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The call to Canton runs deep for every player in the NFL. It is a dream that’s as big (or bigger) than winning a Super Bowl ring. Some teams have a clear future Hall member on their roster and for others, it’s a bit of a stretch. As we go through each of the 32 NFL teams, here are the most likely Hall of Famers on each NFL roster.
Arizona Cardinals — Matt Prater
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 83.4% career field goal
We start with the team that may be the most difficult to find a future Hall of Famer. J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins are both no longer with the team, and Kyler Murray’s up-and-down start to his career makes him far from a surefire selection. Enter kicker Matt Prater, who may go down as the best long-distance kicker in NFL history. Prater holds NFL records for most kicks of 50+ yards all-time (80), and most extra points in an individual season (75). Although he has never been selected as a First-Team All-Pro, that’s largely due to playing in the same era as other future Hall of Famers (Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Vinatieri, Justin Tucker). Don’t be surprised to see Prater in Canton one day.
Atlanta Falcons — Jessie Bates
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Career Highlights: 20 INTs, 2x Second-team All-Pro, 2023 Pro Bowler
We’re a bit stretched on this one. Simply put — as currently constituted — there’s really no future Hall of Famer we can unequivocally point to currently on the Falcons’ roster. Kyle Pitts could get there one day, Bijan Robinson could get there one day, but both have not played much professional football. If we had to pick one guy, we landed with Bates. He’s arguably the best safety in the game today and is coming off a marvelous debut season with the Falcons. The 27-year-old is a ball hawk with 20 interceptions in just 96 career games.
Baltimore Ravens — Justin Tucker
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Career Highlights: 5x All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowl, 90.2% career field goal
There are three absolutes in this world: Death, taxes, and Justin Tucker kicking the crap out of footballs. The iconic Baltimore Ravens placekicker is the best of all-time — and that’s not an exaggeration to say. We’ve never seen someone possess Tucker’s accuracy to go along with arguably the strongest leg in the history of the NFL. He’s just been as close to automatic as you could be, given the pressure surrounding the position. There’s no reason to think he won’t continue performing at this all-league level.
Buffalo Bills — Von Miller
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 8x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl winner, SB 50 MVP, 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, All-2010s Team
Send him to Canton! Over the last decade, the former Texas A&M star has been terrorizing opposing offenses as a one-man wrecking crew off the edge (primarily for the Broncos and briefly for the Rams). Miller’s first step is legendary — as are his instincts in getting to the quarterback. Now with Buffalo as a veteran, the hope for Bills Mafia is that he’ll give the unit a bit of a jolt despite being on the back half of his career. We would never count Miller out considering his pedigree and level of experience.
Carolina Panthers — Johnny Hekker
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Career Highlights: 4x All-Pro, 2x Second-team All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, All-2010s Team, 1x Super Bowl Winner, 41,714 total punt yardage
Johnny Hekker is the best punter of his era. He’s earned four All-Pro first-team nods thus far which ranks second all-time at the position. Hekker was a weapon for the Rams for a decade, helping lead the special teams unit en route to capturing a Super Bowl title in 2021. He’s been just as dependable for the Carolina Panthers over the last two seasons. Special teamers have had a difficult path to Canton. Hekker ranks fourth among all punters in NFL history on Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor, which assesses a player’s chances of being enshrined. Unfortunately, the No. 1 ranked punter on that list — Shane Lechler — is still waiting for his call.
Chicago Bears — Keenan Allen
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Career Highlights: 6x Pro Bowl, 2017 Comeback Player of the Year, 904 receptions, 10,530 yards, 59 TDs
One of the best route runners in the game switched teams this past offseason. After spending 11 years with the Chargers, Keenan Allen is set to star for the Chicago Bears. Perhaps playing for an up-and-coming team with playoff aspirations will be the final stamp on Allen’s Hall of Fame resume. Allen eclipsed 10,000 career receiving yards a season ago. He ranks 26th in receptions, directly behind Travis Kelce and Julio Jones. Allen is 32, but coming off a career-high in receptions with 108. If he has two more seasons of that caliber, he’ll finish with at least 1,100 catches. Only six players in NFL history have crossed the mark — four of which are already Hall of Famers and the other two (Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten) will both eventually get in.
