Kristopher Knox’s list includes several players who appear strong bets for first-ballot induction: Myles Garrett, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce are singled out as likely in the near term, with Lane Johnson also viewed as a potential first-ballot candidate.
The omission of Evans and Wirfs from the “likely Hall of Famers” list drew attention, given their on-field résumés. Evans is a two-time All-Pro with six Pro Bowls and has become a record-setter for 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career, tied for the most by any player with Jerry Rice at 11.
The article notes that Wirfs, though, has a different profile: a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler who helped win a Super Bowl as a rookie in 2020, while Williams remains the more decorated tackle with 12 Pro Bowls and five All-Pro honors but no Super Bowl ring, making Wirfs a contrasting case for future Hall of Fame consideration.
Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor provides an analytics-based lens on candidacy. Evans sits at 77.07 HOFm, placing him behind only Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins among active wide receivers, suggesting contemporary production can bolster Hall-of-Fame discussions even if not yet universally accepted as a lock.
Wirfs trails at 46.43 on the HOFm scale, with Williams at 77.28—the highest among the trio of active players discussed here—highlighting how the analytics framework views durability, peak performance, and hardware differently. The piece frames these ratings as part of a broader, data-driven conversation about which players might ultimately reach Canton.
This analysis, originally published by Heavy Sports, emphasizes that debates over Hall of Fame eligibility often extend beyond the most obvious star power, weighing a mix of championships, longevity, and peak achievements.
