The ultimate personal honor for a professional football player is having a bust in Canton, Ohio. In early August, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will have enshrinement ceremonies for both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021.
So what about one active player on each of the NFL’s 32 rosters? The key here is active and on the roster. Yes, some have more seasons under their helmets than others. But the list doesn’t include recently retired performers or a player that has not re-signed with the franchise. Keep that in mind while mulling over the choices.
Arizona Cardinals: DE J.J. Watt
The second-leading pass-catcher is currently without a team. While Larry Fitzgerald may or may not play in 2021, the Cardinals signed former Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt this offseason. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year racked up 101 sacks, 25 forced fumbles and 18 takeaways with Houston.
Atlanta Falcons: QB Matt Ryan
The third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft ranks ninth in NFL history with 55,767 passing yards and 10th in league annals with 347 scores through the air. All told, 13-year veteran Matt Ryan has earned four Pro Bowl invitations and was the league’s MVP in 2016 when he led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI.
Baltimore Ravens: DE Calais Campbell
The 13-year veteran is with his third franchise, having entering the league as a second-round draft choice of the Cardinals in 2008. The former Miami Hurricane has been named to six Pro Bowls, the latest in 2020. Calais Campbell has rolled up 92 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and returned three fumbles for touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills: CB Tre’Davious White
The four-year pro is consistently in the conversation when it comes to the best players at his position in the league. Cornerback Tre’Davious White has been in the league just four seasons but he’s already picked off 15 passes and recovered four fumbles. And he’s totaled 54 passes defensed in 61 contests.
Carolina Panthers: RB Christian McCaffrey
It proved to be a forgettable 2020 for one of the most productive running backs in the NFL. Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey played in only three games this past season but his four-year body of work speaks volumes. A total of 51 games has added up to 5,817 yards from scrimmage and a combined 45 TDs.
Chicago Bears: OLB Khalil Mack
The fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by Raiders has now made the Windy City his him the past three seasons. Khalil Mack has been named to six straight Pro Bowls, earned three All-Pro nods and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He’s rolled up 70.5 sacks and 23 forced fumbles in seven seasons.
Cincinnati Bengals: RB Joe Mixon
Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green would have qualified here but he’s now a member of the Cardinals. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins was released this offseason. Running back Joe Mixon comes off an injury-shortened year. From 2018-19, he combined for a solid 2,888 yards from scrimmage and 17 scores.
Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett
This selection could cause a bit of a stir for some considering wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is on the roster. But there’s a reason Myles Garrett was the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He comes off an All-Pro campaign in 2020 and in four seasons has totaled 42.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in 51 games.
Dallas Cowboys: G Zack Martin
The Cowboys boasted the league’s top offensive lines for more a few seasons. Perhaps the best of the bunch was 2014 first-round pick Zack Martin. The former Golden Domer comes off a year in which he played in a career-low 10 games. But the six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro guard is a star.
Denver Broncos: OLB Von Miller
The talented edge rusher proved to be so much more in 2015 – putting together a huge postseason and earning Super Bowl 50 MVP honors. Von Miller missed all of 2020 but in nine seasons he’s amassed 106 sacks and 26 forced fumbles. The eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro looks to bounce back.
Detroit Lions: LB Jamie Collins
He’s been a member of three teams and been productive in his eight NFL seasons. Linebacker Jamie Collins has recorded 100-plus tackle campaigns with the Patriots, Browns and Lions. The 2013 second-round pick from Southern Miss has 25.5 sacks, 18 takeaways and is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers
The 16-year pro has been the topic of the 2021 NFL offseason but he’s in camp and looks to add to his impressive resume. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 412 touchdown passes compared to just 89 interceptions in 197 regular-season contests. A nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and three-time NFL MVP.
Houston Texans: QB Deshaun Watson
He is currently a member of the Texans. The franchise used a first-round pick on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2017 and when available, it’s hard to be critical of his play. He’s been named to the last three Pro Bowls and in 2020 led the NFL in passing yards during Houston’s disappointing 4-12 season.
Indianapolis Colts: G Quenton Nelson
The former University of Notre Dame standout was the first part of a brilliant draft by Colts’ GM Chris Ballard in 2018. Guard Quenton Nelson changed the offensive mindset of this team. It’s a short sample size, but he’s yet to miss a game and has been a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in each of his three seasons.
Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Marvin Jones
The team is in the midst of another rebuilding program as former standout collegiate coach Urban Meyer takes over. As usual, the Jaguars were busy during free agency and one of their most productive pickups was wideout Marvin Jones. He’s totaled 423 receptions for 6,025 yards and 51 scores in eight seasons.
Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes
The club moved up in the 2017 NFL Draft to snare the strong-armed prospect. After playing in only one game his rookie season, Patrick Mahomes has been pretty much lights out. The 2018 NFL MVP has thrown for 114 scores (23 INTs) the past three seasons and led Andy Reid’s Chiefs to the last two Super Bowls.