Cincinnati Bengals — Joe Burrow
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Career Highlights: No. 1 pick 2020 NFL Draft, 2021 Comeback Player of the Year, 14,083 passing yards, 97 TD, 2022 Pro Bowl Selection
Boy did that transfer from Ohio State to LSU pan out. Burrow (or should we call him Burreaux?) went from being a college football afterthought to the most prolific QB in college football. In the process, he was the No. 1 overall pick. He then led the Bengals — yes, the Bengals — to the Super Bowl (where Cincinnati could’ve easily won). Burrow has the “it” factor many quarterbacks lack. It’s a quiet confidence radiating from himself to all of his teammates. The physical profile is there, yet it’s the moxie he brings to the table that makes him so special. Whenever Burrow is healthy and competing on the field, you’ve always got a puncher’s chance to win any ballgame.
Cleveland Browns — Myles Garrett
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 2023 DPOY, 5x Pro Bowl, 88.5 sacks
At 28 years old, Garrett still has yet to hit his ultimate ceiling as a pass-rushing dynamo. He has world-class athleticism — and often solely relied upon it in college. In the pros, Garrett needed to become a more complete player, and that’s exactly what he’s become. Coming off his first Defensive Player of the Year award, the most terrifying thing may be that he can still get even better. It’s a scary proposition to think about considering he’s on pace for 100 career sacks by the time he’s the age of 30. There’s plenty of elite football left for Garrett in what will be an illustrious career.
Dallas Cowboys — Zack Martin
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Career Highlights: 7x All-Pro, 9x Pro Bowl, All-2010s Team
Martin will be a Hall of Famer one day. He’s neck-and-neck with Quenton Nelson as being the top interior offensive lineman in the National Football League. Martin has been ridiculously consistent — making nine Pro Bowl appearances and seven First-team All-Pros in 10 seasons. When looking across this list rather thoroughly, Martin is probably one of the biggest slam dunk entries into Canton. He could retire tomorrow and still make the Hall of Fame (though Dallas fans certainly don’t want that to happen).
Denver Broncos — Pat Surtain II
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, 7 INT, 1 TD
Russ is out — and as the Broncos-loyal celebrate, we move on to the next likely candidate for the Hall of Fame. Pat Surtain II is only three years in to his career and he already has two Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro bid. He has been a standout corner since he entered the league in 2021. The former No. 9 overall pick is a lockdown defender with 7 interceptions to his name already. If the trend for this young stud continues, he could very well find his way into Canton.
Detroit Lions — Penei Sewell
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 2023 All-Pro
Penei Sewell is set to dominate the league for a very, long time. The No. 7 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft has been elite for the past two seasons, and was named an All-Pro first-team selection following Detroit’s sensational 2023 campaign. Sewell’s athleticism for a 330-pounder is a sight to behold. He gets downfield with ease and handles even the toughest of assignments. Sewell is ready to take the mantle of top tackle in the game after Trent Williams finally calls it quits.
Green Bay Packers — Jordan Love
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Career Highlights: 4,765 yards, 35 TD, 14 INT, 274 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD
Love is looking quite a bit like his former predecessors, much to the enjoyment of Packers fans. If the eye test is enough to convince you, the Packers could have their next Hall of Fame quarterback. The odds of having three in a row may seem low, but maybe the Packers just know how to pick ’em. In his first season starting, Love was able to lead the Packers to a 9-8 record and throw 32 TDs to 11 INT. Rookie QBs usually have some adjusting to do, and although he isn’t technically a rookie, the Packers have to be thrilled with his debut. Assuming he can maintain this same play for the next 10+ years, Love would certainly find himself in Canton.
Houston Texans — C.J. Stroud
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Career Highlights: 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2023 Pro Bowler, No. 2 pick in 2023 NFL Draft
Stefon Diggs might have a decent case when it’s all said and done. His overall numbers will be gaudy, but accolades are lacking with just one First-team All-Pro selection in nine seasons. Perhaps he can add a few more as a member of the Texans. With Diggs on the fence, we move our focus to his new quarterback. C.J. Stroud is just 22 years old but has distinguished himself as one of the top QBs in the game. His rookie season was one of the best the league has ever seen. Stroud capped off his first year with an emphatic Wild Card victory over the Cleveland Browns. Stroud couldn’t have asked for a much better start…
Indianapolis Colts — Quenton Nelson
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Career Highlights: 6x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 1x Second-team All-Pro, No. 6 pick in 2018 NFL Draft
The accolades are starting to pile up for Quenton Nelson. He started his career off red-hot, earning All-Pro first-team nods in each of his first three seasons. Nelson was so impactful that he even earned Offensive Rookie of the Year votes (which almost never happens for an offensive lineman). He’s played six seasons in the NFL, and has been named a Pro Bowler in each one. The Colts’ offensive line was revitalized in ’23. If he can continue to stack up the Pro Bowls and All-Pro nods, Nelson’s case will be undeniable in a few years.
