Which Current NFL Players Are Headed to the Hall of Fame?

We are less than one week away from the Pro Football Hall of Fame welcoming eight more members to its amazing ranks, bringing the number of inductees to 295.

So which active players are certainties to wind up in Canton, Ohio, should their careers end immediately? It is always a fun subject to delve into.

Remember, we are talking about active players on current rosters. We are not talking about recent retirees such as strong safety Troy Polamalu, inside linebacker Patrick Willis or free safety Ed Reed. And there's no mention here of longtime stars such as wide receiver Reggie Wayne or running back Steven Jackson, as both are currently unsigned.

And we are only talking about players, not coaches or contributors, so Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Jeff Fisher and Andy Reid—each in the NFL's top 20 all-time for head coaching wins—will be discussed another time.

We have focused on 15 current players while also pointing out a few performers who are on the right track. As you know, induction into Canton can be a tricky thing, and sometimes we question the voters' choices. But for those of us who don't have a direct influence, we're happy to take a healthy swing at this always-interesting topic.

DE Jared Allen

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This upcoming season, we will be adding outside linebacker to the resume of one of the most productive pass-rushers of any era.

In 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (43), Minnesota Vikings (85.5) and Chicago Bears (5.5), relentless defensive end Jared Allen has totaled 134 sacks to go along with 32 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries and five interceptions. The five-time Pro Bowler has amassed at least 11 sacks in eight of his 11 seasons and piled up 22 sacks with the Vikings in 2011.

Granted, an impressive sack total doesn't necessarily reserve a player a bust in Canton (see Kevin Greene and his 160 sacks). Allen will line up at right outside linebacker for the Bears in 2015 under new coordinator Vic Fangio, so it will be interesting to see how he fares.

QB Tom Brady

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Let's see if it's possible to focus on the accomplishments of one of the greatest quarterbacks in the game's history.

New England Patriots signal-caller Tom Brady ranks fifth in NFL history in touchdown tosses (392) and passing yards (53,258). He's the only quarterback to start six Super Bowls and one of three players at the position with four Super Bowl rings.

Brady's postseason numbers are the best in league history: He ranks first in attempts (1,085), completions (683), yards (7,345) and touchdown passes (53).

All this from a sixth-round pick in 2000.

We became aware of the former Michigan Wolverine early in the 2001 season after Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury, which changed the fortunes of a franchise that had not enjoyed a great deal of success before Brady became a mainstay in the starting lineup.

What's even more interesting is that Brady shows no signs of slowing down. Of course, his pending four-game suspension (as it stands now) will be a bump in the road, and it will be up to each voter to decide how Brady's recent scandal affects his legacy.

QB Drew Brees

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One of the great passers in the history of the game, Drew Brees has the numbers, consistency and longevity to warrant a place in Canton.

There have been a total of eight single-season passing performances of 5,000-plus yards in NFL history, and Brees has produced four of them. In 2014, he fell just short of that mark by throwing for 4,952 yards—which was still good enough to tie for the league lead (with the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger).

A second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers back in 2001, Brees elevated his game after signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2006. In 14 NFL seasons, he has piled up 56,033 yards through the air and 396 touchdown passes—both the fourth-highest totals in league history.

The Saints will have a new-look offense in 2015, but you can expect the same production from the veteran signal-caller.

WR Larry Fitzgerald

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While Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has shown signs of slowing down in recent seasons—due in part to the many faces throwing him the football—he has certainly made his mark on the league.

You can find the third overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft on the league's all-time top 20 list with 909 career receptions. And despite the fact that he found the end zone just twice last season, he ranks 12th in league history with 89 touchdown catches.

Named to eight Pro Bowls in 11 seasons, Fitzgerald made his mark in the 2008 playoffs as the Cards advanced to Super Bowl XLIII. In four postseason games, he totaled an impressive 30 catches for 546 yards and seven touchdowns. The veteran wideout has nine touchdown grabs in seven playoff games overall.

This season, Fitzgerald will be hoping to catch a few more passes from veteran quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed the second half of 2014 with a torn ACL.

The combination of consistent production and his impressive postseason performances warrants Fitzgerald a spot among the greats at his position.

TE Antonio Gates

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In this day and age, a player going undrafted and succeeding is a lot more common than in the years when the draft was made up of 12, 17 or even more rounds.

