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#29 Overall, Justin Tucker: Free Agent, Place Kicker, #1 Kickers & Special Teams
2024 Pre-Season Rank #26, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #22, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #28, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2020 Pre-Season Rank Rank #50.
From 2016 to 2023, Justin Tucker was a perennial All-Pro, who earned seven Pro Bowls, tying Morten Andersen for the record for a Place Kicker. Named to the 2010s All-Decade player, Tucker can stake a claim as the best Kicker that ever lived, and as we are writing this, he holds the record for the most Field Goal accuracy (89.1), and the longest Field Goal (66 Yards).
While the above is fantastic, Tucker was abysmal in 2024, and during the season, he was accused multiple times of inappropriate behavior in massage parlors. The Ravens released him after the season, and the belief is that he will never play again.
It is hard enough for Kickers to get into the Hall as is, but when you leave a “stain” on your legacy? It is even more difficult.
#74 Overall, Johnny Hekker: Carolina Panthers, Punter, #2 Kickers & Special Teams
2024 Pre-Season Rank #74, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #70, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #64, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #62, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #65
Punters face a long road to Canton, but if any current one could get there, it is Hekker, who was a First Team All-Pro three years in a row from 2015 to 2017. He was also named to the 2010s All-Decade Team.#38 Overall, Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Strong Safety, #2 Safety
2024 Pre-Season Rank #50, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #72, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #90, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #72. Peak Period: 2015-19.
Harrison Smith has been the top Safety for the Minnesota Vikings for 13 years, and despite being over 35, he looks to have a lot left to give. A six-time Pro Bowl Selection, Smith entered the 20-20 Club (37 INT, 20.5 Sacks), and he is the current active leader in Interception Return Yards (498). It is a good resume, but Safeties have a hard time entering the Pro Football Hall, and except for 2017, there always seems to be Safeties better than him. Smith’s Hall key will be longevity as a monster campaign at his age is unlikely.
#58 Overall, Justin Houston, Free Agent Linebacker #12 Defensive Lineman/Linebacker: Pass Rusher
2024 Pre-Season Rank #45, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #57, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #67, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #69, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #68. Peak Period 2011-15.
In 2014, Houston led the NFL with 22 Sacks and went to four straight Pro Bowls, ending in 2015. That run with the Kansas City Chiefs seems like a long time ago, as he has been average since, and unless he has another Pro Bowl-worthy year, he likely won’t make it to Canton.
This will be especially hard as he is currently a free agent, but he is still a free agent with over 100 Sacks (112), and that club sees multiple new members annually. If his career is over, this is the body of work we have to judge him on, and as it stands now, the only Hall he will enter is the Kansas City Chiefs Hall. That would still be an amazing accomplishment.