Likely (70% to 99%): RB Ezekiel Elliott, G Zack Martin, OT Tyron Smith. What makes Evans production especially impressive is that he entered the league at such a young age. Three different Cowboys defenders make this list, and you could make a case for Jaylon Smith, too. Vander Esch's chances are stronger than his fellow linebacker because he was a first-round pick and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, while Smith was a second-round pick and didn't make it until his third campaign. Wilson is somewhere in the 90% range. Top-10 picks who make it to the Pro Bowl as rookies have a great track record. In a normal universe, we would be celebrating the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 right about now. He has three first-team All-Pro nods and a Super Bowl MVP before turning 31. In the running (40% to 69%): DE Chandler Jones. 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. In the running (40% to 69%): QB Deshaun Watson. 1 min read. Mike Evans is on pace to be a Hall of Fame caliber wide receiver. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Adam Thielen, LB Anthony Barr. Members of the Ring of Honor are recognized with a banner on the facade of the Metrodome's upper deck, forever living in Vikings lore. Returning to form and earning a seventh Pro Bowl nod in his first season with the Ravens got Thomas back on track. 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. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports. 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 . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He could roll off a string of these nods in the years to come. Contemporaries Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne also made the finalists cut from 15 to 10 with Johnson, but likewise didnt gain election. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Keenan Allen, G Trai Turner, DE Melvin Ingram III, CB Chris Harris Jr. Turner has made five consecutive Pro Bowls, but interior linemen typically need multiple first-team All-Pro nods to draw significant Hall interest. Lock (100%): DT Aaron Donald. The only eligible player with that sort of rsum who hasn't made it to Canton is Webb, and while Webb was also a left tackle, he didn't make a single Pro Bowl after turning 30. If he can keep this level of play up for three more seasons, Jordan could get in. Most importantly: This is my opinion of who is likely to get in given current rsums, not who belongs in. Quarterbacks like Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason and Steve McNair won league MVP without earning enshrinement. 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. 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. Marcedes Lewis has been in the NFL for a long time. Xavien Howard made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and would be the best candidate, but he has missed an average of six games per season across his four pro campaigns. Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants, winning MVP both times. Of the 27 Hall-eligible players who have pulled that off, 14 are enshrined. All of these guys have something in their favor, but it isn't enough to propel them to meaningful consideration as of yet. 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. 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. He turned 32 on Friday, and while there could be more left in the tank, he probably needs another Pro Bowl season or two to ensure he makes it. 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. We're in a pass-happy era, but Thomas has more receptions (470) and receiving yards (5,512) than any other players in league history through their first four seasons. 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. 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. White got his just due last season and was named a first-team All-Pro while tying for the league lead in interceptions (six). Both are among the all-time leaders in every notable stat at their positions. On a weekly basis, Evans is a volatile player, but his year-over-year production has been incredibly consistent. 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. From 2000-2003, Randy Moss put up video game numbers: 376 receptions, 5,649 yards and 49 touchdowns. Winning an MVP in Year 2 obviously leaps Jackson into consideration on its own, but it doesn't seal it. McCaffrey is still only 24 and has a relatively sterling health history, so it's on him to buck history. He rarely gets the public attention he deserves, but the Pro Bowl voters haven't ignored the interior disruptor, who has earned eight Pro Bowl nods and a pair of first-team All-Pro votes. Hes top-10 in passing yards and touchdowns, so hell get a gold jacket at some point, if not on the first ballot. Hes too similar to other Hall-of-Famers and future Hall-of-Famers not to be taken seriously. 2 with 6,103 yards. Allen will have a tougher time (presumably) without Yannick Ngakoue or Calais Campbell around in 2020, but he's off to a great start. When: 1999-2004 These two probably had the greatest four-year stretch in NFL history. Giants fans would be happy if Thomas solidified a position that has been a mess since Will Beatty tore his pec in 2015. 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. His case is very strong for a first-ballot election. Jones should make up some of that difference in 2020, and after Fitzgerald retires, he should be able to challenge the Cardinals great for that second spot. Hekker's case is interesting. Matthew Freedman poses and answers the burning question about Evans' future Hall of Fame chances. 4 overall pick will start his career at left tackle after Nate Solder opted out of this season. Baker was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and a two-time Pro Bowler, although his 2017 awards were for special-teams work, which isn't valued as highly by voters. Unlike Gurley, McCaffrey didn't win Offensive Player of the Year or make a deep playoff run. Do you have a sports website? Twelve of the 29 Hall-eligible players who have started their careers with three consecutive Pro Bowl nods have made it to Canton. A starter from day one, Jackson was a first-team All-Pro while leading the league in interceptions in 2018. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN He started his career with seven Pro Bowls in seven seasons, which is rarefied air. 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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. Mosley's case, meanwhile, has stalled in New York. 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. Unless he really hangs on into his 40s, he'll finish as the second-most-productive tight end in history, behind Tony Gonzalez. Work to do (10% to 39%): QB Jared Goff, OT Andrew Whitworth, P Johnny Hekker. In the running (40% to 69%): C Jason Kelce, DT Fletcher Cox. . NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF Elliott should be a prohibitive favorite to get in. For now, Tom Brady and J.J. Watt lead the list of this years retirees wholl be on the ballot in 2028. In the running (40% to 69%): S Eddie Jackson. James was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie, and while he missed 11 games in 2019 with a foot injury, he should get back on track in 2020. 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. All rights reserved. Wentz's injury history this early in his career also doesn't bode well for his chances of playing deep into his 30s. In the running (40% to 69%): DE Josh Allen. Art Monk<br>1980-1995. Buckner made the Pro Bowl in 2018, but he was otherwise underappreciated during his four seasons in the Bay Area. 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. But Thomas rsum with six first team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl trips helped overcome any shortcomings with team success. In the running (40% to 69%): S Jamal Adams. Work to do (10% to 39%): WR Julian Edelman, LB Dont'a Hightower, S Devin McCourty. The left tackle has seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro nods before turning 30. 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. 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. Thielen only emerged as a starter after turning 26, which means he would have to play into his late 30s to have a chance at racking up the cumulative stats modern wide receivers will need for enshrinement. Evans has a chance to continue making history in 2022. Work to do (10% to 39%): DE Yannick Ngakoue. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. All but. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH. If James gets back there this season, he might even be able to jump into the Likely category. In the running (40% to 69%): CB Tre'Davious White. The Nebraska product nearly won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2018, but a win with the Bucs and one more All-Pro appearance would greatly help his chances. That wide receiver is Detroit Lions great Calvin Johnson. Grading the Jamal Adams trade Work to do (10% to 39%): LB Tremaine Edmunds. Nelson doesn't play a high-profile position, but he's off to a great start. 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. Archive: Every podcast from Barnwell . you might say Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins. Harold Carmichael and Isaac Bruce will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. Suggs logged 139 sacks, good for eighth all-time. Leonard, with one All-Pro spot and a Pro Bowl appearance last year, is right behind. Harris has four Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro appearance in 2016, but his play has slipped over the past couple of years, and smaller cornerbacks typically don't do well after they turn 30. 19 Won't: Maurice Jones-Drew Assessing Browns' FA needs. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers. 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. You can't make the Hall of Fame while you're still in pads, but Mike Evans has been making his case over the past six seasons. 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. Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, future Hall of Fame wide receiver, led the best draft class in Rams history in 1945. One more Pro Bowl would probably do the trick. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Rodgers inked a three-year, $150 million extension with the Packers last March, but reports . Skeptics will point out that Rivers was 5-6 in the postseason and only made it as far as one AFC Championship Game, but he's also sixth in NFL history in passing yards and passing touchdowns. In one of Coach Saban's press conferences, he spoke about some of the questions asked by the players to . 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. While James is closer to the 69% end of the spectrum here, Bosa's more toward 40%. We all know what he's capable of, but he needs to put together a first-team All-Pro or Defensive Player of the Year-level campaign soon. One issue: Five of those six are running backs, with Randy Moss as the only exception. The 2010 No. But history suggests that his on-field performance makes him a Hall of Fame lock. I would put Gronkowski's chance somewhere around 99%. 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. Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are the two prominent ballot newcomers. 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. JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN His time may come, but maybe not for a while. He also earned two major awards: Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year the following season. Seymour has a better rsum and more Super Bowl rings and hasn't made it in, but he peaked earlier in his career; if Campbell can stay productive and win a ring or two with the Ravens, it might push him into more significant consideration. Wagner also has a Super Bowl victory and, quite famously, an MVP vote from Tony Dungy on his rsum. 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. 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. Ingram wasn't very good for extended stretches of time until his fourth season in the league in New Orleans, and while he has made three Pro Bowls since, he hasn't had a top-five season in terms of production or won a Super Bowl. Larry Fitzgerald Says Aaron Rodgers Should Play for the Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) hands off. The Cowboys are blessed with two linemen bound for Canton. Of all the young receivers, Moss is the only one to accomplish more through the first five seasons of his career. 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.