Antonio Gates, Jahri Evans, Steve Wisniewski, Marshal Yanda, Willie Anderson, Jared Allen, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs
Not a prediction, just who I would vote for. As conace said, slightly underwhelmed by the choices.
BREAKING: the 2025 semifinalists are here (and Eli is in)
Re: BREAKING: the 2025 semifinalists are here (and Eli is in)
Those would be great choices. Unfortunately, voters removed Wisniewski.
To me, what makes this group underwhelming is the preemptive rejection of great candidates who voters never bring to the room. This year they sent three All-Decade guys to the senior pool without ever once discussing their cases in 20 years: Cornelius Bennett, Ben Coates, Neil Smith. Then they rejected Watters, Webb and Wisniewski, again failing to bring them into the room.
Their achievements should have gotten them into the room long ago, but their accolades should have too, since they were all honored broadly by many of the same voters who have now rejected them:
* CORNELIUS BENNETT: 1988 unanimous AP1; 2x AP DPOY votes; 2x UPI AFC DPOY; 1990s All-Decade
* BEN COATES: AP1 in 1994 and 1995 for AP, PFW, TSN; AP2 1998; 1990s All-Decade
* NEIL SMITH: 1993 AP1 for AP and PFW; 2x AP DPOY votes; 1990s All-Decade
* RICKY WATTERS: 1x OPOY votes; 3x UPI 2nd team All-NFC
* RICHMOND WEBB: 1992 AP1 for AP, TSN; 1994 AP1 for AP, TSN, PFWA; 2x AP AP2; 1990 ROY for TSN, PFWA, S.I.; 1990s All-Decade
* STEVE WISNIEWSKI: AP AP1 1991 and 1992, and AP AP2 1990, 1993-1996, 2000 (8X AP AP total); major AP1s from other media bodies in 1990-1994; 1990s All-Decade
Not listed here are a smattering of All-Conference selections from the UPI. Also not mentioned are the NEA honors voted on by players, some of whom are also PFHOF voters today. Webb, for instance, was voted OL of the Year 2x by his peers.
If voters spent more time looking at the entire ballot, the finalist round would be much more compelling.