Pro Football Hall of Fame: Predictions as semi-finalists are announced

The semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced on Tuesday, with 15 modern-era players making the next round of cuts as they draw closer to being enshrined in Canton. A total of five players can be taken from this list, with the remainder being made up of the senior, coach, and contributor categories. The Hall of Fame bylaws state that between four, and eight players will make up a class each year.

Here are the 15 modern-era players who have been nominated:

• Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Drew Brees, Quarterback – 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints
• Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
• Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver – 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals
• Frank Gore, Running Back – 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
• Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
• Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
• Eli Manning, Quarterback – 2004-2019 New York Giants
• Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
• Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts
• Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle –2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
• Jason Witten, Tight End – 2003-2017, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
• Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
• Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

The other potential candidates from outside the modern player pool are:

• Ken Anderson, Quarterback — 1971-86 Cincinatti Bengals
• Roger Craig, Running Back — 1983-90 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
• L.C. Greenwood, Defensive End — 1969-81 Pittsburgh Steelers
• Bill Belichick, Head Coach — 2000-23 New England Patriots
• Robert Kraft, Owner — 1994-Present New England Patriots

The legacy player/ancillary pool is anyone’s guess. The wide assumption is that Ken Anderson will be enshrined, along with Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick. That would hit the maximum of three from that pool. As for the modern era players, here are our predictions and odds for each player to make it into the Hall of Fame.

Willie Anderson, Tackle — Cincinnati Bengals

A three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Anderson was the best right tackle of his era — but Canton has alluded him for the last three years. This is his fourth time making the semi-finals, which either means that voters are looking at him as not quite good enough, or he’ll get the nod after waiting several years. This one is a total tossup.

Odds of making the HoF: 50%

Drew Brees, Quarterback — New Orleans Saints

I’m not sure we even need to make a case here. With over 80,000 career passing yards, 571 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl ring, there’s absolutely no doubt that Brees is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Every part of his resume is dripping with justification why he’ll make it into the hall, and he will on his first attempt

Odds of making the HoF: 100%

Jahri Evans, Guard — New Orleans Saints

This is an interesting one. Evans was a great player who made four All-Pro teams in a row, but he didn’t reach this greatness again at the beginning or end of his career. This is a guy who doesn’t feel like a HoF caliber player, but there will be strong motivation to enshrine him along with Drew Brees to give the Saints two of their cornerstones from their winning era.

Odds of making the HoF: 15%

Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver — Arizona Cardinals

Loyalty was Fitzgerald’s only fault as a player. The only receiver to come within an earshot of Jerry Rice, Fitzgerald’s unmistakably brilliant career was unfortunately overshadowed by other players because of his allegiance to the Cardinals for over 15 years. Regardless, he is a lock to make the Hall of Fame in his first attempt, which is a rarity for a receiver.

Odds of making the HoF: 100%

Frank Gore, Running Back — San Francisco 49ers

A true iron man in every sense of the word. Gore not only played football’s most brutal position at a high level, registering nine 1,000 yard seasons — but he played it for an unheard of 15 years. Sitting third on the all-time rushing list gives him a strong case to get in, but if it weren’t for the longevity it’s difficult to see Gore’s case among this class.

Odds of making the HoF: 20%

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — St. Louis Rams

Holt was absolutely unstoppable with Kurt Warner under center. Known as a route technician with an astounding knack for getting open at the top of his routes, this big-play mentality helped shape “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Holt finished with 1,000+ yards eight times over the course of his 11 seasons, making the Pro Bowl seven times. This is a Hall of Fame player, but receiver is such a bizarre position to project that he could miss out.

Odds of making the HoF: 40%

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker — Carolina Panthers

If concussions hadn’t shortened Luke Kuechly’s career he would have cemented himself as one of the greatest linebackers of all time, and still might deserve that honor. This is a man who didn’t have a single season with fewer than 100 tackles, even when he missed almost half a year in 2010. With five All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowls in his eight NFL seasons, Kuechly’s short career is the only thing holding him back.

