Will Kuechly make the Hall of Fame this year? Maybe, maybe not

[PanthersATL]

Source: https://miketanier.substack.com/p/eli-manning-and-the-pro-football

Article talks about what the voting process is for the HoF, and focuses a smidge on why Eli won't necessarily make it in as a first ballot nominee. 
 

Quote

One reason I am doubtful that Manning will be a part of this year’s Hall of Fame class: the selectors I spoke to didn’t even rank him very highly among first-time finalists.

Here’s one testimonial:

When you look at the resume for Kuechly and you look at the resume for Yanda, and you saw them play, it’s like: ‘OH fug. Those motherfugers are Hall of Famers.’ It doesn’t take a whole lot of expertise to say, ‘That motherfuger is great.’ Luke Kuechly: eyeball test. Marshal Yanda: eyeball test. Terrell Suggs: eyeball test.

Eli: two incredible playoff runs. But the rest of it is like, ‘eh, that’s good.’

Here’s another:

Luke Kuechly was a Defensive Player of the Year and made the all-decade team. Marshal Yanda was an all-decade player who went to a million Pro Bowls. Suggs is the highest total sack produced all-time who is not in the Hall of Fame. Adam Vinatieri hit all the kicks in all the Super Bowls.

Just talking through it: Eli might be fifth among the first-year guys.

Kuechly was considered a stronger candidate than Eli by everyone I spoke to. But there did not sound like much urgency to rush Kuechly in on the first ballot. As already mentioned, and as you surely know, there are several finalists who have been waiting for many years, most notably a duo I call the Sammy Hagar receivers.

 

Quote

 

Steve Smith, another receiver with an outsized reputation/personality whose teams were never called the Greatest Show on Anything, has now entered the chat. There’s now another risk of a multi-player pileup, which the new voting procedures would only exacerbate.

“We’re getting to a point where we’re torturing those guys,” said one selector.

 

 

[t96]

To me, Luke is the prototypical first-ballot hall of famer and it would be an absolute shame for Canton if he has to wait. DROY, DPOY, 5x first team all-pro, 2x second team all-pro in 8 seasons, record for most tackles in a game and elite play in a SB run (no ring but that's hardly his fault, the D dominated that SB).

He's hurt by the Carolina factor but I do think he gets in this year.

Smitty I think is unfortunately going to be hurt by timing again. Voters are probably hesitant to vote for 2 Panthers in one induction class and Pep got the Panther slot last year and Luke probably gets it this year. I think Smitty will get in eventually (he absolutely should, what he accomplished despite the QBs he had throwing him the ball compared to other hall of fame WRs' QBs is absolutely insane). Not sure what next year's class looks like but he could get in next year.

 

Would actually be pretty cool to have 3 straight years with Carolina-drafted players getting into the HoF. But also kinda sad that those elite players are that far in the past for us and under Tepper we haven't even come close to sniffing a future hall of famer (McCaffrey was drafted under Richardson and he'll be borderline depending on how the rest of his career plays out).

[Camp Fodder]

Only knock on Luke is he only played 8 years

[Peon Awesome]

The hall of fame has shown they value being the best at what you do, even for a short period of time, more than being great for a very long time. That's how you see players like Calvin Johnson get in first ballot while someone like Torry Holt or Reggie Wayne have been on the outside looking in for years. Kuechly was the best linebacker in the NFL in the 2010s and one of the best defensive players overall. I don't think he has to wait long. The competition is steep so I won't be surprised, just disappointed, if he's not first ballot.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

27 minutes ago, Camp Fodder said:

Only knock on Luke is he only played 8 years

Patrick Willis got in an 8 year career (I think it was around this Length) Not sure how he and Luke stack up when compared.  To ur point it may sway some folks depending on the timing. 

[CRA]

2 minutes ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

Patrick Willis got in an 8 year career (I think it was around this Length) Not sure how he and Luke stack up when compared.  To ur point it may sway some folks depending on the timing. 

their resume's are virtually identical.  Like crazy identical.  Same PB, AP, DROY, DPOY.  Willis' stats slant to the pass rush (sacks) and Luke's to coverage (INTs). 

[Candler Cat]

 

[Growl]

1 hour ago, CRA said:

their resume's are virtually identical.  Like crazy identical.  Same PB, AP, DROY, DPOY.  Willis' stats slant to the pass rush (sacks) and Luke's to coverage (INTs). 

Willis didn’t win DPOY and had one less All-pro selection. 

[t96]

3 minutes ago, Growl said:

Willis didn’t win DPOY and had one less All-pro selection. 

Yep, both of which should be enough to sway Luke to 1st ballot, especially the DPOY which is significant. Willis got in but I believe it was like his 3rd year of eligibility

[CRA]

15 minutes ago, Growl said:

Willis didn’t win DPOY and had one less All-pro selection. 

you right, glanced a pfr and misread the vote placement as a win.  

 

[Growl]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

you right, glanced a pfr and misread the vote placement as a win.  

I think if Willis is a first ballot, it should cement Luke as one.  

Willis wasn’t first ballot.

[CRA]

Just now, Growl said:

Willis wasn’t first ballot.

yeah, I keep getting that stuff wrong.  He got in the first time he was a finalist.  Which is where Luke is now right. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

1 hour ago, Growl said:

Willis wasn’t first ballot.

my aging and feeble mind was convincingly decided that he was first ballot.  Thanks for the update. 

[Cali Cat]

This man was an absolute stud.