Can Baker Mayfield's game be fixed? There could still be a season in which Mike Zimmer needs to use Barr as an edge rusher and he ends up with 10 sacks, but that's not going to be enough. In the running (40% to 69%): CB Tre'Davious White. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF 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. Finish reading this entire article absolutely FREE in our app. Mosley's case, meanwhile, has stalled in New York. Meanwhile on offense, receiver Allen Robinson's three-year, $46.5 million contract (signed last spring) comes with $15.2 million guaranteed in 2023. 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. Not all elite prospects turn into Hall-of-Famers, but given Evans draft capital, physical profile and college production, its reasonable to say that what hes done in the NFL hasnt been a random fluke. Gore is third in career rushing yards, which owes much to the fact that he also ranks third in carries. Since the merger, 11 offensive linemen have been named a first-team All-Pro in four consecutive seasons, and nine of them are in the Hall of Fame. Let's run team-by-team and try to estimate each notable player's chances of making it to the Hall of Fame given his current rsum. Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch, future Hall of Fame wide receiver, led the best draft class in Rams history in 1945. The Defensive Player of the Year candidate was named a first-team All-Pro in 2015 and 2019, but he hasn't received any other nominations across his other five pro seasons. Players the Jaguars could target He is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University and Bowie High School in Austin. The shrine in Canton, Ohio, is one that hasnt been easy to gain membership in through the years. Sherman has a strong case as the best cornerback of the decade and was an essential piece of what was likely the best defense of the decade. 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. Aldon Smith, who was once the most promising young edge rusher in football, would need a miraculous comeback in his first season since 2015 to get back on the HOF radar. Julio or Hopkins: Who's the better bet to lead in receiving? 260 players who could win MVP 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 . All 259 picks | Every team's class Jets, Browns tapped for 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. 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. 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 Carson Wentz, TE Zach Ertz, CB Darius Slay. But history suggests that his on-field performance makes him a Hall of Fame lock. He played 16 seasons, but never led the league in any notable statistical category other than interceptions. While James is closer to the 69% end of the spectrum here, Bosa's more toward 40%. He was excellent in his third season, but since then, his production has roughly been in line with that of Robby Anderson. Once again, its wait til next year for Texans great Andre Johnson when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He needs only three more years to get to 60,000 passing yards, and if that gets Philip Rivers in, Ryan shouldn't have much trouble. Do you have a sports website? (1:43), Barnwell: Projecting future Hall of Famers for all 32 NFL teams, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Work to do (10% to 39%): OT Andrew Thomas. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Todd Gurley. Exclusive: Abbott explains push against diversity hiring programs, Texas wants to ban delta-8, but veterans are pushing back, UH, Texas A&M removing DEI statements from hiring practices, The Breakfast Klub sues prominent City Hall consultant for fraud, Astros GM Dana Brown the antithesis of his predecessors, Houston is the most stressful city to work in, says new study, Lauren Daigle at Houston Rodeo: 'God always has your number', Galveston gets fourth Carnival Cruise Line, was not elected in his second time as a modern-era finalist, Houston-area boys basketball playoffs: Regional final scores, Texas Southern falls to rival Prairie View A&M in season finale, Washington advances to state basketball tournament, UT ends regular season on high note with win over Kansas, UH's basketball rivalry with Memphis could end as soon as Sunday. He has been one of the five best players at the second-most lucrative position in football over the past five years, and the fact that he was traded for two first-round picks and then delivered a wildly successful season with all of that attention in 2018 helps him. Future Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Gushes Over Giants' Kadarius Toney He has stayed healthy and productive, so that hasn't been the issue. As it stands, though, Gurley doesn't have enough on his rsum to get in. If Brown has a Whitworth-esque autumn to his career, he has a shot. Joe Fortenbaugh isn't picking Odell Beckham Jr. to lead the NFL in receiving yards, but he expects Kevin Stefanski's scheme to improve the wide receiver's numbers in 2020. 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. Archive: Every podcast from Barnwell . In the running (40% to 69%): C Maurkice Pouncey, LB T.J. Watt. Instead, legendary players and coaches like Troy Polamalu and Jimmy Johnson will wait until next year to give their speeches in Canton, Ohio. Likely (60% to 99%): RB Frank Gore. 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. Three different Cowboys defenders make this list, and you could make a case for Jaylon Smith, too. The Ring of Honor recognizes Vikings legends for their contributions to the success of the team on and off the field. 2 pick was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro during his five seasons in Detroit. I'll start with the two young players. The guy who hasn't played a single NFL snap? He claimed a sack title in 2017 and was half a sack behind Shaq Barrett a year ago. At the same time, Green has missed 23 games over the past two years with injuries. I think Thomas is a prohibitive favorite to get in. Ryan's case is trickier. Many of the modern-era players to whom hes statistically comparable played well into their 30s. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Five of the 40 defensive players chosen among the top three picks of the draft since 1970 who are eligible for the Hall are enshrined, a percentage that will rise as players like Julius Peppers and Von Miller eventually become eligible. A Super Bowl victory would probably help. Center Rodney Hudson deserves more attention, but he has been stuck behind Maurkice Pouncey in the AFC and has only three Pro Bowls to show across his seven years as a starter with the Chiefs and Raiders. His time may come, but maybe not for a while. He also came up with an interception while winning his first Super Bowl, which helps his case. Who are the wide receivers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? He was on the All-2000s team, a three-time first team All-Pro and made eight Pro Bowls. 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. The former star wide receiver on Thursday was not elected in his second time as a modern-era finalist in as many years of eligibility. Even if he slows down from here on out, Miller's going to the Hall. 