Odds of making the HoF: 80%

Eli Manning, Quarterback — New York Giants

We can litigate this one until the cows come home, but Eli Manning is going to make the Hall of Fame. Two Super Bowl rings are his biggest claim to fame, which is a significant achievement — but in most other areas Eli just doesn’t stack up. He will get into Canton because of his name and legacy, but it’s unclear if he’ll make it this year.

Odds of making the HoF: 85%

Terrell Suggs, Linebacker – Baltimore Ravens

This is Terrell Suggs’ second year of eligibility, and his second time as a Finalist. What works in his favor? He was the Defensive Player of the Year as well as an All-Pro during the 2011 season, and despite tearing his Achilles ahead of the 2012 season he returned for a stretch run to help the Ravens win Super Bowl LVII. But being in a loaded Finalist class – along with another linebacker in Luke Kuechly – could work against him. 

Odds of making the HoF: 30%

Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – New England Patriots

The homer in me believes this is a slam dunk. Adam Vinateri delivered game-winning kicks for the New England Patriots in both Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXXVIII, and his fourth quarter field goal was also the margin of victory in Super Bowl XXXIX. And if it were not for his iconic kicks in the snow against the Raiders in the AFC Divisional Round, first to force overtime and later to win the game, who knows if the New England dynasty would even exist. 

After winning a fourth Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, Vinatieri retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. 

Still, only two pure kickers – Morten Andersen and Jan Stenerud – are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. George Blanda and Lou Groza played other positions, quarterback and tackle respectively. 

Odds of making the HoF: 35%

Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – Indianapolis Colts

This is the seventh time that Reggie Wayne has been a Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, speaking to the logjam that exists for wide receivers. Over his career Wayne notched eight 1,000-yard seasons, four 100-reception seasons, was an All-Pro during the 2010 campaign, and helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. Still, with Larry Fitzgerald eligible align with Torry Holt, Wayne could be waiting another year.

Odds of making the HoF: 25%

Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle – Minnesota Vikings

This is the first time Kevin Williams has made the list of Finalists, coming in his sixth year of eligibility. Williams began his career as a defensive end but quickly kicked inside to tackle, where he flourished for the Minnesota Vikings. He recorded 10.5 sacks as a rookie, and over his career Williams notched 63 sacks and 113 tackles for a loss, and even snatched five interceptions. He was a five-time All-Pro selection. 

However, Williams is a defensive tackle in a deep class, so the odds are not in his favor.

Odds of making the HoF: 25%

Jason Witten, Tight End – Dallas Cowboys

Jason Witten was an immediate starter for the Dallas Cowboys after being drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft, and over his career the tight end amassed 1,228 receptions (ranking him fourth all-time) for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns. Witten was also a two-time First-Team All-Pro, and was picked as a Second-Team All-Pro two additional times. He was missed just one game over his 17 NFL seasons, and even played in 32 games after stepping away from the NFL for a year. Considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Witten has a very good chance at being selected in this, his first year of eligibility.

Odds of making the HoF: 75%

Darren Woodson, Safety – Dallas Cowboys

This is the fourth time that Darren Woodson has been a Finalist for the Hall of Fame, and it is also his 18th year of eligibility. Woodson was part of a Dallas Cowboys team that won three Super Bowls, and was a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection. Woodson also remains at the top of the Cowboys’ All-Time tackles list, and was selected to the team’s Ring of Honor. But his Hall of Fame candidacy may have to wait in this deep class. 

Odds of making the HoF: 15%

Marshall Yanda, Guard – Baltimore Ravens

There is a school of thought that Hall of Fame enshrinement requires that you were the best player at your position for a stretch of time in the NFL. That should make Marshall Yanda’s case a slam dunk. Yanda was a force along the interior of the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line for a long stretch of play, and was selected as a First-Team All-Pro twice, along with five more Second-Team All-Pro selections. Still, in a class with names like Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, and Eli Manning, Yanda’s enshrinement – which will come – might have to wait another year. 

Odds of making the HoF: 25%