Which current NFL stars have the best chance at the Hall of Fame?

Being elected to the Hall of Fame is the NFL’s greatest honor. Only a select few of the league's most legendary players will ever get to go to Canton and join the ranks of it’s most elite. Let’s examine the fifteen current players with the best case for the Hall of Fame. 

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers & New York Jets

Once you’ve won four MVP Awards, there’s not much more you can do. Rodgers has consistently demonstrated his elite skill set, leading the league in various passing metrics throughout his time as the Packers starting QB. While he has struggled at times in the playoffs, he does have a Super Bowl title and Super Bowl MVP Award. 

He is known as one of the best deep-ball throwers in NFL history and throws the football better than any of his modern rivals. He combined mobility and arm strength to become one of the best out-of-the-pocket quarterbacks of all time, and despite injuries in the latter half of his career slowing him down, Rodgers is a no doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

2. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, & Washington Commanders

Wagner has a long list of achievements, including Super Bowl champion, ten-time All-Pro (six-time First Team), and three-time NFL tackles leader. Not only that, he’s also received votes for both DPOY and MVP. The 34-year-old is the current active leader in tackles with 1750, and if he plates a couple more years, it's not unrealistic to think he might reach 2,000. He’s already fifth all-time in tackles, making him a virtual lock for Canton. 

3. Zack Martin, RG, Dallas Cowboys

Zack Martin has played ten seasons in the NFL and finished nine of them healthy. In those nine healthy seasons, he has been named an All-Pro nine times and has been named to the first-team All-Pro seven times. He’s also never failed to make a Pro Bowl. Basically, as long as he’s healthy, he’s the best in the game. That resume alone will be enough for Martin to cruise into the Hall-of-Fame, but at 34 he may have two or three more elite seasons left in him. He’s played a huge role in leading the Cowboys offense, with an Approximate Value score of 126. 

4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

With two MVP awards and three Super Bowl titles, Patrick Mahomes has accomplished more in six seasons than most quarterbacks do in 16 seasons. For the past three years, he’s been the leagues consensus best player, and it’s hard to see how he’ll be dethroned when he just keeps winning. Not only is he a lock for the Hall, he is likely already a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It will be interesting to see how long he can keep up this elite level of play, but even a historic fall from glory could not keep Mahomes out of Canton. 

5. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs & Miami Dolphins

The Cheetah is on the fast track to the Hall of Fame. He’s won a Super Bowl, led the league in receiving yards and touchdowns, received votes for both MVP and OPOY and is a five-time first-team All-Pro nod. He’s found success with Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes, and Tua Tagovailoa; no matter who is at quarterback, Tyreek Hill shines. Only in his ninth season, he’s already over 10,000 yards and has 77 touchdowns. All Hill needs to do now is play a few more years and not be completely terrible, and he’ll be in the Hall of Fame in no time. 

6. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Another Mahomes teammate, Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in NFL history, and shouldn’t have any issues with getting into the Hall of Fame. In the regular season, he’s amassed 74 touchdowns and over 11,000 receiving yards. He’s been named a first-team All-Pro four times, and he’s received OPOY votes twice. In the postseason, he gets even better. In 22 postseason games, he’s caught 165 passes, an NFL all-time record. He’s also accumulated 1900 postseason receiving yards and 19 touchdowns, which has been a huge reason for his three Super Bowl titles. 

7. Trent Williams, OT, Washington Commanders & San Francisco 49ers

Williams just got better and better with age. The elite left tackle has been named a first-team All-Pro each of the last three years and has been named to 11 pro bowls (all but his first two seasons in the league!). He has played a huge role in helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl in 2024 and continues to play at an elite level well into his thirties. A few more All-Pro nods will make him a lock, but even as it stands, Williams is a likely Hall of Famer. He currently boasts an approximate value score of 129, making him one of the most valuable offensive tackles of all time.

