Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne: Each was a HOF Finalist last year, so each is on the doorstep of Canton. The first overall pick in the 1984 draft, Fryar quickly made his mark on special teams he was a Pro Bowl returner, with 3 punt return TDs in his first three seasons but didn't emerge as a major receiving threat until he left New England to play for the Dolphins and Eagles. Zac Brown Band . They play in high-efficiency pass-oriented offenses, as opposed to the exciting but reckless bomb-it-down-the-field passing games of the past, when running was a way of life and throwing a sneaky change of pace or a mark of desperation. That hurts Brown, who was a dazzling punt returner (3,320 yds, 10.2 avg, 3 TDs). J.Smith: 862 rec, 12,287 yds, 67 TD Duper was the 52nd pick in the second round of the 1982 Draft. In 1968, the Eagles finished 14th in the 16-team NFL in passing yardage, and 15th in scoring, with just 14.4 points per game. He displaced Andre Rison (743 receptions for 10,205 yards and 84 TDs). Both the Eagles and Rams improved dramatically when they acquired Jackson. Well this days i think so. He was a showboat in Atlanta, but you can get away with that when you're performing at a high level. Despite his qualifications, hes probably not getting in on the first ballot. Art Monk. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns twice, and in receiving yards in 1974. He joins his father, Oscar, and his younger brothers, Jeff and Brian, as members of the KHSAA Hall of Fame. He has several advantages over Johnson, however. The off-field stuff isn't supposed to factor into HOF voting, but Rison's uneven career and locker room impact are fair game. They were drafted just one year apart, both were great punt returners early in their careers, both had most of their best seasons in the '90s, both had career numbers that looked exceptional before the explosion of receiving stats in the last decade or so. So this is really a list of 15. Theres another name that should be on here for serious consideration - Isaac Curtis, Bengals 1973-84. Rison, in his third-best season, was 2nd in the NFL in both receptions and receiving TDs. Same era and they too only had three seasons over 1000 yds receiving and Swann never did! Let's break this down a little more, looking at both the Hall of Famers and the contenders we've examined. For instance, it might be tempting to write off Smiths lifetime stats 862 receptions, 12,287 yards, 67 TD catches as a product of the modern pass-heavy era. In 1974, Pearson set career-highs in a 14-game season, no less for receptions and receiving yards. He was a team leader on a three-time Super Bowl champion. The late '80s and early '90s, meanwhile, have no one but Jerry Rice in the Hall of Fame. He probably doesn't need to be in. The best time of the year to . It's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction week around the NFL world. He is one of only five receivers with nine or more 1,000-yard seasons (Tim Brown, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Rice), and one of five with six straight 1,100-yard seasons (Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Moss, Rice). But I believe it shows that even looking only at his best seasons, Moore is not strongly distinguished at least not statistically from other great receivers yet to be enshrined in Canton, most of whom had longer careers and more good seasons. Jackson led the team in touchdowns (9) and led the NFL in receiving yardage. If that whole period had fallen into a single decade, how differently might he be viewed? Lets start by running through five obvious cases of overly-qualified receivers who have not yet been enshrined. Just play along. That distinguishes him from almost every receiver in history. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1980s (Chandler, Clark, Ellard, Morgan, Reed, Sharpe) Like Cris Carter and Tim Brown, Jackson was seen more as steady than exceptional. Johnson should eventually be enshrined, but his case exemplifies the folly of any Julian Edelman argument. 1971-84, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys 9:00 AM. Some of those assignments are close calls. During his NFL career, Rison caught touchdown passes from Jack Trudeau (4), Chris Miller (25), Scott Campbell (2), Billy Joe Tolliver (6), Wade Wilson (3), Bobby Hebert (11), Jeff George (9), Vinny Testaverde (1), Eric Zeier (2), Mark Brunell (2), Brett Favre (1), Elvis Grbac (7), and Rich Gannon (11). At . July 16, 2020 8:00 am ET. Hall was named to two . Go back and look at the tape, % of run/pass ratio for the era, and the fact he was on bad teams until Dick Vermiel took over in Philly. Harrison is in the Hall of Fame, along with a number of Smiths other receiving peers: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Tim Brown, Cris Carter and, of course, Jerry Rice. Smiths post-NFL life has been peppered with issues, but that has little to do with his Hall of Fame candidacy. at Im scared as hell. Hall spent seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2000-06), appearing in 97 games (10 starts) which is tied for the seventh most by a wide receiver in franchise history. Neil Paine was the acting sports editor at FiveThirtyEight. Jun. Reggie Wayne is still years away, and it's too early to even make predictions about guys like Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Now lets talk seriously about getting Cliff Branch and Sterling Sharpe into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Instead of ripping Edelman, however, lets celebrate ten NFL wide receivers of the last 50 years or so who really do deserve Hall of Fame consideration. I suspect it is here that Jackson's consistency has worked against him. who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame, sits atop the list of when it comes to the highest single-season yardage output, accounting for . 