ESPN: Fitzgerald, Peterson with best chance at HOF

ESPN: Of the Cardinals, Fitzgerald and Peterson have best chance at HOF

Aug 4, 2016, 6:05 AM

Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald makes a catch during practice at the NFL football teams training camp, Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

BY TYLER DRAKE

Cardinals reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

The Arizona Cardinals are poised for a big year, and much of that is thanks to a roster of talented players, some of whom have a chance to one day enter the Hall of Fame.

But which of those Cardinals actually have a shot at becoming Hall of Famers?

ESPN writer Bill Barnwell took a look at the current NFL players and determined—based on level of play, injury history and career arcs—which ones have the best chance to end up in Canton.

It’s not surprising that Larry Fitzgerald is by far the most likely Cardinal to reach Canton. In 2015, he had 109 receptions for 1,215 yards, which was in the top-10 among receivers in yards, and nine touchdowns. Since 2004, he has 1,018 receptions for 13,366 yards and 98 touchdowns.

Larry Fitzgerald was probably a lock for the Hall of Fame already, but his resurgent 2015 campaign just about sealed things up. Fitz has only been a first-team All-Pro once, but he now has nine Pro Bowl appearances in 12 years. Only nine other wideouts since the merger have made it to as many as seven Pro Bowls. Five are in the Hall of Fame, one (Marvin Harrison) is going in this weekend and another (Andre Johnson) will be in once he’s eligible. 95 percent

Cornerback Patrick Peterson has been one of the main pieces for Arizona since he came into the league in 2011, and he’s the next most-likely HOF candidate on the team. He has 246 tackles, 17 interceptions and has played on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals.

Patrick Peterson is off to about as good of a start to a career as you can imagine. During his first five seasons, the former LSU star has made five Pro Bowls and been named a first-team All-Pro three times (once for his return work). Only 12 HOF-eligible players since the merger have made it to the Pro Bowl in each of their first five seasons, and eight were enshrined. 70 percent

Outside linebacker Chandler Jones has a chance at the Hall of Fame, but at 20 percent, it’s anything but certain. In New England, he strung together 211 tackles with 36 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in four seasons. He will look to improve on his career-high in sacks, 12.5, in his first season with the Cardinals.

Calais Campbell, Tyrann Mathieu and Carson Palmer all received a 1-10 percent chance at making the HOF.

Mathieu’s injuries and small sample size have hampered his stock even though, when he does make it on the field, he adds another dimension to the defense. Palmer will need to put up more numbers like he did in his 2015 campaign for a chance at making the Hall of Fame. And at almost 30-years-old, Campbell is likely the biggest longshot out of the three to reach the Hall of Fame.

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