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. He has the third most sacks through his age-25 season of any player since the league made it an official stat in 1982, trailing only Derrick Thomas and J.J. Watt. While Witten, 38, is years removed from his peak, he's going to finish his career with 11 Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro nods. Gore had the misfortune of playing for some bad San Francisco and Indianapolis teams, but his numbers are certainly impressive. His case is very strong for a first-ballot election. Brown was arguably the NFLs best receiver from 2013-18 in Pittsburgh, but wasnt the same player after he left the Steelers. All rights reserved. 2 with 6,103 yards. He isn't going to catch Jerry Rice, but he's just under 5,000 yards behind Larry Fitzgerald, who ranks second in career receiving yards. As a result, I would expect him to make it to the Hall someday. McCardell and Smith dubbed "Thunder . 4 overall pick will start his career at left tackle after Nate Solder opted out of this season. How Antonio Brown is hurting his Hall of Fame future, and what the volatile wide receiver needs to do to fix it Brown's continued off-field distractions have cast doubt on when -- and if -- he . Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. Smith needs a similar sort of run over the next few years to have a shot. He needs to have a second act and have another selling point -- either winning a Super Bowl, competing for another MVP award or making it to a handful of Pro Bowls -- to have a viable path to a gold jacket. He might not make it on the first ballot, but he should make it eventually. Just six of 32 Hall-eligible winners made it to Canton, although that's going to rise in the years to come as the likes of Charles Woodson and Julius Peppers win enshrinement. Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor, Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Kamara was also Offensive Rookie of the Year, which helps his chances further. His 2016 season was one of the most impressive years we've ever seen from a quarterback, as he dominated during the regular season and won league MVP. Lock (100%): QB Patrick Mahomes. As a result, I'll mention them often, especially when looking at players who don't touch the ball frequently. If the Falcons had held on to their lead and won the Super Bowl, Ryan would have won game MVP, and his 2016 probably would have been enough for a gold jacket. Greg Rajan is the senior editor for Texas Sports Nation, the Houston Chronicle's sports website, and also curates the daily TXSN newsletter and writes about sports media. Mike Evans is on pace to be a Hall of Fame caliber wide receiver There are questions about Roethlisberger's character; he has twice been accused of sexual assault. Around the NFL Writer. The induction process, like so many things, is on hold. Itll be interesting to see if his postseason prowess carries him, as it arguably did Lynn Swann in his eventual election. Mack is entering what is likely to be his final season with the Falcons. Copyright 2023 Action Network Inc, All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | AdChoices. Contemporaries Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne also made the finalists cut from 15 to 10 with Johnson, but likewise didnt gain election. In both cases, I'm looking mostly at the historical output for first overall picks. Campbell, who turns 34 next month, is probably going to miss out, which is a shame given how good he has been. Kittle is the best all-around tight end in football right now, and if you could tell me this minute that he would have a 12-year career, I'd expect him to be a Hall of Famer. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Cam Newton, CB Stephon Gilmore. The star inside linebacker made his first Pro Bowl last season, which is incredible given that it was his age-21 season. Last season, Thomas became the second wide receiver to win Offensive Player of the Year. 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. He is right on the borderline between the "Work to do" and "In the running" tiers. So maybe the best thing for Johnson and Texans fans is to be patient. But Thomas rsum with six first team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl trips helped overcome any shortcomings with team success. 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. 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. Heres what you need to know. If you want to know why people are excited about the Cowboys' offense in 2020, consider that they could have as many as five future Hall of Famers lining up when everyone's healthy. QB Anthony Richardson rejects 'project label' entering combine, Texans terminate center Justin Britt's contract, Bun B, Badu, J.J. Watt celebrate RodeoHouston Southern Takeover. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof Graham's case is interesting. Returning to form and earning a seventh Pro Bowl nod in his first season with the Ravens got Thomas back on track. Everyone but Hill is either a lock or extremely likely to make it in. Cooper has made four Pro Bowls in his first five seasons. Matthew Freedman (@MattFtheOracle) November 4, 2019. Rivers is probably the most difficult case to parse among veteran players. In the running (40% to 69%): WR A.J. Work to do (10% to 39%): RB Mark Ingram, OT Ronnie Stanley, DE Calais Campbell. The Hall of Fame receiver responded with a $100 million defamation lawsuit. Wentz's injury history this early in his career also doesn't bode well for his chances of playing deep into his 30s. 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. Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are the two prominent ballot newcomers. All but. 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. If Murray breaks out in Year 2, he'll be on the fast track. 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. Since 1950, 12 players have won two or more rushing titles. 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. 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. If you need something more, Fitzgerald's 2008 playoff run is probably the best postseason from any receiver in league history. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. I'll do a little bit of projecting here and there, given historical aging curves and what we know about each player's injury history, but this is almost entirely about what each player has done so far. Browns, Jets to open 2023 NFL preseason in Hall of Fame Game 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. Evans is just one of four NFL players ever to have 1,000 yards receiving as a 21-year-old rookie. The others are Moss, Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper. Unfortunately, Houston fans have had to wait through the years to see their stars get inducted. In the Super Bowl Era. Players with two Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro spot across their first three seasons who are eligible for the Hall have made it just over 48% of the time. Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Jared Goff, OT Andrew Whitworth, P Johnny Hekker. Wilson hasn't missed a game as a pro, so as long as he plays another five or six seasons and continues to rank among the better quarterbacks in football, he should be fine. Likely (70% to 99%): S Earl Thomas. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Itll be interesting to see if that stellar stretch is good enough to get him in Canton. Likely (70% to 99%): WR Michael Thomas. to put up the accumulation stats often needed to bolster a Hall-of-Fame case. Evans is on pace to join Randy Moss as the only other player in NFL history to open his career with six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns.