The list of players who have done that isn't long, as it consists of Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Patrick Willis, Aaron Donald and Martin. Of the 27 Hall-eligible players who have pulled that off, 14 are enshrined. It's an extremely small sample, and Collins is another example of a player who had an early All-Pro appearance before taking a step backward, but Adams projects as a superstar. I've split players into four groups. He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 and has 37.5 sacks over his first four pro seasons, but he was overshadowed a bit by Campbell over that time frame. Roy Williams is the lone Hall-eligible safety who didn't follow his early success to Canton. Watson is one of the best quarterbacks in football, although he might struggle to earn first-team All-Pro nods when stuck in the same time frame as Mahomes. More on the Ring of Honor found on the team website. Membership Foundation Corporate Partners Artifact Donations Commemorative Brick . All but. He has a stronger case than you think. Partner with Us Back. On Saturday night, Eagles star Harold Carmichael and Rams star Isaac Bruce were inducted as part of a . Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, ex-Giants quarterback Eli Manning, ex-Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and longtime Patriots/Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri are the notables on the 2025 ballot. Interior OL | Edge Likely (70% to 99%): WR Michael Thomas. Get started >>. In one of Coach Saban's press conferences, he spoke about some of the questions asked by the players to . Peterson, fifth all-time in rushing yards (14,918), is a good bet for election on the first ballot. 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. Jets, Browns tapped for 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. If he recovers and returns to his 2017-18 form, he still has plenty of time to get back on the Canton track, given that he turned 26 this week. With five consecutive first-team All-Pro appearances, he could retire tomorrow and get in without any questions. Gates, a former college basketball player, had one of the greatest careers for an undrafted player, logging 16 seasons with the Chargers. The only Hall-eligible players drafted since 1970 who have five of those and aren't in the Hall are Alan Faneca and Zach Thomas. Casey has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, but the Titans were willing to cut him this offseason before trading him for a seventh-round pick, which also seems telling about where they saw his future. Work to do (10% to 39%): TE George Kittle, DE Nick Bosa. If Wagner makes it to another Pro Bowl or two, I don't think Willis' status will matter. Williams needs a couple of high-profile seasons as the best left tackle in football, which is tough with Tyron Smith around. Players with that sort of injury history early in their careers typically don't have the sort of lengthy peak needed to become a Hall of Famer. Some players draw more attention after getting traded or signing a big extension, and Buckner did both this offseason. Both players are on a streak, and their chances depend on keeping that streak going. David has been supremely underrated during his career, but after earning a first-team All-Pro nod in 2013, he has made it to a lone Pro Bowl over the ensuing six seasons. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Todd Gurley. Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is having himself a season. Author: Nate Greer. He has made four Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2012, but there are just too many offensive linemen with more impressive rsums who have struggled to get in for Brown to have much of a chance. A Super Bowl victory would probably help. Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, future Hall of Fame wide receiver, led the best draft class in Rams history in 1945. Hilton, DE Justin Houston, DT DeForest Buckner, CB Xavier Rhodes. Hes No. 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. Elliott has already won two rushing titles across his first four seasons, and that might be enough on its own. He has eight Pro Bowl appearances, but he has never been a first-team All-Pro, never really been a viable pick as the best quarterback in football and has a total of four MVP votes across 14 seasons as a starter. Given his style, I worry about his aging curve versus that of tight ends who are basically glorified wide receivers. Jets, Browns tapped for 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game Adams hasn't been able to break through the Julio Joneses of the world to earn a first-team All-Pro spot, which is probably where he needs to get. The guy who hasn't played a single NFL snap? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Graham's case is interesting. Art Monk<br>1980-1995. Beasley won a sack title. 10 Hall of Fame-Worthy NFL Wide Receivers (not named Julian Edelman) Marcedes Lewis has been in the NFL for a long time. Cowboys News: Potential WR trade target off the board, Michael Irvin update 1. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Panthers impressed by Derek Carr visit With their city hosting the Final Four, the Cougars don't shy from national title talk. When I last attempted something like this column in June 2016, I gave Beckham a 50% chance of making the Hall of Fame after two dominant seasons as a pro. All but Gronkowski generated controversial off-field headlines, but the Hall voters only debate what is accomplished on the field. But lack of team success isnt a disqualifier. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof The induction process, like so many things, is on hold. Early in a player's career, I'm also comfortable using draft status as an estimate of talent until they establish themselves as pros, which will lead to some very inexperienced players making this list. Should the Green Bay Packers Move On From Aaron Rodgers? There are four notable first-time eligibles on this ballot: running back Adrian Peterson, tight end Rob Gronkowski, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Vinatieri is arguably the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history, twice making last-second field goals to win Super Bowls and also making another famous kick in the Tuck Rule game that helped launch New Englands dynasty. This trio is. While Tucker would be the overwhelming choice as the best kicker in football, the Hall has elected just two full-time kickers in its history. