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#36 Overall, Jimmy Graham: Free Agent, #2 Tight End
2023 Pre-Season Rank #31, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #40, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #41, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #46. Peak Period: 2011-15
Is it the end of the road for Jimmy Graham? At one point, it looked like he was Hall of Fame-bound, and he looked like the game's top Tight End when he was in his first run in New Orleans, but that seems like a lifetime ago. Overall, Graham's AV/G is low; he did not make the 10,000 Yard mark (and won't), but his 89 Touchdown Passes are sparkling, and when his name comes up for consideration, this should be one of the first things they look at.
Modern Positional Average
Tight Ends: Tony Gonzalez (2019), Shannon Sharpe (2011).
Please note that there are only two Tight Ends who have been inducted in the last two decades and we will base the average only on these two players. This should change in the next five years.
Here are the statistics that we are using based on the last group of Tight Ends to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Games Played: 237
- Approximate Value: 126.5
- Approximate Value per Games Played: 0.5295
- Games Started: 211.5
- Approximate Value per Games Started: 0.5981
- Approximate Value per Five-Year Peak: 51.5
- Approximate Value’s Best Five Results: 53.5
- Pro Bowls: 11
- First Team All-Pros*: 5
- Receiving Yards: 12,593.5
- Receiving Yards Five-Year Peak: 4,885
- Top Five Receiving Yards Finish: 0
- Receiving Touchdowns: 86.5
- Receiving Touchdowns Five-Year Peak: 35
- Top Five Receiving Touchdown Finishes**: 2.5
- Receptions: 1,025
- Receptions Five-Year Peak: 384
- Top Five Receptions**: 3.5
- Super Bowl Wins 1.5
- Super Bowl Appearances 1.5
*This is an aggregate of the Top Five finishes (5th = 1, 4th = 2, 3rd = 3, 2nd = 4th, 1st = 5)
**This is a reminder that the All-Pros we use are from the AP.
#9 Overall, Julio Jones, Free Agent, #2 Wide Receiver
2023 Pre-Season Rank #5, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #9, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #12, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #14. Peak Period 2015-19
If we were to guess, we would assume that Julio Jones, a free agent, would not be able to find a spot in the NFL again. His last three seasons saw diminishing returns in Tennessee, Tampa, and Philadelphia, respectively, so his Hall of Fame case lies with what he accomplished in Atlanta. Fortunately for Jones, he accomplished a lot in the ATL.
Jones was chosen for the 2010s All-Decade Team, was a two-time Receiving Yards leader, and a seven-time Pro Bowler. From 2014 to 2019, Jones never had less than 1,394 Yards, and was a three-time leader in Yards per Touch. The only statistical issue is the lack of Touchdowns (66), but elite Receivers have gotten in with less.
Jones will enter the Hall of Fame, and the only question is what year.
Modern Positional Average
Wide Receivers: Isaac Bruce (2020), Andre Johnson (2024, Calvin Johnson (2021), Randy Moss (2018), Terrell Owens (2018).
Has the Wide Receiver position not been the most backlogged offensive position for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for decades? This will only get harder with the increased receiving numbers we have seen over the past ten years, and we will see barring significant rule changes.
Here are the statistics that we are using based on the last group of Wide Receivers to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Games Played: 197.4
- Approximate Value: 143.8
- Approximate Value per Games Played: 0.7285
- Games Started: 182.4
- Approximate Value per Games Started: 0.7475
- Approximate Value per Five-Year Peak: 66
- Approximate Value’s Best Five Results: 71.8
- MVP Top Five Finishes* **: 0.6
- Offensive Player of the Year Finishes* **: 3.2
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First Team All-Pros*: 3
- Receiving Yards: 14,526.6
- Receiving Yards Five-Year Peak: 6,539.6
- Top Five Receiving Yards Finish: 13.4
- Receiving Touchdowns: 122.2
- Receiving Touchdowns Five-Year Peak: 15,098
- Top Five Receiving Touchdown Finishes**: 15.8
- Receptions: 923.4
- Receptions Five-Year Peak: 430.4
- Top Five Receptions**: 7.4
- Super Bowl Wins 0.8
- Super Bowl Appearances 0.2
*This is an aggregate of the Top Five finishes (5th = 1, 4th = 2, 3rd = 3, 2nd = 4th, 1st = 5)
**This is a reminder that the All-Pros we use are from the AP.