But it is safe to say that San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has exceeded expectations in his 12 NFL seasons. He's coming off a year in which he recorded 69 receptions, 12 for touchdowns. For his career, the former Kent State product has totaled 788 catches for 10,014 yards and 99 scores—the latter tied for ninth in league history.

As we know, the eight-time Pro Bowler will be suspended for the first four games of this upcoming season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

"When I got the information I was shocked," Gates told Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com earlier this week. "I knew coming into minicamp (in June) that I was dealing with it. But a four-game suspension was never in my mind."

Perhaps the bigger question in due time is whether this issue is on the mind of Hall of Fame voters once we get to that stage. And while the suspension is certainly a strike against Gates, eight Pro Bowl invitations and 99 touchdowns can’t be ignored.

WR Andre Johnson

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Andre Johnson will be doing it in a different uniform this season, but the bottom line is that the former Houston Texans wideout turned Indianapolis Colts receiver will continue to do it.

In 12 seasons with the Texans, the third overall pick of the 2003 draft has totaled 1,012 catches, ninth in NFL history. His 13,597 receiving yards are topped by only 11 players in league annals.

Now the former Miami Hurricane is set to begin anew with the Colts and a young, talented quarterback in Andrew Luck. Could Johnson, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has totaled 100-plus receptions five times in his career, see his numbers climb significantly?

He's coming off a season in which he totaled 85 grabs, and should he equal that total in 2015, he would move into fifth place in NFL history in receptions.

Johnson is one of just 10 players in league history with 1,000-plus catches. As we know, that’s no guarantee when it comes to a spot in the Hall. But his consistency (60-plus receptions in 11 of 12 seasons) and seven Pro Bowl invites make for a very strong case.

C Nick Mangold

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When it comes to durability, center Nick Mangold has been close to perfect. He has played and started in 141 out of a possible 144 games since being selected 29th overall in the 2006 draft. The New York Jets also made tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson a first-round selection that year, and the tandem has been linked together ever since.

In nine seasons, the former Ohio State product has been named to six Pro Bowls and has earned First-Team All-Pro honors twice. In five of those seasons, the Jets ranked in the league’s top 10 in terms of rushing yards per game, including third in the NFL in 2014.

When you look at the Hall of Fame centers such as Dwight Stephenson, Mike Webster, Jim Langer and Dermontti Dawson (to name a few), they all excelled for a long period of time. Or, in the case of Stephenson, the former Dolphins star’s career was a cut above the rest before injuries shortened his career. Mangold fits this mold to a T.

QB Peyton Manning

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There were questions this offseason about the status of a certain 39-year-old quarterback.

But Denver Broncos signal-caller Peyton Manning has already spent 16 seasons on the field, and they have been sensational. He's played a total of 256 regular-season games and thrown an NFL-record 530 touchdown passes. The first overall pick in the 1998 draft by the Indianapolis Colts also has 69,691 passing yards, second in league history to Brett Favre (71,838).

Sometimes, the emphasis is placed on what Manning hasn't done in the postseason, even though he's made the playoffs 14 times in 16 years with the Colts and Broncos. He has reached the Super Bowl three times, and he's walked away with one title.

Of course, you may be missing the boat if your sole focus on what Manning has failed to do come playoff time. He’s on the verge of owning every significant passing record in NFL history, which says an awful lot. His individual greatness speaks for itself.

DE/OLB Julius Peppers

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Be it at defensive end or outside linebacker, talented defender Julius Peppers has always had a nose for the ball—as well as hands.

As he enters his second season with the Green Bay Packers, after successful years with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears, the second overall pick in 2002 has not shown many signs of slowing down.

The production has been impressive to say the least (although there was that one perplexing season in which he totaled just 2.5 sacks with the Panthers in 2007). The resume includes 125.5 sacks, 46 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions.

Peppers is an eight-time Pro Bowler (all at defensive end) who’s missed just six games in 13 seasons. Could he earn similar honors at outside linebacker with the Pack in 2015? In any case, he’s one of the better athletes to play this game, and his playmaking ability—witness those 11 interceptions as well as 13 blocked kicks—gives him a pretty complete resume.

