. Scouting reports | More draft coverage. He joined the Chronicle in January 2015 as the online sports editor. Likely (70% to 99%): QB Russell Wilson, LB Bobby Wagner. 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. Likely (70% to 99%): WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce. He made only two Pro Bowls with the Cardinals, which was a farce. Worthy Hall of Fame (HOF) NFL Wide Receivers: The shoo-ins Let's start by running through five obvious cases of overly-qualified receivers who have not yet been enshrined. The Best Wide Receivers of All-Time - Future Football Legends Will OBJ defy his long-shot odds to lead NFL in receiving yards? Lock (100%): DE J.J. Watt. AP Photo/Harold Filan. 50 Greatest QB-WR Duos in NFL History - Bleacher Report ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN Hightower has made huge plays in two Super Bowls, having stuffed Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line and strip-sacked Matt Ryan, but he has rarely gotten the regular-season attention he deserves. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Julian Edelman, LB Dont'a Hightower, S Devin McCourty. 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. Both players are on a streak, and their chances depend on keeping that streak going. He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, joining Lawrence Taylor as the only three-time winners of the award. 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. 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. Projecting future Hall of Famers for all 32 NFL teams - ESPN.com 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. The NFL's 2023 Hall of Fame Game will feature the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, the Hall announced Tuesday. 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. 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. Mike Evans is on pace to be a Hall of Fame caliber wide receiver Although the Texans struggled through much of his career with the team, the franchise and fans always knew they could rely on him for stellar numbers. After that, we have players who are Likely to get in, who I estimate have between a 70% and 99% chance of earning induction. 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. 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. The 2010 No. 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. Guy made only one Pro Bowl after turning 30, and Hekker probably needs a couple more All-Pro appearances to earn serious consideration. What Current NFL Players are Going to the Hall of Fame: NFC North I think Patrick Willis is going to make it in after an eight-year career in which he racked up seven Pro Bowl appearances and five first-team All-Pro nods and retired as he turned 30. Eagles great Harold Carmichael finally gets his Hall of Fame enshrinement SEA | TB | TEN | WSH. Complicating things for Johnson is the logjam of candidates at his position. The 2021 Radio Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the in-person 2021 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at Chicago's Wintrust Grand Banking Hall. Likely (70% to 99%): DT Geno Atkins. But given the relatively small number of modern-era inductees each year a minimum of three and maximum of five now is a good time to look at the ballot in upcoming years and notable players wholl become eligible for election and may impact Johnsons fate with voters. You could make a case Jones belongs in the Likely category based on his 2017 and 2019 seasons, although I'd argue there's a significant gap between those two campaigns and the rest of his career. Can Baker Mayfield's game be fixed? 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. Likely (70% to 99%): WR DeAndre Hopkins, CB Patrick Peterson. 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. Since there have been only 346 people elected to the Hall of Fame (some of whom aren't even players), we don't always have great measures or estimates for what players at each given position have to do to make it. As he turns 30 in September, Gilmore probably needs at least two more seasons in which he has a credible case as the best cornerback in football -- or a really long peak. On Saturday night, Eagles star Harold Carmichael and Rams star Isaac Bruce were inducted as part of a . Given his style, I worry about his aging curve versus that of tight ends who are basically glorified wide receivers. Work to do (10% to 39%): RB Derrick Henry, OT Taylor Lewan, DE Vic Beasley Jr., S Kevin Byard. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Rodrigue: Rams' future in focus during NFL combine as trade, cap Even so, I think hell eventually get there. 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. He deserves it. The induction process, like so many things, is on hold. Barnwell and friends discuss sports -- usually. 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. 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. Wagner also has a Super Bowl victory and, quite famously, an MVP vote from Tony Dungy on his rsum. 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. Gates, a former college basketball player, had one of the greatest careers for an undrafted player, logging 16 seasons with the Chargers. He was excellent in his third season, but since then, his production has roughly been in line with that of Robby Anderson. 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. Hes top-10 in passing yards and touchdowns, so hell get a gold jacket at some point, if not on the first ballot. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Adam Thielen, LB Anthony Barr. One issue: Five of those six are running backs, with Randy Moss as the only exception. Pro Football WR Hall of Fame Monitor Heres what those guys did in their first five seasons and where they rank among all receivers in the age-21-to-25 cohort. What makes Evans production especially impressive is that he entered the league at such a young age. Six players have done that since the merger: Murray, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, George Rogers, Billy Sims and Earl Campbell. Williams needs a couple of high-profile seasons as the best left tackle in football, which is tough with Tyron Smith around. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Future Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Gushes Over Giants' Kadarius Toney It hasn't been for lack of trying on his part, though. In 1996, he decided to play football full-time. Aaron Rodgers has had a lack of weapons on the Green Bay Packers Since 1980, there have been 23 Modern-Era Wide Receivers honored by the Hall of Fame, with an average Legends Score of 29. 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. Hekker's case is interesting. This is the big question: How much longer will Evans play and how productive will he be? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Lock (100%): WR Larry Fitzgerald. In the running (40% to 69%): DT Ndamukong Suh. He has made five consecutive Pro Bowls and has a first-team All-Pro appearance. Newton has an MVP award, which goes a long way toward pushing any player into the Hall of Fame. Evans was a big-time NFL prospect. He's going to get in on the first ballot. The only thing Pouncey is missing is a Super Bowl appearance. 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. How Calvin Johnson compares to the Pro Football Hall of Fame WRs 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. Adam Vinatieri will eventually join Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen, but those guys averaged 22 seasons in the league. Likely (70% to 99%): OT Jason Peters. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Cam Newton, CB Stephon Gilmore. I think he'll end up getting in because he has simply racked up numbers year after year without missing much time, although I could also see an argument that he hasn't done enough outside of that one brilliant year. 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. Whitworth was criminally underrated during his time in Cincinnati, earning just one Pro Bowl nod during his first nine seasons with the Bengals. Carmichael was one of the best wide receivers of his era. 260 players who could win MVP 1 min read. The End of In-Person Voting for Future Hall-of-Fame Classes? Maybe Not Unless he really hangs on into his 40s, he'll finish as the second-most-productive tight end in history, behind Tony Gonzalez. These three Pats legends are more likely to land in the Hall of Very Good. 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. Most importantly: This is my opinion of who is likely to get in given current rsums, not who belongs in. Football Insiders with Trey Wingo. As it stands, though, Gurley doesn't have enough on his rsum to get in. I worry a little about Atkins because he plays in a small market and in an era in which he's second fiddle to a better version of the same player (Aaron Donald), but history suggests Atkins is in. Graham's case is interesting. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Hunter just needs more individual recognition to raise his chances. NFL Nation: Analysis for every pick Buccaneers: Antonio Brown back in Hall of Fame form in 2021 (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? Peters might look better in the long term than he does now. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Todd Gurley. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Dak Prescott, WR Amari Cooper. Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame monitor ranks Edelman 110th among wide receivers, and that gives him credit for winning three Super Bowls. Lock (100%): QB Ben Roethlisberger. He was nearly a lock after making four Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro nods across his first five seasons, but injuries have cost Thomas 20 games over the subsequent four years. Hall of Famers | NASCAR Hall of Fame Jeremy Fowler polled a panel of more than 50 coaches, execs, scouts and players to come up with top-10 rankings for 2020: QB | RB | TE | WR | OT 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. Hall of Famer predicts controversial team for Rodgers. The star inside linebacker made his first Pro Bowl last season, which is incredible given that it was his age-21 season. He probably needs to keep that streak going for a couple more years or rack up another 15-sack campaign to move the needle to Likely. Finish reading this entire article absolutely FREE in our app. As he enters the league, Young's chances of making the Hall of Fame on draft status alone sneak him into consideration. 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. Let's see whether we can get a sense of who those 50 are right now: Jump to a team: JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN Okudah's presence owes to his draft status as the No. Cox has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, although only one of those seasons resulted in a first-team All-Pro nod. Or write about sports? Wilson is somewhere in the 90% range. The big deal he signed with the Jags and the subsequent 14.5-sack campaign he posted in leading them to the AFC Championship Game turned the tide, as Campbell was a first-team All-Pro and made three consecutive Pro Bowl trips with Jacksonville. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Philip Rivers, G Quenton Nelson, LB Darius Leonard. More NFL coverage . White got his just due last season and was named a first-team All-Pro while tying for the league lead in interceptions (six). 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. Gronkowski dominated at his position, played a key role on four Super Bowl winners, was on the all-2010s team and a first time All-Pro on four occasions. Green. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers. McCardell and Smith dubbed "Thunder . 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. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Picking the top bounce-back candidates for all 32 NFL teams, Football historians talk about the game in a previous pandemic, Ranking the NFL's top 25 prospects: Young players who could break out in 2020, last attempted something like this column in June 2016, 42.6% of voters thought Rivers was a Hall of Famer, honor his request and trade the 25-year-old, trading a first-rounder to the Bills in 2009. All rights reserved. Work to do (10% to 39%): DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DT Gerald McCoy, LB Leighton Vander Esch. Brown was arguably the NFLs best receiver from 2013-18 in Pittsburgh, but wasnt the same player after he left the Steelers. I would put Gronkowski's chance somewhere around 99%. In the running (40% to 69%): C Maurkice Pouncey, LB T.J. Watt. 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. Likely (70% to 99%): WR Michael Thomas. Smith-Schuster had a down 2019 season amid injuries and terrible quarterback play; he should bounce back to his 1,426-yard form from 2018. He claimed a sack title in 2017 and was half a sack behind Shaq Barrett a year ago. Lock (100%): DT Aaron Donald. Assessing Browns' FA needs. Just play along. For now, Tom Brady and J.J. Watt lead the list of this years retirees wholl be on the ballot in 2028. On a weekly basis, Evans is a volatile player, but his year-over-year production has been incredibly consistent. Tucker is only nine years in, and while he can kick for a long time if he stays healthy, asking anyone in the NFL to do anything for 13 more seasons is risky. There are questions about Roethlisberger's character; he has twice been accused of sexual assault. Roy Williams is the lone Hall-eligible safety who didn't follow his early success to Canton. Do you have a sports website? After being retired for five years, players maintain modern-era eligibility for 20 years, after which their cases go to the seniors committee. 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. He also came up with an interception while winning his first Super Bowl, which helps his case. Do you have a blog? Through Week 9 of the 2019 season, Evans has played 85 career games. Smith needs a similar sort of run over the next few years to have a shot. No offensive lineman is ever a lock when guys like Faneca still aren't enshrined, but Smith plays the most prominent position on the line for the most popular team in the league. Rodgers inked a three-year, $150 million extension with the Packers last March, but reports . 3 pick. 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. Unlike Gurley, McCaffrey didn't win Offensive Player of the Year or make a deep playoff run. Three different Cowboys defenders make this list, and you could make a case for Jaylon Smith, too. Seymour made it to seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams and hasn't made it to the Hall of Fame, but Thomas was more conspicuous at safety and was a key member of a legendary defense. First, its hard for young guys to adapt to the NFL. Its not at all random that hes become a big-time NFL player. In the running (40% to 69%): DE Joey Bosa, S Derwin James. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Lamar Jackson, CB Marcus Peters, K Justin Tucker. 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. When a group consists of you and Jerry Rice, you've done something right. Jets, Browns tapped for 2023 NFL Hall of Fame Game He previously worked as the sports editor at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. 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. 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 has a chance to continue making history in 2022. 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. All of these guys have something in their favor, but it isn't enough to propel them to meaningful consideration as of yet. Peppers, who played for the Panthers (twice), Bears and Packers, ranks fourth on the NFLs all-time sack list with 159 and was also on the Halls All-Decade Team for the 2000s and 2010s. Stanley was a first-team All-Pro last season, which was his first serious recognition as a superstar. On the latest episode of the Let's Go! After five consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns, I wonder whether Landry actually has a better shot of surpassing his friend and longtime teammate. The closest comp is Ken Anderson, who had a similar peak and won an MVP award but didn't last quite as long and hasn't been able to get in. Around the NFL Writer. Like Hill, if Kelce gets three more seasons with Mahomes, I think he's a Hall of Famer. From 2015 to 2019, his numbers are virtually identical to those of Eric Ebron. In the running (40% to 69%): RB Saquon Barkley. While guys like Franco Harris and Champ Bailey managed to make it to the Hall with similar starts to their careers, standouts like Chris Hinton, Ricky Watters and Donovan McNabb have come up short without getting to that next level.