Jacksonville Jaguars — Brandon Scherff
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Career Highlights: 1x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, No. 5 pick in 2015 NFL Draft
Scherff came into the league as a highly-touted interior lineman from the OL football factory that is Iowa. In what’s been a nine-year professional career up to this point, he’s made the Pro Bowl on five separate occasions (including one All-Pro honor). He doesn’t get a ton of appreciation — partly because of the position he plays, and also due to the fact he’s played in two smaller markets. Still, Scherff is tough as nails and likely has a few more Pro Bowl appearances left to earn.
Kansas City Chiefs — Patrick Mahomes
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Career Highlights: 2x MVP, 2x All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl winner, 3x Super Bowl MVP, 28,424 passing yards, 219 TD
Mahomes could retire today and would undoubtedly earn a spot in Canton. It’s crazy to think he’s 18 years younger than Tom Brady. In a league that caters more to quarterbacks than ever before, can you imagine the numbers Mahomes will put up (assuming he stays healthy) with at least 10-15 more years under his belt?! He certainly is on pace to challenge for the all-time marks in passing yards and Super Bowl titles. When factoring in his talent level and durability, it’d be a disappointment if he doesn’t finish #1 on at least one of those lists.
Las Vegas Raiders — Davante Adams
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, 872 receptions, 10781 yards, 95 TD
While the Raiders seem interested in not throwing the ball to their future Hall of Famer, there is no doubt about Davante Adams’ talent. People want to forget that he is the best receiver in the league after he spent the last two seasons among the incompetent coaching staff and ownership of the Raiders. But let’s not forget that plenty of future Hall members followed the same course. Randy Moss had his stint with the Raiders, Marshawn Lynch had his. Hopefully, for Davante, the Raiders figure things out quickly or trade him to a team that knows how to utilize his immense talents.
Los Angeles Chargers — Khalil Mack
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 8x Pro Bowl, 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, All-2010s Team
Speaking of the Raiders, here’s a former member of the Silver and Black who could be waltzing into Canton one day. Khalil Mack has been one of the league’s most feared defenders since entering the league in 2014. After an All-Pro performance in his sophomore season, Mack put it all together in Year 3 en route to earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was shockingly traded to the Chicago Bears two years later and finished second in DPOY voting in his first year with the club. Mack’s ability to equally play both the run and pass separates him from the typical edge rusher.
Los Angeles Rams — Matthew Stafford
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 1x Super Bowl Winner, 2011 Comeback Player of the Year, 56,047 passing yards, 357 TDs
Aaron Donald finally called it quits, and will have a spot in Canton waiting for him as soon as he’s eligible. With Donald gone, there are a couple of other potential Hall of Fame candidates. The best case goes to 36-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford was always going to have the numbers. He ranks 11th all-time in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. He has a chance to eclipse 60,000 yards and 400 touchdowns next season. Adding a Super Bowl in his first year with the Rams was a huge boost to his resume. Adding another would make him a lock.
Miami Dolphins — Tyreek Hill
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Career Highlights: 5x All-Pro, 8x Pro Bowl, 1x Super Bowl winner, All-2010s Team, 717 receptions, 10139 yards, 76 TD
The NFL has seen plenty of speedsters over the years. However, it’d be difficult to find a player who utilized their speed on the field as well as Tyreek Hill. Tyreek is continuing his game-breaking ability in Miami, where he consistently generates big plays for his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Hill forces defenses to change their game plan in a way that the league hasn’t seen since Randy Moss. A five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, Hill has accounted for 96 total touchdowns in just eight seasons, 40 of which have been on plays of 40 yards or more. He is a big play waiting to happen.