RB Adrian Peterson

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It's been a forgettable few months for Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, but that's a matter for another time.

Here, we will focus on his on-field accomplishments, which include six Pro Bowl invitations and a half-dozen seasons of 1,200-plus yards on the ground. In both 2008 and 2012, he led the NFL in rushing, and in that latter season, he amassed the second-highest single-season total in league annals with 2,097 yards.

Peterson also owns the NFL record for rushing yards in a game (296 yards vs. the San Diego Chargers in 2007). In 104 regular-season games, he has 2,054 carries for 10,190 yards and 86 touchdowns. The all-time leading rusher in Vikings history has scored 91 total touchdowns and will look to add to his numbers this season after playing only 15 games over the past two years.

Combine his already impressive career numbers with a few record-setting or near-record performances and your own eyes tell you that Peterson is one of the better runners of any generation. His relentless style and eye-popping highlights are proof of his greatness, and there apparently may be more to come.

CB Darrelle Revis

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The 14th overall pick in 2007, Revis is now back with the team that bestowed that distinction upon him.

In eight NFL seasons, he has split his time between the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. His stint with the latter team resulted in a Super Bowl XLIX victory.

Sometimes the numbers don't do a cornerback justice. Revis has nabbed a modest 23 interceptions in eight campaigns, with 14 of those coming in his first three seasons. It's safe to say that opposing quarterbacks have learned to avoid trips to the "island."

After spending his first six seasons with the Jets, the team dealt him to the Bucs in 2013 following a season in which he had suffered a knee injury in Week 2 at Miami. He spent one year in Tampa before the club released him, and he wound up in Foxborough. During his lone season with the Pats, he looked as good as ever.

Now it's back to New York after New England failed to pick up the option on his contract. For the Jets and their fans, it is a welcome return.

Perhaps most importantly, Revis is a standout at his position where there are very few these days. That’s because the current environment on defense certainly favors the pass-catcher. Totaling a sizable amount of receptions in a game against the talented Revis has proven to be futile, however.

T Joe Thomas

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Talk about perfection.

How would you like to start your NFL career by being named to the Pro Bowl in every season you play?

There have not been a lot of positives surrounding the Cleveland Browns since their resurrection in 1999, but left tackle Joe Thomas has been one of them. The third overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, he's an eight-time Pro Bowler. He's also started every single one of a possible 128 games and been named a first-team All-Pro five times.

Unfortunately, Thomas' stellar play hasn't resulted in much success for the team overall, though that's certainly not his fault. Over the course of his eight seasons with the Browns, Thomas has played with 14 different starting quarterbacks and under five head coaches.

Speaking of 14, that’s the record for Pro Bowl invitations by any player (Hall of Famers Merlin Olsen and Bruce Matthews, as well as Tony Gonzalez and Peyton Manning). Thomas is already more than halfway there.

PK Adam Vinatieri

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As followers of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are aware, there is only one pure place-kicker enshrined in Canton.

That would be Jan Stenerud, who was best known for his days with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Could the second be Adam Vinatieri, who ranks fourth in NFL history in both scoring (2,146) and field goals (478, tied with John Carney) after 19 seasons with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts?

The undrafted free agent has played in a league-record 30 postseason games and scored more playoff points (234) than any other player. And that includes some of the most important kicks in the history of the postseason.

Just to be clear, there are three other kickers—Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson and Jason Hanson—who have scored more points and booted more field goals than Vinatieri. They certainly warrant Hall of Fame consideration as well.

TE Jason Witten

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The Dallas Cowboys are looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1995 season, and they now feature a pretty potent and productive group of wideouts in Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley.

But they still have Mr. Reliable, tight end Jason Witten, who has run over and through opposing secondaries for a dozen seasons.

Witten's 943 receptions are tied for 13th place in NFL history, and he's collected 10 Pro Bowl invitations, not bad for a third-round draft choice from the University of Tennessee.

As a rookie, Witten played in 15 contests and totaled 35 catches. He hasn't missed a game in the past 11 years and has grabbed at least 60 receptions in each of those seasons, including 110 in 2012. That’s what you call reliability.

Those kinds of attributes, along with his consistent production and standout play at his position, are what make him a certainty when it comes to a place in the Hall of Fame. More than just numbers, Witten is a complete player.