Las Vegas Raiders: QB Derek Carr
He seems to take the brunt of the criticism when it comes to the team’s failures. Derek Carr has only been around since 2014 and the Raiders have missed the playoffs 17 times the past 18 years. There have been 110 starts, more than twice as many TD passes (170) than interceptions (71) and three Pro Bowl invites.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Keenan Allen
There was a rough two-year stretch when he missed a combined 23 games from 2015-16. Even so, wide receiver Keenan Allen has managed to haul in 624 passes for 7,397 yards and 42 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler has totaled at least 100 receptions in three of the past four years.
Los Angeles Rams: DT Aaron Donald
He was the second of two first-round draft choices by the club in 2014. This past season, he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in four seasons. Aaron Donald (85.5 sacks) has been a Pro Bowler in each of his seven campaigns and named All-Pro in each of the last six seasons.
Miami Dolphins: CB Xavien Howard
He’s been in the news recently (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). Dolphins’ cornerback Xavien Howard comes off an incredible year in which he started all 16 games, totaled 10 interceptions and knocked down 20 passes. There’s a total of 22 picks and 55 passes defensed in only 56 contests. Quite the career start.
Minnesota Vikings: S Harrison Smith
He was the second of two first-round picks by the Purple Gang in 2012. Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith has been a consistent playmaker for the Vikings during his nine-year career. The five-time Pro Bowler is always around the ball via 28 career interceptions (4 TDs) to go along with eight fumble recoveries.
New England Patriots: S Devin McCourty
There’s a lot of new faces in Foxborough this year but there’s also a veteran that will begin his 12th season with the franchise. In 2020, Devin McCourty did not play in a postseason game for the first time in his career. The three-time Super Bowl champion has come up with 34 takeaways with the Patriots.
New Orleans Saints: RB Alvin Kamara
He’s been in the league for just four seasons but the productivity has been simply amazing. Four season and Pro Bowl invitations, 6,164 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns in just 60 regular-season contests. Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record in 2020 by scoring six touchdowns vs. the Vikings on Christmas.
New York Giants: DB Logan Ryan
He will begin his second year with this club in 2021. Versatile defender Logan Ryan has made his mark since being a third-round draft choice by the Patriots in 2013. In eight NFL seasons with three different clubs, he has 18 interceptions, an astounding 87 passes defensed, 12 sacks and a dozen forced fumbles.
New York Jets: MLB C.J. Mosley
It’s been a disappointing two years for the former Ravens’ linebacker. C.J. Mosley got big bucks to join the Jets in 2019. He played in only two games that year and in 2020, opted out due to COVID-19. But during his five-year stay in Baltimore, the talented performer was named to four Pro Bowls. Can he bounce back?
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox
He’s been among the most consistent interior defenders in the league. And while he doesn’t have the sack totals (54.5) of an Aaron Donald, Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox has certainly made his mark in the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowler was a very pivotal part of the team’s Super Bowl championship season in 2017.
Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger
The two quarterbacks drafted ahead of him in 2004 – Eli Manning and Philip Rivers – have hung up the cleats. Ben Roethlisberger was the 11th overall pick that year and will begin his 18th season. There have been three Super Bowl appearances, two Lombardi Trophies, 60,348 passing yards and 396 TD tosses.
San Francisco 49ers: T Trent Williams
He was acquired from the Washington Football Team via trade a year ago. This offseason, the 49ers signed him to a huge contract off a season in which he was named to his eighth Pro Bowl. Left tackle Trent Williams was the fourth overall pick in 2010 and after sitting out ‘19, has shown no signs of slowing down.
Seattle Seahawks; QB Russell Wilson
Nine seasons in the Pacific Northwest and the seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback has started every game for Pete Carroll’s team. Russell Wilson continues to climb up the all-time lists in terms of passing yards and touchdown tosses. He’s led his team to a pair of Super Bowls and to the postseason eight times.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Tom Brady
What a story and it continues to be amazing. A sixth-round draft choice from the University of Michigan in 2000 has made 10 Super Bowl appearances and won seven championships with the Patriots (6) and now the Buccaneers (1). No player in NFL annals has thrown more touchdown passes (581) than Tom Brady.
Tennessee Titans: WR Julio Jones
He was acquired from the Falcons this offseason via trade. And while Titans’ running back Derrick Henry’s career is off to an amazing start, wide receiver Julio Jones has put up big numbers over 10 seasons. The seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro has totaled 848 catches for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns.
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Washington Football Team: G Brandon Scherff
He will play under the franchise tender for the second consecutive year. Guard Brandon Scherff earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades in 2020 for NFC East champion Washington. The 2015 fifth overall selection from the University of Iowa hasn’t played all 16 games since ’16 but is a four-time Pro Bowler.