Minnesota Vikings — Justin Jefferson
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Career Highlights: 1x All-Pro, 3x Pro Bowl, 2022 OPOY, 2022 Receiving Leader (128 receptions, 1809 yards)
One of the most exciting players in the NFL today, Jefferson is known for his big plays and his Griddy dance when he scores a touchdown. Despite up-and-down quarterback play, Jefferson continues to perform at an elite level despite only being in the league for four seasons. In his first three seasons, Jefferson was a Pro Bowler, and if not for an injury costing him half of last season, he would have been a perfect four-for-four. The sky is the limit with a player this young and bolstering this much talent.
New England Patriots — Matt Judon
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Career Highlights: 4x Pro Bowl
The Patriots had a sure-fire Hall of Famer under center for 20-plus years before Tom Brady decided to take his talents to Tampa Bay. Their now-former head coach/lead decision maker Bill Beilchick will one day earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for all he’s accomplished patrolling New England’s sideline. However, there aren’t a whole lot of current players who will get much of a look for a potential Hall of Fame spot. Though, edge rusher/LB Matt Judon seems most likely to take the mantle. Judon was on a four-year Pro Bowl streak before tearing his biceps in game four of the ’23 season. In ’21 and ’22, he had double digit sack seasons at 15.5 and 12.5, respectively. In 2023, Judon already had 4.0 sacks and 1 safety in his 4 games. Judon was trending in the right direction, but with torn biceps at age 31, he is going to need a strong recovery and a quick return to his former upward trend if he has any shot of getting the call to Canton one day.
New Orleans Saints — Cameron Jordan
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Career Highlights: 1x All-Pro, 8x Pro Bowl, All-2010s Team, 117.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles
New Orleans boasts three defenders who will garner consideration for the Hall of Fame. Tyrann Mathieu has quietly built a strong case for Hall of Fame consideration. The former LSU Tiger is a Swiss army knife in his ability to fill multiple roles. He plays with an edge and flies around the field making plays at every level. DeMario Davis has been invaluable since joining the team in 2018. He’s earned an All-Pro nod in five consecutive seasons. However, we’ll give the slightest edge to defensive end Cameron Jordan. He ranks second among active players in career sacks (117.5) behind only Von Miller. Jordan has been an absolute iron man for the Saints. He didn’t miss a single game in his career prior to 2021. He’s missed just two games since the NFL added a 17th game to the schedule, and played in all 17 last year at 34 years old.
New York Giants — Dexter Lawrence II
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 21 sacks, No. 17 pick in 2019 NFL Draft
Full disclosure, finding a current Giant worthy of Hall of Fame recognition is difficult. At one point, it seemed like Saquon Barkley was destined to become one of the most dynamic backs the league had ever seen. Injuries slowed down the former Penn State standout, and he now finds himself in Philadelphia. Looking elsewhere, we turn to Dexter Lawrence as a potential candidate. Lawrence entered the league as an edge rusher who didn’t make much of a mark. However, once he moved to nose tackle, he has made the Pro Bowl (and Second-team All-Pro) each of the last two seasons and seems to have found his stride. Maybe this momentum can continue for the young defensive lineman.
New York Jets — Aaron Rodgers
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Career Highlights: 4x MVP, 4x All-Pro, 10x Pro Bowl, 1x Super Bowl winner, SB XLV MVP, All-2010s Team, 55,360 passing yards, 449 TD, 93 INT
He hasn’t done anything for the Jets yet. And you could quibble about the singular Super Bowl win. With all of that said, the California native is a top-five QB of all-time. The ball flies out of Rodgers’ hand with ridiculous power. He’s able to manipulate the spin and direction of any throw with a simple flick of the wrist. He’s one of the few where every throw on the field can be made with not only precision, but most impressively, force. Simply put, Rodgers will go down as an all-time great.
Philadelphia Eagles — Lane Johnson
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Career Highlights: 2x All-Pro, 2x Second-team All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, 1x Super Bowl winner
With the departing of Jason Kelce, we look to another cog in the machine of Philly’s dominant offensive line to be worthy of a Hall of Fame spot. And that would undoubtedly be Lane Johnson. Since getting drafted by the Eagles in 2013, Johnson has been side by side with Kelce (2011) bolstering one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. Johnson and Kelce earned their first All-Pro nod in the same year (2017), which is also the year the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Since then, Johnson has captured four more Pro Bowl selections and another All-Pro bid in ’22. In his 11-year career, it seems he has only gotten better and will continue to add to his resume as the longevity of lineman in the NFL tends to be quite high. If Lane Johnson keeps his quality of play up to the standard it has been without Kelce in the lineup, he may get his own call to Canton when his time is up.
