Right here is no longer one other article championing Julian Edelman’s case for the Hall of Standing. Whereas you have to enjoy a deep dive on the fair no longer too long ago retired Edelman’s profession, I could maybe perhaps well negate you to compare out this text that ranks Edelman’s traditional and postseason achievements in opposition to past and new receivers.
This yarn is as an various pondering about figuring out five aged receivers that has to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Standing sooner than Edelman, who won’t be eligible for induction till 2026. Whereas his zero Pro Bowl berths and so-so traditional-season stats shall be held in opposition to him, it also would now not relieve that Edelman is a receiver, the hardest capacity inform thus a long way as entering into the Hall of Standing. And whereas Edelman’s Hall of Standing wait won’t originate for one other five years, many deserving receivers had been ready years — a long time in some circumstances — to obtain the resolution to Canton, Ohio.
Whereas there are several receivers worthy of Hall of Standing consideration, let’s take a see at the five eligible receivers who most deserve induction sooner than Edelman. Whereas it wasn’t the supreme standards we ancient when placing this checklist together, we did lean on Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Standing video display, which calculates every players’ mark thus a long way because the Hall of Standing is raring. This checklist would now not consist of Steve Smith, Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson, who won’t be eligible for the Hall of Standing till 2022.
5. Torry Holt
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Holt’s Hall of Standing “video display rating” in step with Pro Football Reference is 105.27; which is fair above the in fashion video display rating (105) for receivers who’re currently within the Hall of Standing. Holt’s rating is higher than new Falcons receiver Julio Jones and Hall of Standing receivers Paul Warfield, Isaac Bruce (Holt’s teammate in St. Louis), Michael Irvin, Don Maynard, Marvin Harrison and Art Monk, amongst others.
A seven-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL‘s All-2000s Team, Holt played an integral operate on the Rams‘ 1999 championship crew. The league’s main receiver on two separate times, Holt was the Rams’ No. 1 receiver when St. Louis made a return high-tail to the Gigantic Bowl in 2001.
4. Otis Taylor
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A player who was no doubt ahead of his time, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Taylor was indubitably one of the significant main receivers to fully use his physicality to his advantage. In 1965, Taylor spurned the NFL (he was drafted by the Eagles with the 203rd derive within the NFL draft) to play for the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. In his second season, Taylor led the AFL in moderate yards per get whereas serving to lead the Chiefs to the main-ever Gigantic Bowl. The AFL’s chief in touchdown catches the next season, Taylor helped the Chiefs spend their first Gigantic Bowl get at the cease of the 1969 season. His 46-yard touchdown sealed Kansas City’s 23-7 get well from the Vikings, the final game ever played between the rival leagues.
Taylor’s transition to the NFL was seamless after the two leagues merged in 1970. A year after the merge, Taylor led the NFL in receiving yards whereas incomes All-Pro honors. He earned Pro Bowl honors again in 1972 at the age of 30.
3. Hines Ward
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The Steelers‘ all-time chief in receptions, yards and touchdowns, Ward will be eighth all-time in profession postseason receiving yards (1,181). Three of Ward’s four consecutive Pro Bowl picks came with assorted quarterbacks: Kordell Stewart (2001), Tommy Maddox (2002-03) and a rookie named Ben Roethlisberger (2004). In 2005, Ward won Gigantic Bowl MVP honors whereas serving to lead Pittsburgh to its fifth Gigantic Bowl victory. He was the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver when Pittsburgh defeated the Cardinals three years later in Gigantic Bowl XLIII.
Ward is taken into account arguably essentially the most bodily receiver in league history. Ward’s physicality was key at some point of the Steelers’ legendary matchups in opposition to Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the aid of the Ravens at some point of the 2000s.
2. Reggie Wayne
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Wayne’s Hall of Standing video display rating (108.1) is the very best likely in NFL history for a receiver who’s no longer currently within the Hall of Standing. Whereas he spent a substantial fragment of his profession in Marvin Harrison’s shadow, Wayne no doubt performed simply 235 yards at the wait on of Harrison on the all-time profession receiving checklist.
A six-time Pro Bowler from 2006-10 and in 2012, Wayne led the NFL in receiving yards in 2007. His 53-yard touchdown get at some point of the outdated year’s Gigantic Bowl helped the Colts get the franchise’s first Gigantic Bowl following their pass from Baltimore to Indianapolis. Wayne was Peyton Manning’s No. 1 receiver when the Colts made it wait on to the Gigantic Bowl in 2009. And despite Manning’s departure in 2012, a 34-year-ancient Wayne earned Pro Bowl honors that season whereas catching passes from a rookie quarterback named Andrew Luck.
1. Cliff Department
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The most effective deep threat of his period, the immediate Department earned four straight Pro Bowl picks and three consecutive All-Pro nods. He led the NFL in receiving as soon as at some point of at some point of that span whereas pacing the league in touchdown catches on two separate times. A mannequin of consistency, Department persisted to fabricate well into his 30s. At age 35, he played an integral operate within the Raiders‘ 38-9 get well from Washington in Gigantic Bowl XVIII; his 50-yard get early within the game inform up his 12-yard touchdown reception.
One of one of the best receivers in NFL history, Department played a key operate in all three of the Raiders’ Gigantic Bowl wins. After a Pro Bowl season on the Raiders’ first Gigantic Bowl crew in 1976, his two touchdown catches in Gigantic Bowl XV propelled the Raiders to a 27-10 get well from the Eagles in 1980. Department flourished whereas taking half in with quarterbacks Ken Stalber and Jim Plunkett.
