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#51 Overall, Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings, Strong Safety, #2 Safety
2023 Pre-Season Rank #72, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #90, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #72. Peak Period: 2015-19.
The five-year streak of Pro Bowls ended in 2020, but two seasons ago, Smith was back on the Pro Bowl roster, claiming number six. Smith is, however, not close to any of the MPAs and will need to keep up his current pace into his mid-30s. That isn’t impossible, but it is more likely that he will regress instead.
#45 Overall, Justin Houston, Free Agent Linebacker #9 Defensive Lineman/Linebacker: Pass Rusher
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.
#88 Overall, Anthony Barr: Free Agent, Linebacker: #8 Defensive Lineman/Linebacker: Interior Lineman
2023 Pre-Season Rank #75, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #73, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #84, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #79. Peak Period: 2015-19
Barr had four consecutive Pro Bowl years (2015-18) but did so without a First- or Second-Team All-Pro Selection. Barr should have some acknowledgment in Minnesota when his career ends, and we suspect he will, but his run of accolades likely has ended.
#90 Overall, Robert Quinn: Free Agent, Defensive End, #19 Defensive Lineman
2023 Pre-Season Rank #108, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #118, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #136, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #141. Peak Period: 2012-14/2021-21
Quinn’s last Pro Bowl might have been in 2014, but he is still a decent player who has an AV/G near .5. Saying that, he is going into the 2024 Season looking for a job in the NFL after playing for the Philadelphia Eagles last year. If this it for Quinn, it was a good run, though it is unlikely that he will receive post-career honors from the Rams, let alone the Hall of Fame, though this was one excellent career,