Carter Bahns· Aug 7, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports piece names 17 active NFL players as locks to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame once eligible, and also predicts Rob Gronkowski will be inducted as the 11th Hall of Fame tight end when he becomes eligible in 2027.
“Below are the active NFL players who are locks to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
18 checkable claims — 18 pro bowl and all-pro calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 25 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Lamar Jackson
- Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry
- Tyreek Hill
- Mike Evans
- San Francisco 49ers
- Trent Williams
- Chris Jones
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Matthew Stafford
- Los Angeles Rams
- Bobby Wagner
- T.J. Watt
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Von Miller
- Aaron Rodgers
- Davante Adams
- Travis Kelce
- Rob Gronkowski
- Khalil Mack
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Lane Johnson
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Myles Garrett
- Patrick Mahomes
18 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Lamar Jackson to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“He is a future Hall of Famer as both a rusher and passer, and history says that winning two MVP awards constitutes a lock to receive a gold jacket.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Derrick Henry to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“The 12,000-yard club is the threshold for guaranteed Hall of Fame status ... Derrick Henry joined the group last season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsTyreek HillAug 7, 2026
Tyreek Hill to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“if he has already played his final snap, his career accolades are already Hall of Fame-worthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Evans to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Anything Evans achieves with the 49ers is gravy on what is already a Hall of Fame-worthy résumé.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trent Williams to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Only a couple of other active players are as surefire of a first-ballot Hall of Famer as Trent Williams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Chris Jones to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Chris Jones can expect to give an induction speech in Canton before too long.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Matthew Stafford to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Now that he has an MVP on his ledger, it is hard to envision him falling short of Hall of Fame status.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsBobby WagnerAug 7, 2026
Bobby Wagner to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Bobby Wagner, LB, free agent ... one of the league's great modern linebackers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
T.J. Watt to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Watt is an all-time great pass rusher, and he might not even be close to done yet.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsVon MillerAug 7, 2026
Von Miller to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Von Miller, EDGE, free agent ... he accomplished so much during his 10-year Broncos tenure”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Aaron Rodgers to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Aaron Rodgers, QB, Steelers ... there are hardly any more accolades for Rodgers to stack up in what he says will be his final year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Davante Adams to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Davante Adams, WR, Rams ... In his prime, Adams was a three-time first-team All-Pro”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Kelce to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Gronkowski and Travis Kelce could be the first part of a new wave of legends to be enshrined in the Hall. The latter is a no-doubter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsRob GronkowskiAug 7, 2026
Rob Gronkowski to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Rob Gronkowski will become the 11th when he gains eligibility in 2027”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Mack to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers ... The story of modern defense cannot be told without mentioning Mack.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Lane Johnson to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Lane Johnson, OT, Eagles ... regularly ranks as the league's best active offensive lineman”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Myles Garrett, EDGE, Rams ... his legendary 2025 season, of course, went into the record books”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Patrick Mahomes to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs ... Mahomes is as transcendent of a player as there is in the NFL right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Jason McIntyreTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldMiss · 0Filling in for Colin Cowherd, McIntyre argued the 49ers' window is closed amid a brutal injury list and record travel, floated a Bijan Robinson trade to the Bears, predicted the Lions can win the NFC North, doubted Atlanta is even a playoff team, said Baker Mayfield's Tampa run ends after this season, and delivered a top-10 quarterback ranking.
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · San Francisco 49ersMiss · 0In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsClose · 57Prisco is the lone expert cited picking Kansas City, 20-17 over Denver.
More pro bowl and all-pro calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat GustavsonPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Charles CrossMiss · 0Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. His awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year.
- Peter BukowskiPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Zach ThomasMiss · 0Bukowski breaks down combine performances and predicts Caleb Banks will be the first defensive tackle drafted, that Kyle Lewis will rise into second-round range, that Lee Hunter's poor testing will keep the Packers away, and that the Packers will not draft a tight end in the top 100. He also predicts the Packers will cut Elton Jenkins and expects Kingsley Enagbare to leave while Rashan Gary returns.
- Jeff "Coach Jags" JagodzinskiPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Tucker KraftMiss · 0The former Packers tight ends coach said Tucker Craft is a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, and separately endorsed Christian Watson as a true No. 1 receiver for Green Bay. He also ranked the tight ends he has coached all-time.
- JP AcostaPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Devon WitherspoonMiss · 0JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Rich EisenPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Jihaad CampbellMiss · 0Discussing Charles Davis' mock draft, Eisen predicted Jihaad Campbell of Alabama would be an All-Pro next season, and separately expects Trey Lance to be on an NFL roster as a backup quarterback next season.
- Rich EisenPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Travis HunterMiss · 0From the combine, Eisen argued Travis Hunter is worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick, and projected him as a perennial Pro Bowler who will eventually have to pick a side of the ball.