dolphins in Week 1 to becoming a first-team All-Pro after his arrival in Pittsburgh; another year like 2019 will push him into Watt territory. He's an easy Hall of Famer. In fact, a future Hall of Fame wide receiver recently revealed that Rodgers tried to recruit him over to the Packers. Edelman has never made a Pro Bowl, but the only . Jackson and teammate Kyle Fuller both slipped last season, but each earned Pro Bowl nods, and that's going to matter more to voters 15 years from now than how either player actually performed in 2019. If pro football did what hockey used to and waive the waiting period for the likes of Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, it could be argued Brady deserves the same treatment. Naturally, now seems like a good time to look forward. Hunter just needs more individual recognition to raise his chances. One more nomination should get Smith in. It was a good weekend for wide receivers at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. We still have to see what happens with the former LSU star, but of the 24 quarterbacks drafted with the first overall pick since the merger, five are either Hall of Famers or extremely likely to be enshrined. If Brown has a Whitworth-esque autumn to his career, he has a shot. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN While injuries have cost Watt 32 games over the past four seasons, his unprecedented four-season peak from 2012 to 2015 locked up things. Nelson doesn't play a high-profile position, but he's off to a great start. All but Gronkowski generated controversial off-field headlines, but the Hall voters only debate what is accomplished on the field. DT | LB | CB | Safety Lock (100%): WR Larry Fitzgerald. Locks have a 100% chance of making it. Gurley was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2018, but he wasn't able to clinch a rushing title and didn't look like his old self last season. 1. Heyward reminds me a lot of Campbell; they're prototypical five-technique ends who upped their pass-rushing performance when given more opportunities to get after the quarterback. 8/16/2011. If his career lasts only six or seven seasons, though, he'll have to be a perennial All-Pro to make it to Canton. Evans and Godwin might end up hurting each other's chances by preventing the other from getting a 185-target season like the one Michael Thomas enjoyed in 2019. Troy Aikman, John Elway and Roger Staubach won multiple Super Bowls. Martin, who also turns 30 during the season, might not even need another nod. Many of the modern-era players to whom hes statistically comparable played well into their 30s. He looked to be firmly on a Hall trajectory at that point, but over the ensuing five seasons, he has just one Pro Bowl appearance. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon both expect Frank Gore to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but do not see him as a lock to get into Canton. Byard was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 when he led the league with eight picks, but despite playing at an upper-echelon level over the ensuing two seasons, he hasn't received the same consideration. Likely (70% to 99%): OT Jason Peters. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Saquon Barkley. But as a running back who has been above average or good seemingly forever, he's getting in. I polled my Twitter followers and found that 42.6% of voters thought Rivers was a Hall of Famer. Membership Foundation Corporate Partners Artifact Donations Commemorative Brick . In the running (40% to 69%): S Eddie Jackson. Syndication Packersnews No promotions available. In a normal universe, we would be celebrating the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 right about now. There aren't any Dolphins who would appear to have greater than a 10% chance of making the Hall of Fame. The former Ozen High star and 14-year NBA vet has more on his mind than basketball, offering essays on life, his family and America. Rent the Hall. I would put Gronkowski's chance somewhere around 99%. Ngakoue has deserved more attention and might get it in a new locale if the Jaguars honor his request and trade the 25-year-old before the season begins. It's possible to make the Hall of Fame as a lineman without an All-Pro appearance, but the only guy to do it since the merger is Jackie Slater. Beasley won a sack title. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. I'll start with the two young players. Watt is off to a dominant start, having racked up 34.5 sacks over three seasons while earning two Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro berth last season. If you think this is too early for the 2019 seventh overall pick, think again. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Assessing Browns' FA needs. He probably needs two more All-Pro seasons to finalize his case. "Nuk" has been a first-team All-Pro in each of his past three seasons, which is the sort of run that earns skill-position players a trip to Canton on their own. Of the 35 Hall-eligible players who have won that trophy since the merger, 11 are in, and that number will rise in the years to come. Jordan's ascension from very good player to one of the best defensive ends in football over the past three years has helped drive his candidacy. NFL Nation: Analysis for every pick His peak is Hall of Fame-worthy -- he has two of the three best seasons in fantasy football history by a tight end -- but it lasted only four seasons. So this is really a list of 15. Last season, Thomas became the second wide receiver to win Offensive Player of the Year. For now, Tom Brady and J.J. Watt lead the list of this years retirees wholl be on the ballot in 2028. McCaffrey is still only 24 and has a relatively sterling health history, so it's on him to buck history. Larry Fitzgerald won't be suiting up for the Arizona Cardinals for the start of the season, but the future Hall of Fame wide receiver stopped just short Friday of announcing his retirement. Graham has five Pro Bowls to his name, but I don't think he has done enough to earn a gold jacket. He ranks seventh all-time in receiving touchdowns (116), 30th in yards (11,841) and 17th in receptions (955). Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit If you were asked to name off the top of your head the three best NFL receivers to enter the league at 21, you might say Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins. But history tells us that's a lot to ask. All seven players who did that and who are eligible for the Hall are in, and the list of ineligible guys includes Hill, Patrick Willis, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Peterson, Zack Martin and Aaron Donald. He doesn't need that sort of individual production to make it to the Hall of Fame, but the guys who made it in without a single first-team All-Pro appearance needed something else. I mentioned the math for quarterbacks in the Bengals section; in Garrett's case, four of 26 non-QBs taken with the first overall pick since the merger have made it to the Hall. DeCastro has five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro nods; if Faneca can't get in with nine consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro shots, DeCastro still has a lot of work to do. Houston probably had the best shot of these four earlier in his career, given that he made four consecutive Pro Bowls and led the league with 22 sacks in 2014, but he hasn't been dominant since dealing with a knee injury between 2015 and 2016. All but. Reggie Wayne, a Senior Bowl Hall of Famer, prepped Jalen Wayne for what to . I think the PED suspensions could help keep out players like Edelman and Lane Johnson, but it's tough to imagine Peterson not making it. Kamara was also Offensive Rookie of the Year, which helps his chances further. All 259 picks | Every team's class In Week 9, he led the league with 180 yards receiving, and for the year, hes No. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Christian McCaffrey. He's the second-most productive receiver in football history. Running backs mean less than they have in the past, but Terrell Davis just made the Hall for what really amounted to a three-season stretch as the best running back in football. That wide receiver is Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson. So Johnson still has plenty of time for his credentials to be debated by the 49-person selection committee. Meanwhile on offense, receiver Allen Robinson's three-year, $46.5 million contract (signed last spring) comes with $15.2 million guaranteed in 2023. A candidate must get 80 percent of the vote to be elected. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. Or write about sports? The others are Moss, Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper. He just turned 26 in August. to put up the accumulation stats often needed to bolster a Hall-of-Fame case. Of the nine corners who have debuted since the NFL-AFL merger and made the Hall of Fame, just two had been a first-team All-Pro by their third season, which puts White in good company alongside Rod Woodson and then-corner Ronnie Lott. Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame monitor ranks Edelman 110th among wide receivers, and that gives him credit for winning three Super Bowls. Edelman's case rests entirely on playoff and Super Bowl production. If he can follow in Patrick Mahomes' footsteps and win a Super Bowl this year, Jackson will have an impeccable rsum to start his career. Collins retired with 70 touchdown receptions, sixth-best total in NFL history at the time and more than Hall of Fame receivers Lynn Swann, Art Monk, Bobby Mitchell, Michael Irvin and John Stallworth. What do Johnsons future prospects look like? Wentz's injury history this early in his career also doesn't bode well for his chances of playing deep into his 30s. Only Chandler Jones and Aaron Donald have more sacks since the start of 2017. Gilmore wasn't on track to become a Hall of Famer before he joined the Patriots, having made one Pro Bowl across his first five seasons in Buffalo, but he has made back-to-back first-team All-Pro teams and then won Defensive Player of the Year last season. With three rushing titles, a 2,000-yard season and an MVP award in his trophy room, Peterson will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In the running (40% to 69%): CB Tre'Davious White. He had a wasted 2019 season, as he went down with a high ankle sprain in Week 3 and averaged 3.2 yards per carry over his next seven games after returning, but 2020 should see Barkley return to form. All rights reserved. Five seasons of 100 receptions or more plus a few others that flirted with 100 make Johnson one of the most reliable wide receivers in NFL history. He has made five consecutive Pro Bowls and has three first-team All-Pro nods to go with his Defensive Player of the Year trophy from 2016. Every two-time winner got in easily, so while Watt might not have the longevity he hoped for, the Houston icon could retire tomorrow and get in. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Author: Nate Greer. One issue: Five of those six are running backs, with Randy Moss as the only exception. Even if Hopkins takes a step backward without Deshaun Watson, he's probably just a couple of Pro Bowls from getting in. McCaffrey could turn into LaDainian Tomlinson, but what if he's more like Shaun Alexander, who won league MVP at his peak and never really got serious Hall of Fame consideration? Prescott has made two Pro Bowls over his first four seasons, but his best rsum point is winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. While he has made six Pro Bowls, that's not typically enough for interior linemen to make it into the Hall. As good as third-year receiver Chris Godwin has been for the Bucs this season, its hard to say that hes anything more than the Anquan Boldin to Evans Fitz. I'm right there in the 50/50 range. Edelman's career as a starter really didn't begin until he was 27, so while his case is built on postseason performance, I still don't think he has the regular-season production needed to supplement a case. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Julian Edelman, LB Dont'a Hightower, S Devin McCourty. The players listed below are the top 250 HOFm-rated players who played WR starting in 1955 or later for at least 50 career games. If you need something more, Fitzgerald's 2008 playoff run is probably the best postseason from any receiver in league history. Harold Carmichael finished his career with 590 receptions and 79 touchdowns. Rivers is probably the most difficult case to parse among veteran players. Jets, Browns tapped for 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. Rockets great and championship coach Rudy Tomjanovich was only inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Charley Taylor<br>1964-1975, 1977 . Work to do (10% to 39%): LB Tremaine Edmunds. Mosley. I've split players into four groups. Ten years after he retires, we're more likely to look at his two first-team All-Pro nods and forget those times he guessed wrong and gave up touchdowns with the Chiefs and Rams.