2025 Pre-Season Rank #6, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #7, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #4, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #7, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #8, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #10.  Peak Period: 2011-12/2014-16.

A Defensive Rookie of the Year, Super Bowl winner, and Super Bowl MVP for the Denver Broncos, Miller has all the statistical requirements the Hall looks for and the name recognition that fits the word "Fame.”   Over the last four seasons, Miller served as a pass-rushing specialist for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders, and now he begins the season in his home state, wearing the blue star of the Dallas Cowboys.

As for how much Miller has left in the tank, he generated nine sacks last season in his specialized role, moving him to ninth on the official list and three away from tying Michael Strahan for sixth.  Only one Tackle for Loss gives him sole possession of fourth in that all-time list.

The only thing that we think could delay him is if some of the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame might want him to pay penance for his past suspensions (one for substance abuse and one for domestic violence), though they did generate a lot of press considering his high profile.  Honestly, they might not even discuss it.

2025 Pre-Seasn Rank #14, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #19, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #19, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #26 2021 Pre-Season Rank #28, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #36. Peak Period: 2014-18

Longevity, talent, and class.

40-year-old Calais Campbell remains a solid Defensive End in the National Football League, and in 2026, he joins the Baltimore Ravens for a second time, and will likely provide solid production.

“The Mayor of Sacksonville” went to six Pro Bowls in a seven-year period (2014-20), which includes his last two in his first run in Arizona, all three of his seasons as a Jacksonville Jaguar, and his first in Baltimore.  Campbell, who won the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year and the 2023 Alan Page Award, was also honored with a 2010s All-Decade Selection.

Campbell also has a statistical Hall of Fame resume with 110.5 Sacks and 196 Tackles for Loss, making him the active leader in that stat.  The Hall of Fame loves character guys, but they don’t get a pass unless they show what their goods are on the gridiron.  Calais Campbell did just that.

2020 Pre-Season Rank #15, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #5, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #3, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #2.  PEAK 2017-21

Well, look who’s back!

When we last saw Aaron Donald on this list, it was heading into the 2023 season, which he completed with another Pro Bowl, giving him a perfect ten-for-ten in that accolade.  He then shock-retired, doing so while still having something left.

Let’s see what he still has.

It is easy to see why Donald opted to come back.  The Rams begin the season as the most loaded team in football.  Quarterback Matthew Stafford is the reigning MVP, and they landed the defending Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett.  This team narrowly lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, and now they have a returning Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett?  We haven’t even mentioned the acquisitions of Trent McDuffie and Jaley Watson to the Defensive Back Corps!

A quick reminder of who Donald is.

He is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and anyone who has ever done that twice has always been enshrined…easily.  From 2015 to 2021, he never finished lower than fifth for the DPOY, he led the NFL in Sacks once, Tackles for Loss twice, and also boasts a Super Bowl ring. 

He could easily add another.

Should he be ahead of the previous #1, Quarterback Aaron Rodgers?  We answer this with this question. 

Who is easier to put on the Mount Rushmore of his position?  Aaron Donald or Aaron Rodgers?

You can see who we narrowly picked!