1970-79: n/a Carter just doesn't have the highlight reel those guys do, and he never won a championship. Steve Smith - legendary wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers hops on the podcast with Takeo and Steve's former Panther teammate Tutan to talk about Steve's career in the game, where his drive comes from and how his next chapter as an analyst has allowed him to see the game in a whole new light. That's an average of 9th or 10th. How in the hell going to put him in and pass on player like brown and carter. @Neil_Paine, NFL (976 posts) Holt and Wayne are still log-jammed ahead of him, and Steve Smith has a slightly better overall portfolio. According to computer vision, Addison has the third-fastest burst (speed achieved in the first 3 yards traveled) of any receiver in this draft class when . Branch actually led the Raiders in receiving only three times in his final nine seasons. If a guy was the best receiver besides Jerry Rice, that's the sort of player I feel is a legitimate snub. Sharpe, unfortunately, suffered a neck injury at the end of the 1994 season, and that was that. The Jacksonville Jaguars of the 1990s cannot catch a break. According to Pro-Football-Reference.coms Approximate Value (AV) metric, Smith had 74 AV in his best run of five consecutive seasons (from 1997 through 2001), which is tied with Lance Alworth, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones for fifth-best since 1960. 1955-64: Raymond Berry, Tommy McDonald, Bobby Mitchell But again, heck of a player. They force some of us to denigrate a player like Edelmans legacy because other folks are either just praising a local hero or advancing a bad-faith or ill-informed talking point. If you're here for another era, check out our other articles in this series: Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1980s Moore: 670 rec, 9,174 yds, 62 TD. Fryar was a late bloomer. In his prime, Smith was a receiving machine, easily the most important part of a Jaguars team that won the NFLs seventh-most games from 1996 through Smiths retirement after the 2005 season. I love stat geeks, and on some level I'm one of them, so let's review Moore's qualifications. Jackson's accomplishments he retired with the most receptions and receiving yards of anyone who played his whole career in the NFL were quickly overshadowed by Steve Largent, James Lofton, and Air Coryell. From recent years, when the passing game has reached levels of unprecedented importance, so far there's just Rice and Irvin. He should be in. During that three-year stretch, Branch caught 157 passes for 3,096 yards and 34 TDs. Rison played for seven NFL teams. When you see wide receivers motion into the slot, hide in the backfield, or haul in a tunnel screen, you are seeing some of the things Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren and his staff made popular in the NFL in an effort to funnel the ball into Sharpes hands. Cris Carter If I look down the line at some of the best wide receivers to play in Green Bay, guys like . We continue this week with WRs of the 1970s. Pearson made three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams, and from 1974-79, he was consistently among the top receivers in the NFL. Besides, we should compare players to their contemporaries, not guys a decade younger. NFL's top 20 players not in the Hall of Fame: Torry Holt, Zach Thomas, Ken Anderson headline all-time list These greats are still waiting for their call to Canton By Bryan DeArdo Aug 18,. Here's how I rank the best non-HOF receivers of the 1990s: 1. 1985-94: Jerry Rice He has to be on the list. The guys who peaked a little later have a stronger case. No, it was Carter." Smith retired when he was still a good player; his final season yielded 70 catches, 1023 yards, and 6 TDs. Ward is a better-than-his-stats guy who made an impact for some great teams, but the Hall of Fame hurdle is so high that he may never clear it. In his 11-year career, Pearson led the Cowboys in receiving TDs only twice (1975-76). Well popularity rings and of course the team. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s (Hill, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Wilson) Charley Hennigan 1960-66, Houston Oilers 410 receptions, 6,823 yards, 51 TD Probably no one's HOF case is more hindered by disrespect for the early AFL than Charley Hennigan. 