Pittsburgh Steelers — T.J. Watt
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Career Highlights: 4x All-Pro, 6x Pro Bowl, 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, 96.5 sacks
The 29-year-old younger brother of J.J. Watt is quickly building his Hall of Fame case. Looking back on it, it’s puzzling how the Steelers were able to scoop up Watt with the 30th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Considering older brother J.J. had already collected three Defensive Player of the Year trophies by then, one would think a team would have taken a shot on T.J. earlier in the draft. The league’s premier edge rusher has made the teams who skipped him pay time and time again. He’s coming off a sensational 19.0-sack season and has been named an All-Pro four of the last five years (missed seven games in ’22). A few more years of this kind of production, and T.J. will one day join J.J. in Canton.
San Francisco 49ers — Trent Williams
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 11x Pro Bowl
Trent Williams is certainly an interesting case for Hall of Fame consideration. For one, his career isn’t quite as linear as many other candidates. The 35-year-old is arguably playing his best ball right now. He earned his first All-Pro first-team distinction in 2021 — in his 11th season. And now he has three All-Pro seasons in a row. He likely would have accumulated even more by now if his career didn’t run parallel to guys like Joe Thomas, Jason Peters, and Tyron Smith. Nine Pro Bowl nods certainly helps, but he’ll need at least one or two more All-Pro recognitions to solidify his spot. With the way he’s played recently, that is certainly in the cards.
Seattle Seahawks — D.K. Metcalf
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Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowl, 372 receptions, 5,332 yards, 43 TD
If there was a Hall of Fame for pure athleticism, D.K. Metcalf would be first ballot. In terms of production, he’s got a long way to go. Metcalf is a specimen, boasting elite speed, size, and strength. He looks like a bodybuilder on the field with the burst and stride of an Olympic sprinter. Year 2 with the Seahawks had the look of a player who would one day be among the league’s best. In ’20, Metcalf caught 83 passes for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns. He notched 12 more scores the following season but saw a dip in receptions (75) and yardage (967) as a result of an unhealthy Russell Wilson. In 2023, Metcalf returned to the Pro Bowl after a two-year drought. The sky remains the limit for the 26-year-old, but there is certainly work to be done.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Mike Evans
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Career Highlights: 1x Super Bowl Winner, 5x Pro Bowl, 762 receptions, 11,680 yards, 94 TD
Evans has seen the full gambit of quarterbacks on his team, but his proficiency never changes. His team could be headed toward last in the division or in contention for the Super Bowl and Evans will play his heart out either way. He has incredible hands, makes ridiculous circus catches, and fights hard for yards after the catch. His aggressive style of offense and indelible drive make his coaches and teammates love him. When his time is up, Evans will be a sure contender for the Hall.
Tennessee Titans — DeAndre Hopkins
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Career Highlights: 3x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowl, 12,355 receiving yards, 928 receptions, 78 TDs
Receiver might be the most stacked position currently for Hall of Fame hopefuls. Add DeAndre Hopkins to the list. The Texans drafted Hopkins in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Despite dealing with poor QB play for most of his tenure, Hopkins established himself as one of the game’s best all-around options. He finished top-4 in Offensive Player of the Year voting in both ’17 and ’18, and was named to the All-Pro first-team in three consecutive years. Hopkins is entering his age-32 season, but his game has never been based on pure athleticism. If he can hang on for another three years, we’re talking about a player with over 1,000 receptions, over 14,000 yards, and close to 100 touchdowns. That should be enough to get him enshrined.
Washington Commanders — Bobby Wagner
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Career Highlights: 9x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, 4x Second-team All-Pro, 1x Super Bowl winner, 996 solo tackles, 33 sacks, 13 INTs
Bobby Wagner is a an absolute lock for the Hall of Fame. The Seattle Seahawks legend is one of the game’s all-time best linebackers. He’s been named to at least the All-Pro Second-team in 10 straight seasons. While he’s not the same athlete he once was, Wagner is still producing big-time numbers. He led the league in tackles in 2023 at 33 years old. A Super Bowl champion in Seattle, Wagner’s production did not slip in the playoffs — 16 career playoff games, 153 tackles, 2 INTs, and 4 forced fumbles.
