Note that over the last fifteen years, there was only one Place Kicker and Punter and no Special Teamers, thus we elected not to feature that average and input based on our elective opinion.
2021 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2020 Pre-Season Rank Rank #50.
Tucker can make a claim as the best Kicker in the NFL over the past ten years, but Place Kickers always face an uphill climb for the Hall. That being said, Tucker was named the 2010s All-Decade Team player, and his five First Team All-Pros could be added to in the future. With a powerful Ravens team, he might get a chance to use his leg to gain a second Super Bowl, and he got his signature moment last year by setting the longest Field Goal record with a 66-Yard cannon. He will be our highest ranked Special Teams player until he retires.
2021 Pre-Season Rank #49, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #60.
Slater is the only non-kicking Special Teamer on this list and we all know how difficult a path that means for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is an ten-time Pro Bowl Selection and three-time Super Bowl Champion so this means something, or it could mean that he is the next Steve Tasker.
2021 Pre-Season Ran #45, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #43.
Gostkowski, who was named to the All-Decade Team, signed with the Titans in 2020, as the Patriots did not resign him, but that lasted only one year. As of right now, he is a He is at present 13th all-time in Field Goals and 9th all-time in Field Goal Percentage, but it does not look like his career will continue, though we will keep him here for one more year at least. He has his Super Bowl rings to comfort him should the Hall never call.
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.2021 Pre-Season Rank #91, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #99.
Patterson is here primarily because he was the All-Decade selection as a Returner. Sadly, more prominent All-Decade returners failed to make it a s even a Semi-Finalist. The four-time First Team All-Pro is in his second year in Atlanta after two years with Chicago.
If Hekker doesn’t get in, Lee has no shot. He is fourth all-time in Punts and third all-time in Punting Yards, and could pass Shane Lechler for second this year.