8. TJ Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt has quickly established himself as one of the great edge rushers of all time. In only seven full seasons, he’s already surpassed 100 career sacks. He also has over 100 tackles-for-loss and over 200 QB hits. Not only does he have a DPOY award, he’s also been the runner-up and twice, and likely will contend for future awards for years to come. The cherry on top, he’s the only player in NFL history to return a fumble for a touchdown in the playoffs. 

9. Vonn Miller, LB. Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, & Buffalo Bills

If Vonn Miller is going to make the Hall of Fame, it will be because of the first half of his career. His later years have been injury-riddled, and he’s struggled to make an impact even when on the field. However, before his injury in 2020, he was a star. He was a seven-time All-Pro (three first-team), he topped double-digit sacks seven times, and he played a huge part in Super Bowl titles with the Broncos and Rams. He’s the active NFL leader in sacks, with 126.5, and that should be enough to get him into Canton. 

10. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, & Tennessee Titans

Hopkins has fallen off in recent years with the Titans, but he was once an elite receiver and still has a great chance at reaching the Hall of Fame. From 2017-2019, he was the top receiver in the league, with over 4,000 yards, 31 touchdowns, and three first-team All-Pro selections. Hopkins has over 12,000 career yards and is one touchdown away from 80. He may need a few more seasons to bring those numbers closer to 15,000 yards and 100 touchdowns to be a Hall of Fame lock, but even with his current stats, he has a compelling case. 

11. Khalil Mack, LB, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, & Los Angeles Chargers

Mack has a DPOY award and three first-team All-Pro selections. He has 106 career sacks, 138 tackles-for-loss, and 174 QB hits. He appeared to be slowing down but had a resurgent 2023 season that saw him collect 17 tacks and receive DPOY votes. At this point, the only thing Mack lacks is a signature playoff moment. With a new head coach in Los Angeles, it’s possible Mack will get his chance to make noise in the postseason and lock himself up for Canton. 

12. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans & Baltimore Ravens

Henry is an interesting case for the Hall of Fame. Compared to the elite running backs of the past, Henry might not hold up very well, but compared to his modern-day counterparts, he’s got a leg up on the competition. He is the active leader in rushing yards, having just passed 10,000 for his career. He will soon collect his 100th touchdown (currently has 96). He’s led the league in yards-per-game three times and has carried the Titans offense to four playoff appearances, where he averages 104 yards per game. There’s a reason he’s known as King Henry. And yet, he only has one first-team All-Pro selection, one of the key Hall of Fame distinguishers. He did win the OPOY that year (2020), so perhaps that will be enough. If Henry doesn’t get in, it’s hard to see how any other modern running backs have a chance. 

13. Chris Jones, DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Jones has aged like fine wine, becoming one of the best defensive players in the league and leading the Chiefs defense to three Super Bowl titles. He has five All-Pro selections, including back-to-back first-team nods in the past two seasons. Jones definitely needs a couple more great years to be a Hall of Famer, but he’s still at the peak of his game, so there’s no reason to think he can’t do it.

14. Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens

If there’s any modern kicker who will be in the Hall, it will be Tucker. Not only does he have the NFL record-long 66-yard field goal, he’s had a long career that’s seen him receive many accolades. His 89.7% field goal rate is an all-time record if he can maintain it. He’s been named a first-team All-Pro kicker five times. He’s led the league in field goals three times and extra points once. And as a rookie in 2012, he was nails during the Ravens run to a Super Bowl title, going 4/4 and not missing an extra point. 

15. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers & Las Vegas Raiders

Adams has had a great career but might need to do a little more to set him apart and push into the Hall of Fame. He has over 10,000 yards and is four touchdowns away from 100. He’s led the league in yards per game and touchdowns and was a three-time first-team All-Pro selection. However, he has struggled since leaving Aaron Rodgers and was not able to maintain his peak for long. He also lacks a signature playoff win, as the Packers came up short in the NFC Championship game four times during his tenure there. A trade to a new team that could spark a renaissance and potential playoff title is exactly what Adams needs to boost his Hall of Fame resume.