2024 Hall of Fame Finalist

[Battlelyon]

The 2024 modern-era player finalists with their positions, years and teams, as announced on NFL Network:

• Eric Allen, DB -- 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-1997 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
• Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
• Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
• Jahri Evans, OL -- 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
• Dwight Freeney, DE -- 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Detroit Lions, 2017 Seattle Seahawks
• Antonio Gates, TE -- 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
• Rodney Harrison, DB -- 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-2008 New England Patriots
• Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR -- 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
• Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
• Andre Johnson, WR -- 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
• Julius Peppers, DE -- 2002-2009/2017-2018 Carolina Panthers, 2010-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2016 Green Bay Packers
• Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots
• Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
• Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
• Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

The modern-era player finalists are determined by a vote of the Hall's Selection Committee, a process that began with 173 nominees announced in September. That group of nominees was trimmed to 25 semifinalists in November.

In addition to the modern-era finalists will be senior finalists Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell, and contributor/coach finalist Buddy Parker.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be inducted during NFL Honors, which takes place at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 8, and airs on CBS, NFL Network and streams on Paramount+ and NFL+.

 

[fastforward]

I was wondering when someone would bring this up. My picks, (and i'm awful at HoF guessing), are:

Antonio Gates
Andre Johnson
Julius Peppers
Patrick Willis
Darren Woodson

I think most of the other 10 will get in in the next few years. There could be another potential logjam at WR a few years down the line.

 

[Battlelyon]

I was wondering when someone would bring this up. My picks, (and i'm awful at HoF guessing), are:

Antonio Gates
Andre Johnson
Julius Peppers
Patrick Willis
Darren Woodson

I think most of the other 10 will get in in the next few years. There could be another potential logjam at WR a few years down the line.

No, Torry Holt? This has to be his year.

 

[msgkings322]

As a casual Devin Hester jumps out at me...what are his chances? I know he was 'only' a return guy but he seems like a big enough deal to get in. No?

 

[fastforward]

No, Torry Holt? This has to be his year.

I think it's Gates, Peppers, plus 3 from 13. I'd put the 1 of the 3 WRs in the HoF in each of the next 3 years. I wouldn't be upset at the order but I think Johnson and Wayne have slightly stronger résumés than Holt.

 

[Battlelyon]

I think it's Gates, Peppers, plus 3 from 13. I'd put the 1 of the 3 WRs in the HoF in each of the next 3 years. I wouldn't be upset at the order but I think Johnson and Wayne have slightly stronger résumés than Holt.

Johnson doesn't have that ring like Holt. Holt also has more tds in 20 less games.

Also worth mentioning Holt's only WR with 6 consecutive 1300+ receiving seasons

 

[fastforward]

As a casual Devin Hester jumps out at me...what are his chances? I know he was 'only' a return guy but he seems like a big enough deal to get in. No?

Eventually yes, but it's tough for ST players because there are comparatively few ST plays. If I was picking 4 of the 15 that wouldn't make it this year I would pick him, Anderson, Harrison, and Taylor. Again, i'm rubbish at this.

 

[fastforward]

Johnson doesn't have that ring like Holt. Holt also has more tds in 20 less games.

Also worth mentioning Holt's only WR with 6 consecutive 1300+ receiving seasons

This stat or that stat. It's whatever takes someone's fancy. Both players had a long career, a career with multiple ProBowls and All-Pros, plus several 'lead-the-league-in' categories. Arguably Johnson was the best WR in the NFL at certain points. I couldn't say that about Holt. Very little between the 3 WRs. I think they're 3 of the top 11 candidates. It's not Moss vs Owens and I won't be upset by any of the 15 going in.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

No, Torry Holt? This has to be his year.

I'm thinking that Holt will get in this time as well. But can't really argue against Andre Johnson either. both guys deserving and more a case of this year or next. Gates and Peppers are obvious ones to me. Most of the rest of them have similar arguments. If Peppers gets the nod, it likely leaves Jared Allen out. Dwight Freeney also in that mix with those 2 DEs. Patrick Willis maybe as the only LB on the list and he was a great one. And likely a DB/S, either Eric Allen or Darren Woodson.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Really hoping this is the year for Eric Allen. He was an important piece in some very dominant Eagles defenses. Only Reggie White is in the Hall now from those great Eagles defenses of the late 80s early 90s.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Really hoping this is the year for Eric Allen. He was an important piece in some very dominant Eagles defenses. Only Reggie White is in the Hall now from those great Eagles defenses of the late 80s early 90s.

I feel your pain.
Darren Woodson was probably the best Safety ever to play for Dallas & made the whole defense better, but never gets any love. he literally did everything on the defense. Run, Pass, pressure. Maybe the best QB of a defense as well.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I feel your pain.
Darren Woodson was probably the best Safety ever to play for Dallas & made the whole defense better, but never gets any love. he literally did everything on the defense. Run, Pass, pressure. Maybe the best QB of a defense as well.

Yeah, there's a very good reason he was one of the guys out there last night in the ring of honor ceremony. Woodson was a great player. Both him and Allen are worthy, imo.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

As a casual Devin Hester jumps out at me...what are his chances? I know he was 'only' a return guy but he seems like a big enough deal to get in. No?

I mean nobody would argue that he was the best kick returner of all time. Given that kick returns are kind of dead at the moment (better to kneel, injury concern may eliminate them all together down the road, etc.) it makes sense to put him in... but there's a lot of big time names on that list...

 

[Schmoopy1000]

I mean nobody would argue that he was the best kick returner of all time. Given that kick returns are kind of dead at the moment (better to kneel, injury concern may eliminate them all together down the road, etc.) it makes sense to put him in... but there's a lot of big time names on that list...

yeah I think it will take awhile for him to get in.
think when you are the best at your position you wil get in
Ray Guy comes to mind.