Ray Lewis (2018), Sam Mills (2022), Zach Thomas (2023), Brian Urlacher (2018), Patrick Willis (2024)
Here are the statistics that we are using based on the last group of Defensive Lineman/Linebackers/Interior Lineman to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
*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.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #3, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #6, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #10, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #18.
How good did Bobby Wagner look in a Seahawks uniform last year?
After ten seasons in Seattle, where he was an All-Decade, six-time First Team All-Pro, and Super Bowl champion, Wagner played for the Rams in 2022 before returning to the Seahawks in 2023, where he collected his ninth Pro Bowl Selection. Wagner shows no signs of age and last year, he led the NFL in Combined Tackles for the third time, but can he do that for his new team in Washington?
Of note, if Wagner gets 100 Combined Tackles again (and he has never not been able to do that), he will move up past Hall of Famers Derrick Brooks and Zach Thomas, and former Atlanta Falcon, Jessie Tuggle for fourth overall. 142 Combined Tackles, brings him to third place, surpassing Junior Seau.
Even if Wagner never registers another Tackle, his Hall of Fame case is already built.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #32, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #41, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #44, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #45. Peak Period: 2014-18
Mosley’s AV/G is higher than the average MPA for a Linebacker, though his traditional numbers are low for this stage of his career, and he doesn’t have that First Team All-Pro. After five years in Baltimore, Mosley joined the Jets in 2019 but only played two games due to a groin injury and opted out of 2020 due to COVID concerns. 2021 was not the comeback he needed, but 2022 was, where he added Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro number five. He is also on a three-year streak of at least 150 Tackles.
As a star of the Jets front-seven, his stock will rocket if the Jets and Mosely have a great 2024.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #2022, Pre-Season Rank #137. Peak Period: 2019-23
Davis, a veteran player, has experienced a significant rise in his career over the past four years. He has been an AP All-Pro for the last five years, with one First Team and four Second Team selections. His recent achievements, such as being selected for the Pro Bowl in 2022 and repeating this success the following year, are a testament to his current success.
There is a buzz around Davis that never existed in his 20s, and the respect for the Saints’ defensive Swiss Army Knife is skyrocketing.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #118, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #142. Peak Period: 2019-23
Warner has arguably been the best Middle Linebacker in the NFL since 2020, and the career Niner is looking to add his fourth First-Team All-Pro and third consecutive in 2024. He has at least 130 Combined Tackles in the last three seasons, and his big play moments have increased. He has also been instrumental in San Francisco’s last two NFC Championships.
2023 Pre-Season Rank: #53, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #63, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #83, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #94. Peak Period: 2012-16
We argued that Lavonte David was one of the most underrated players of the 2010s, and that is even more true in overall football history. Let's say that is true, as underrated players (in their time) have made the Hall, but it is challenging for the career Buccaneer to crack the plane that will give him Canton consideration.
Hopefully, the Bucs will honor him in some capacity when his career concludes.
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2023 Pre-Season Rank #92, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #133, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #146. Peak Period: 2019-23
Smith was a Second-Team All-Pro for two years in a row (2020-21), but as good as he was, the Bears were not, and Smith and Chicago became disenchanted with each other. Chicago traded Smith to the Ravens during the season, and it was by far the best year of his career, with a career-high in Approximate Value (17) and landing a First-Team All-pro.
Smith followed it with his second First-Team All-pro selection and his third consecutive year with 150-plus Combined Tackles. Moving forward, if Smith can remain the league’s top Middle Linebacker over the next three seasons, this is a Hall of Fame player.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #38. 2022 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #77. Peak Period: 2018-22
Shaq Leonard had one of the best first four seasons in Colts history. During that time, he won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, was a three-time First Team All-Pro, and was a league leader in Forced Fumbles (8 in 2021). However, back issues reared their ugly head in 2022, and when he came back, he wasn’t the same player.
Leonard was traded to Philadelphia during the 2023 season and is currently a Free Agent. Unless he signs (and fully recovers), his Hall of Fame dream has ended.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #75, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #73, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #84, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #79. Peak Period: 2015-19
Barr had four consecutive Pro Bowl years (2015-18) but did so without a First- or Second-Team All-Pro Selection. Barr should have some acknowledgment in Minnesota when his career ends, and we suspect he will, but his run of accolades likely has ended.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #103, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #107, 2021 Pre-Season Rank: 120, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #142. Peak Period: 2018-22.
A Pro Bowl Selection in 2019 and 2020, Tremaine Edmunds's push for greatness has stalled in his last two years with the Bills. Edmunds joined a very interesting Chicago Bears squad in 2023, but he would have to return to a previous level for any serious chance.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #124, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #141. Peak Period: 2019-23
Devin White’s time with Tampa Bay ended, and it yielded the Inside Linebacker a Super Bowl ring, a Pro Bowl in 2021, and a Second Team All-Pro in 2020. White had a three-year run (2020-22) with at least 120 Combined Tackles. This is the White that has to return with his new team, Philadelphia, to have any Hall of Fame shot.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #119, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #119, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #133. Peak Period: 2015-19
After eight years in Minnesota, Eric Kendricks joined the Los Angeles Chargers but enters this season with Dallas. However, any Hall of Fame talk (if any) has stalled since his monster 2019 season. Has he done enough for the Vikings to honor him in some capacity in the future?
2023: Pre-Season Rank: #143. Peak Period 2018-22.
Jonathan Allen has played seven seasons to date, all with Washington, and obtained two Pro Bowls over that time. The versatile Defensive End had an off year by his standards in 2023 and will need to rebound for any serious Hall of Fame consideration.
2023 Pre-Season Rank #139, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #150, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #147, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #149. Peak Period: 2017-21
Jarrett went to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020, where he was hitting his stride. The Hall of Fame might be a tall order, but a post-career accolade by the Falcons seems doable.
2022: Pre-Season Rank: #144. Peak Period 2018-22
Matt Milano had a solid career going into 2022 but unexpectedly emerged as the Bills’ top defensive player. This lands Milano on the lower end of this list, but we have all seen players who made their Canton bones in the middle third of their career, though a torn bicep going into 2024 will hamper that.
2023: Pre-Season Rank: Unranked. Peak Period 2020-23*
Patrick Queen had the best season of his four-year career, where he earned his first Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro and set a personal best 133 Combined Tackles.
*Queen has only played four seasons.
2023: Pre-Season Rank: Unranked. Peak Period 2019-23
Dexter Lawrence is more of a nose tackle, and if we focus on that role, Lawrence is one of the best in the business.