1945-54: Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Dante Lavelli, Pete Pihos Late in his career, he was suspended under the NFLs substance-abuse policy; after retiring, he went through even more cycles of rehab, sobriety and relapse, even serving prison time in 2013. Larry Fitzgerald: Also a lock when he retires in the year 2269. (Henry Ellard, Rod Smith and Isaac Curtis stans: this is your shout out). HOF Qualifications: FAIR. Super Bowl rings well sure the does matter. Finally, the Seniors Committee and the Centennial Committee appear determined to enshrine just about every 1970s receiver, ) to stay in the loop on all things around the NFL. Between 1988-94, you've got Andre Rison ('89) Herman Moore ('91), Keenan McCardell ('91), and Smith. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s Tim Brown 1988-2004, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1,094 receptions, 14,934 yards, 100 TD The Hall of Fame voters, in recent years, have almost entirely ignored special teams contributions. His Hall of Fame case is profiled in depth in Best Wide Receivers Not in the HOF: 1980s, which is linked above and in my name on this comment. Anyway, three All-Pro berths and four 100-yard seasons form the backbone of what is becoming an impressive Hall of Fame rsum for Hopkins. 13. The committees of the late 1980s and 1990s got a little carried away with making sure every Lombardi Packer and Steel Curtain Steeler who ever buckled a chinstrap got enshrined. It's natural, I think, to compare him to Ellard. 1985-94: Jerry Rice These NFL wide receivers, Hopkins, like Edelman, made a little news on Monday when the folks at the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference named Hopkins acquisition by the Arizona Cardinals as the, Smith, like Andre Johnson, becomes Hall of Fame eligible next season. Those teams were consistently good, but they played in two Super Bowls. He has several advantages over Johnson, however. Harold Carmichael finished his career with 590 receptions and 79 touchdowns. 590 receptions, 8,985 yards, 79 TD. By 1996, Smith earned a starting role (alongside ex-Browns WR Keenan McCardell) and exploded on the scene with 1,244 yards, as the Jags stunned the NFL with a trip to the AFC Championship Game. Today's wide receivers play 16-game schedules. These NFL wide receivers do not count toward our list of 10 worthy Hall of Famers. 670 receptions, 9,174 yards, 62 TD. He's ahead in every major category, way ahead in touchdowns. NFL News and Rumors: Dalvin Cook to Dolphins, C.J. 1,094 receptions, 14,934 yards, 100 TD. Jackson's record wasn't tied until Tim Brown in 2003, and finally broken by Terrell Owens and Tony Gonzalez almost 30 years later. But he was a heck of a player. He led the league in both receptions and receiving yards in 1973. Harrison is in the Hall of Fame, along with a number of Smith's other receiving peers: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Tim Brown, Cris Carter and, of course, Jerry Rice. 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. 600-700 receptions At least 5 Pro Bowls At least 2 all pros Or 1 all pro and a Superbowl MVP All this just to be considered. It's useful to me, in thinking about these issues, to break them down by era. Jacksonville Jaguars (30) But Harrison, Moss, Owens, Bruce those are all great players. His career stats are good, especially the TDs, but they aren't impressive when compared to contemporaries with longer careers, like Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, and Andre Reed. During the 1970s, Jackson led all players in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs. 1945-54: Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Dante Lavelli, Pete Pihos Effectively, Jackson stands alone atop his era, leading all players in the '70s in every major receiving category receptions, yards, and TDs. Anything that causes a player's career to be broken up usually dampens the perception of his greatness. From 1998-2000, Carter caught 34 TD passes, more than anyone except Moss, who had 43. He had more good seasons, more of his production came before league-wide receiving numbers went through the roof, and he had a stronger peak. But in totality, it's . For this project, we'll examine in depth 25 eligible wide receivers with strong backing for the Hall of Fame: Cliff Branch, Tim Brown, Harold Carmichael, Cris Carter, Wes Chandler, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, Charley Hennigan, Harlon Hill, Billy Howton, Harold Jackson, Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, Drew Pearson, Art Powell, Andre Reed, Andre Rison, Sterling Sharpe, Del Shofner, Jimmy Smith, Mac Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Otis Taylor, and Billy Wilson. Defenses fear the deep threat, the guy who can burn you on any given play. The players listed below are the top 250 HOFm-rated players who played WR starting in 1955 or later for at least 50 career games. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1970s I know you probably don't think Moore belongs on this list. More, Subscribe to the Sports Central Feed Follow Sports Central on Twitter, "There is a reason he is a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, because he pushes us over the top in moments like this. For years, it was Lynn Swann or Art Monk. [Related: The Football Hall Of Fame Has A Receiver Problem]. Oh, you thought this was some Patriots Hater troll piece? Gray: 351 rec, 6,644 yds, 45 TD The top 18 players in all-time sacks are either in the Hall of Fame or will be soon except for O'Neal, who ranks No. Andre Rison Touchdown machine in the early '90s who revived his career with a 54-yard TD in the Super Bowl and a Pro Bowl with the Chiefs. Johnson led the league in receptions twice and yards twice while catching passes from Matt Schaub (who was a better quarterback than you may remember) and David Carr (who was not). Maybe. By the fall of 1994, he had been cut by Dallas and also the Philadelphia Eagles, leading to a year out of football. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers. Four time pro bowler and 3 time 2nd team all-pro. He caught two touchdowns in Super Bowl XV and could easily have been named the games MVP. That means he will probably fall well short of enshrinement, which is just another indicator of how high the bar to Canton is. But in looking at the early '90s, I don't think Fryar and Rison are as strong as some of the candidates I'll write about next week: Gary Clark, Henry Ellard, Andre Reed, and Sterling Sharpe. Tittle and Roger Staubach never dreamed of. He was the Megatron of the time and his stats blow away the similar era receivers who are in the HOF. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s. A statistical oddity about Drew Pearson: in his two best seasons, he scored a combined total of four touchdowns. When the 1970s All-Decade Team was chosen, however, Pearson was a first-team selection and Branch was left off entirely. Ten Worthy Hall of Fame Receivers (Not Named Julian Edelman) April 15, 2021, 11:20 am ET 38 Our own Mike Tanier wades into the Hall of Fame debate with this list of wide receivers he believes deserve consideration for the Hall of Fame. Now that we shooed in the shoo-ins, lets sink our teeth into some of the tougher cases. Sterling Sharpe's five best seasons (1989-90, 92-94) average 4th, 5th, and 5th. Work at the Hall; Buy Tickets; FAQs; Irving Fryar That player would be michael irving popular has rings and of course on the cowboys. Andre Rison's average 5th, 9th, and 3rd. That said, Boldin played second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald in his signature seasons and was perceived as more of a gritty veteran than a playmaker in his final seasons. Moss? Branch played very well in Super Bowls XV and XVIII and won three rings. But we can certainly compare these players to their peers. Which is a shame, because he was secretly one of the greatest pass-catchers in NFL history. Is it stats some times wonder maybe but not really. He may be over-qualified, but Sharpe is not the most overqualified receiver on our list. Many fans identify the HOF plights of Cliff Branch and Pearson together. If you really want to include '83, the Cliff Branch-Era Raiders, who won three Super Bowls, have twice as many HOFers as the 1980s 49ers, who won four. Fryar's career numbers are great for when he played, and he obviously was a good player for a long time. This is a Game 7 I will forever remember as the Steph Curry game." Smith looks terrible on that list. I don't buy that, for either one. Irving Fryar and Rison did a lot of the same things as Andre Reed, but the constant team-switching makes it hard, psychologically, to view them that way. Fryar eventually recorded five 1,000-yard seasons, and his accomplishments as a returner are significant, something that should factor into any consideration of his Hall of Fame case. Obviously, there's more to it than that. During those five seasons, Moore ranked 11th, 3rd, 3rd, 6th, and 24th in receiving yards. I believe only about five of those players deserve induction, but there's a case to be made for all of them. Hall of Fame Case: Point #1- Dominance While he only played for seven seasons, Sterling Sharpe was, undoubtedly, one of the best (if not THE best) wide receiver in the game during his career. 30, 2023, 5:11 p.m. Kansas State wide receiver Kade Warner (85) carries the ball as Alabama . Wide Receivers (14) 1980-89: James Lofton, Art Monk A member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Carter had 10 or more touchdowns in a season six times and led the NFL in . Pearson caught the pass that gave the play now known as a "Hail Mary" its name. The same thing happened to Brown with receiving yardage. HOF Qualifications: FAIR. That said, Hopkins may have to wait in line behind another recent Houston Texans receiver and former teammate. However, no player may have a more unique path to enshrinement than former Chiefs returner and wide receiver Dante Hall. The premier deep threat and speed burner in the league in his prime. When Philadelphia traded Jackson to Los Angeles in 1973, the 6-7-1 Rams improved to 12-2. HOF absurd. The two who stand out on the list, obviously, are Powell and Carmichael. But thats a topic for another column. Most importantly, he has accumulated a sizzle reel full of memorable moments, and signature plays can be as important to a Hall of Fame case as stats or rings. Those of us who care about the Hall of Fame sometimes write derisively about "compilers" that is, a compiler of stats, who has impressive career numbers without ever really being a great player.