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. The two first-time eligible players who stand out on next years ballot are defensive end Julius Peppers and tight end Antonio Gates. Jackson does an incredible job of avoiding hits and getting out of bounds, but there's naturally going to be questions about whether a quarterback can run the ball 10 times per game in the modern NFL and have a 15-year career as a starter. The NFL's 53 Most Likely Future Hall of Fame Players The star inside linebacker made his first Pro Bowl last season, which is incredible given that it was his age-21 season. Erica Farber and Bill Siemering, prominent figures in U.S. commercial radio and public radio, respectively, are among eight new members of the Radio Hall of Fame. 4 overall pick will start his career at left tackle after Nate Solder opted out of this season. If James gets back there this season, he might even be able to jump into the Likely category. The Bucs already have the best receiver duo in the NFL in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and the addition of a player like Brown in his prime would make this unit completely unfair. As a result, I'll mention them often, especially when looking at players who don't touch the ball frequently. Complicating things for Johnson is the logjam of candidates at his position. Pouncey fits that magic 8+2 formula I mentioned earlier with regard to Atkins, and at 31, he should still have a couple more Pro Bowls in him. He could roll off a string of these nods in the years to come. 2 with 6,103 yards. Larry Fitzgerald on NFL future: 'I just don't have the urge to play Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Baker Mayfield, DE Myles Garrett. The NFL's 2023 Hall of Fame Game will feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, the Hall announced Tuesday. 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. Lock (100%): RB Adrian Peterson. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. That's just about a magic formula for getting into the Hall. Podcast: Stat superlatives Its not at all random that hes become a big-time NFL player. What makes Evans production especially impressive is that he entered the league at such a young age. In the Super Bowl Era. Washington Commanders sign former Chiefs wide receiver/special teamer Work to do (10% to 39%): C Alex Mack, DT Grady Jarrett. Kamara was also Offensive Rookie of the Year, which helps his chances further. 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. The Saints have the best tackle combination in football, but Armstead went underappreciated before picking up steam over the past couple of years and Ramczyk raised his game in 2019. Ryan's case is trickier. What will define Eric Bieniemy's success? Work to do (10% to 39%): RB Melvin Gordon, DE Jurrell Casey. Work to do (10% to 39%): DE Chase Young, S Landon Collins. Kuechly played just eight seasons with the Panthers from 2012-19, but they were very good ones, with five first team All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowls and a spot on the All-2010s team. The Hall of Fame receiver responded with a $100 million defamation lawsuit. Jones is likely to top 13,000 receiving yards and earn his eighth Pro Bowl nod this season, which should be enough to seal things for the superstar wideout. McCaffrey is still only 24 and has a relatively sterling health history, so it's on him to buck history. What Current NFL Players are Going to the Hall of Fame: NFC North The only thing likely to keep him out of Canton is an electorate that habitually underrates interior offensive linemen in favor of an endless stream of running backs. From 2000-2003, Randy Moss put up video game numbers: 376 receptions, 5,649 yards and 49 touchdowns. Campbell, who turns 34 next month, is probably going to miss out, which is a shame given how good he has been. On a weekly basis, Evans is a volatile player, but his year-over-year production has been incredibly consistent. To use an example, I don't think Eli Manning has the rsum of a Hall of Fame quarterback, but history tells us that most quarterbacks who win two Super Bowls typically get in. 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. The shrine in Canton, Ohio, is one that hasnt been easy to gain membership in through the years. Mosley. Wentz's injury history this early in his career also doesn't bode well for his chances of playing deep into his 30s. In part, that has been driven by health; the only other wideout ranking in the top 100 for receiving yards who has played all 80 games over the past five seasons is Larry Fitzgerald. Roethlisberger won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and spent 18 seasons as Pittsburghs starter. Cox has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, although only one of those seasons resulted in a first-team All-Pro nod. People in favor of him will point to his stats, which are clearly better than those of Eli Manning, but that ignores the point; Manning isn't getting into the Hall because of his regular-season stats. Naturally, now seems like a good time to look forward. Many of the modern-era players to whom hes statistically comparable played well into their 30s. After missing the postseason for the first time in four years, the Green Bay Packers will now spend their offseason with one topic at the forefront of their internal conversations: the future of Aaron Rodgers. The suspension hurts Peterson's chances, but with eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro appearances across his first eight seasons, his prior track record was impeccable. 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. I think Thomas is a prohibitive favorite to get in. AP Photo/Harold Filan. Heres the top 10 in NFL and AFL history in receiving yardage through 85 games. McCardell and Smith dubbed "Thunder . Likely (70% to 99%): CB Richard Sherman. Here's everything we know, Richardson sets QB mark for vertical, broad jump, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. Dan Orlovsky denounces the NFL Network's Top 100 players for 2020 for excluding Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. Likely (60% to 99%): RB Frank Gore. The Best Damn Receiver Who Won't Make The Hall Of Fame Bakhtiari, likewise, is blocked by Tyron Smith. 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. Ranking the top outlier contracts Honestly, the biggest factor holding Evans back right now is his team: The Bucs dont attract a lot of national attention, and they havent been to the postseason since 2007. 1 with seven receiving touchdowns as well as 1,407 air yards and yards after the catch combined (perAirYards.com). Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Julian Edelman, LB Dont'a Hightower, S Devin McCourty.