10 best active NFL players who won’t make Hall of Fame: Allen and CMC destined for Hall of Very Good

Aug 7, 2026 - 19:30

The Hall of Fame is an extremely exclusive club with just 386 players fit to wear the Gold Jacket.

That means genuine superstars like Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, and Ken Anderson haven’t made the cut yet despite glittering resumes.

Mike Evans fancied a change of scenery in 2026

It is impossible to predict who will wind up in Canton — just look at Bill Belichick‘s extraordinary first-ballot snub — but that hasn’t stopped us from giving it a go.

talkSPORT have picked 10 players destined for the Hall of Very Good, with a little help from Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor.

Odell Beckham Jr. (Hall of Fame Monitor score 35.83)

Odell Beckham Jr. is back with the New York Giants in 2026.

After he made arguably the greatest catch of all time in 2014, it seemed like OBJ was destined for the very top.

He scooped the Offensive Rookie of the Year award that season and added a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, but just three Pro Bowl nods with no first-team selections is a killer.

Beckham Jr. will needs just 17 yards to pass 8,000 for his career — respectable, but nowhere near Hall worthy.

The average wideout in Canton has a Hall of Fame Monitor score of 102.

Cooper Kupp (39.70)

At 33, Cooper Kupp is running out of time.

Amazingly, he is miles down the list of WR candidates with Jordy Nelson and even Cordarrelle Patterson above him on PFN’s scoring system.

Kupp has won rings in Los Angeles and Seattle, has a Super Bowl MVP award and earned the triple crown in 2021 after leading the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns.

Unfortunately, injuries have kept him off the field and the one-time Pro Bowler has just over 8,000 career yards — that number may just cost him.

Kupp missed a lot of his prime through injury

Saquon Barkley (41.35)

The average Hall of Fame Running back scores 106, meaning Saquon Barkley has work to do.

Hurdles do not count, no matter how spectacular, and at 30, the three-time Pro Bowler has 8,300 rushing yards.

That is short of the likes of Eddie George, Ottis Anderson and Tiki Barber, who all cleared 10,000 and still haven’t donned gold.

Barkley’s 2,000-yard season was historic, but voters have shown time and time again that longevity and consistency matter. You need to pile on the numbers.

Barkley fell back to earth after a freakish season in 2024

Harrison Smith (44.78)

A six-time Pro Bowler with the Minnesota Vikings, Harrison Smith has more than justified his selection with the 29th overall pick in 29.

His problem, just one First-Team nod and playing in the wrong position.

It is hard for defensive backs to get into the Hall unless they are genuinely game-breaking.

Just ask Asante Samuel, who railed against his continued exclusion in 2025.

“Asante Samuel: two-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Bowler, All-Pro, record breaking cornerback, and I’m the last cornerback to intercept 15 interceptions during the 16 game season era,” he said. “I led the NFL in interceptions two times. The list goes on.”

With a score in the 40s, Smith has already been surpassed by Patrick Surtain II, who is 11 years younger.

Smith is elite but it is tough to stand out at safety

George Kittle (49.64)

There are only 10 tight ends in Canton.

Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski are locks, Jason Witten will almost certainly make it one day.

Kittle — despite all his undoubted talent — probably needs a very strong finish to his career.

The average score is 99, and Jimmy Graham arguably has a stronger case than the 32-year-old as it stands.

Passing 8,000 yards and 50 touchdowns from tight end is a ridiculous achievement, but we are talking about the best of the best and Kittle has spent a lot of time in the treatment room.

Kittle may have a career in WWE after the NFL

Kirk Cousins (53.29)

Currently preparing for what will likely be a last hurrah before passing the baton to Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas, Kirk Cousins has enjoyed a long NFL career.

The Raiders QB has earned $341.5 million for his exploits and racked up over 44,000 passing yards.

Not bad for a fourth-round pick, but there is a high bar of QBs who score an average of 110 to join the elite club.

Russell Wilson, Phillip Rivers (whose clock has been reset), Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan are in a bit of a logjam at the position, with Tom Brady eligible soon.

Cam Newton has an outside chance of forcing his way in. Cousins will fall short.

Cousins is already on borrowed time in Sin City

Lavonte David (52.53)

A second-round pick in 2012, Lavonte David is a fearsome all-round linebacker.

After dominating in college, he has been an integral part of the Bucs defense for over a decade.

But just one First-Team All-Pro nod and a single Pro Bowl in 2015 count against him.

Of greater concern, will 42.5 sacks be enough? Pat Swilling has over 100 and hasn’t made it?

David is a sensational all-round athlete and coaches dream with 14 career interceptions as well as his pass-rushing ability, but may not stand out in any one area enough.

David can do it all but might not have done enough

Christian McCaffrey (54.20)

We’re getting to the controversial end of the list with every pick from here on out having the potential to make me look foolish.

Christian McCaffrey was until recently the best-paid running back in the NFL and is a transcendent talent.

At 30 years of age, he is getting into the traditional danger zone for running backs.

A three-time First-Team All Pro, Offensive Player of the Year, NFL rushing yards leader, there are a lot of positives.

Like new teammate Evans, however, injuries have robbed him of the chance to put up lofty numbers year on year and there are no rings on those fingers.

There is a high bar for RBs with 106 the average score. For the record, Christian’s WR dad Ed has 40.78, which puts him ahead of Nelson, Amari Cooper and Michael Thomas among others.

Keenan Allen (62.21)

Six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen has over 12,000 passing yards and 54 touchdowns.

A third-round pick in 2013, he has been consistently good with six 1,000-yard seasons.

But is he truly great?

Allen is possibly the definition of a Hall of Very Good player, who will quite rightly go down as a Chargers legend.

Unfortunately, there has not been much postseason action over the franchise’s time in San Diego and Los Angeles which will also hurt his case.

Allen will leave an impact on and off the field

Josh Allen (66.45)

A dangerous pick on paper.

Josh Allen is possibly the best quarterback in the NFL right now and has been for a few years.

But he has still not walked onto the field in a Super Bowl — that matters.

Thankfully at 30, he has time on his side as the former Wyoming gunslinger looks to end the Buffalo Bills‘ long drought.

His dual-threat acumen will help with voters one day — especially if he continues his streak of three consecutive double-digit rushing touchdown seasons.

A couple of rings and an MVP award would likely do the job, but that is easier said than done.

Mike Evans (77.07)

There are only two men to record 11-straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and one of them — Jerry Rice — is already in Canton.

Mike Evans will hope he has done enough to join him and if he can become a golden oldie in San Francisco, he just might.

The six-time Pro Bowler is 32 and struggling with a groin injury in camp having missed a massive chunk of 2025.

He boasts 13,000 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns — it is all very, very good.

Evans also has a Super Bowl ring thanks to Brady, but competition is tough and has his career been that much better than Anquan Boldin or Jimmy Smith?

A strong finish might be needed to get over the line in a deep position.