DB Charles Woodson

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Charles Woodson is preparing for his 18th NFL season, including his third with the Oakland Raiders since returning to the Bay Area, and the veteran ball hawk has certainly made his presence felt in more than one Bay.

That would be in reference to the eight-time Pro Bowler's days with the Green Bay Packers. From 2006 to 2012, he tallied 38 interceptions (nine returned for touchdowns) and walked away with a Super Bowl ring after the 2010 season. His 60 career interceptions rank 11th in NFL history; 22 of those have come in two stints over 10 seasons with the Silver and Black.

Woodson's 11 interception returns for touchdowns are one short of the NFL record, which is owned by Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, who also enjoyed a stint with the Raiders.

On the Right Path

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The following nine players have what it takes to wind up in Canton, Ohio. In the case of all nine, it’s simply a matter of longevity at this point in their respective careers. While the majority of these performers have been on the field for 10 or more years, there are certain positions (such as the offensive skill spots) that often require even longer-than-normal careers.

WR Anquan Boldin

Boldin has made his share of stops around the NFL in 12 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens and currently the San Francisco 49ers. He is tied for 15th in NFL history with 940 career receptions, and his 12,406 receiving yards are 19th on the all-time list. The reliable wide receiver still owns the rookie record for catches in a season (101 with the Cardinals in 2003).

RB Frank Gore

Now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Gore is not only the leading rusher in San Francisco 49ers history; his 11,073 yards on the ground rank 20th in NFL history. The 10-year pro has rushed for 1,000-plus yards eight times and been named to five Pro Bowls.

WR Calvin Johnson

Even in an injury-plagued year, the physically imposing Johnson (6'5", 236 lbs) put up solid numbers in 2014 with 71 catches for 1,077 yards and eight touchdowns. But it is his career that we are focusing on here, and in eight seasons with the Detroit Lions he's totaled 643 catches for 10,405 yards and 74 scores. In 2012, he had a season for the ages with 122 receptions for five touchdowns and an NFL-record 1,964 yards. The five-time Pro Bowler is as dangerous as they come in the passing game.

QB Eli Manning

The first overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft, Manning has certainly had his ups and downs. The positives include a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants; in both instances, he was the game's MVP. The negatives include his turnovers; he has thrown 185 interceptions, which ranks 33rd all-time. The talented passer has made 167 consecutive regular-season starts and counting, and he stands 15th all-time in passing yards (39,755) and 13th in touchdown passes (259).

QB Philip Rivers

The San Diego Chargers' Rivers and Eli Manning will forever be linked because of the fact that they were traded for each other on the first day of the draft in 2004. The 11-year pro has started every game dating back to the 2006 season for a string of 144 in a row. He ranks 20th all-time in passing yards (36,655) and 16th in touchdown passes (252).

QB Aaron Rodgers

It's safe to say Rodgers has not had your typical 10-year NFL career. That's because the two-time league MVP and Super Bowl XLV champion (and MVP) saw action in just seven games (zero starts) in his first three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. In those contests, he threw one touchdown pass and one interception. That means over the course of the last seven years, Rodgers has launched 225 scoring passes and been picked off just 56 times.

QB Ben Roethlisberger

Watching the Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller develop into one of the more complete quarterbacks in the league has been impressive. Last season, the two-time Super Bowl champion, who has taken his team to the Big Game three times, tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 passing yards. His 251 career touchdown passes and 39,057 passing yards place him in the league's all-time top 20 in both categories.

WR Steve Smith

The all-time leading touchdown scorer in Carolina Panthers history, Smith joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 after 13 seasons in Charlotte. His career resume includes 81 touchdowns as a pass-catcher (73), rusher (two), punt returner (four) and kickoff returner (two). Of course, there are also those 915         receptions for 13,262 yards, ranking 18th and 14th, respectively, in NFL history.

DE J.J. Watt

Yes, the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has played just four seasons, but what seasons they have been. In 2014, Watt notched 20.5 sacks for the second time in three years, bringing his total to 57 in 64 regular-season games. We also saw him catch three touchdown passes as a tight end in 2014; combined with his defensive scores, he finished fourth on the Houston Texans with 32 points (five touchdowns and a safety). There's no truth to a rumor that he will play quarterback for the team in 2015.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com.