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#114 Overall, Joe Mixon, Houston Texans, #9 Running Back
2023 Pre-Season Rank #117, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #143
Joe Mixon’s run with the Cincinnati Bengals has ended, leaving behind a solid 8,551 Yards From Scrimmage and 62 Touchdowns. That’s good, but it isn’t Hall of Fame good. Mixon is now a Houston Texan, and he will need to match at least his previous best of 1,205 Rushing Yards/13 Touchdowns in season of 2021 and do so over multiple years. That will be a tough ask for the former Sooner.
#50 Overall, Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, #10 Wide Receiver
2023 Pre-Season Rank #101, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #130. Peak Period: 2020-23*
Justin Jefferson has had an incredible career thus far. His four seasons in the NFL (all with Minnesota) were punctuated by his consensus Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2022. The wide receiver was considered the best at his position and could reclaim that in 2024, provided the injury bug does not bite him as it did last year.
Jefferson will have a downgrade at Quarterback in Sam Darnold but has the skills to make him look like a star. Nobody has a better Receiving Yards per Game since Jefferson entered the NFL, and that could very well be the case next year.
*Jefferson has only played four years.
#98 Overall, Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts, #7 Running Back
2023 Pre-Season Rank: #107, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #111. Peak Period: 2020-23*
After a good rookie year in 2020, Taylor exploded, leading the NFL in Rushing Yards (1,811) and Rushing Touchdowns (18), and a Running Back needs a year like this to place you on the tips of tongues of Hall of Fame voters. In 2022, Taylor had a great start to the season, but was held to 11 Games due to ankle issues, and in 2023, he held out, delaying his start until 2023.
One monstrous season does not make a Hall of Fame career for a player, and Taylor will have to reclaim that 2021 magic for a serious Hall of Fame list jump.
#113 Overall, Kevin Byard, Chicago Bears, Strong Safety, #7 Safety
2023 Pre-Season Rank #125, 2022: Pre-Season Rank #135. Peak Period: 2017-21
A two-time First Team All-Pro as a Tennessee Titan, Kevin Byard seems to have an average or spectacular season. He begins 2024 with the Chicago Bears, with Byard having a lot of work to do to make a serious Hall of Fame case.