If It Were Me

By John Turney

Writers, researchers, historians, drafniks, analytics followers, fans, you name it, enjoy playing games of "What If"... as in: What if they were the coach or GM of their favorite team? What would they do or whom would they draft? 

It's a form of second-guessing that's more a source of entertainment, and it doesn't just apply to games or draft boards. It can apply to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, too. 

And it will. Now.

As a writer, researcher and fan of pro football, I sometimes wonder: Whom would I choose if I were on the Hall's board of selectors? Not the ones I think will be elected. But the ones I thought were most deserving. What if I had that opportunity?

Well, now I do. So, I'm choosing my Class of 2024.

I'll ignore the four senior and coach/contributor nominees because I presume they all make it. It's just a "yes" or "no" vote, with 80 percent approval needed. So barring something bizarre, they should all make it. But I'll just say that if I had a vote, I'd affirm all four -- coach Buddy Parker, linebacker Randy Gradishar, defensive tackle Steve McMichael, and receiver Art Powell.

So, who would be my five modern-era candidates? 

First is Julius Peppers. Given that Jason Taylor was a first-ballot selection in 2017, there's no reason not to give Peppers the same honor. In my mind, neither matches up to the only previous first-ballot defensive ends -- the Mr. Rushmore at that position -- Gino Marchetti, Deacon Jones, Reggie White and Bruce Smith. We know them all by their first names.

But Peppers did have a career roughly the same as Taylor, enough to easily make him the top name on this year's finalist list.

Patrick Willis would be next. The 49ers' linebacker has the most first-team All-Pros among all the final 15. He was a tackling machine and did tremendous work in both the run game and coverage. In fact, coverage may have been his forte.

His career was cut short after eight seasons because of a foot injury, so his peak was not that long. But it was extremely high.

It's clear to me that Andre Johnson is the top wide receiver and one of the best five players among the finalists. He's just different than Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.

He's a true No. 1 receiver and someone who, at his peak, was a bigger problem for defenses. Imagine what he'd have done with an elite quarterback like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady ... or even a few seasons with Kurt Warner.

Even so, he had three 1,500-yard receiving seasons, including one after the age of 30. He's ranked third in my book of these finalists.

Tight end Antonio Gates would be my fourth. Of all the pass catchers -- regardless of position -- in the final 15, Gates had the most touchdown catches (116).  Incredibly, he has more touchdown receptions than most of the Hall-of-Fame pass catchers, with only six ahead of him -- Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Cris Carter, Marvin Harrison and Larry Fitzgerald.

You may recognize those names. Pretty good work for a tight end who has to block some of the time.

While he may not fit the classic first-ballot definition, he is one of the top five on the ballot this year. His stats, plus his All-Pro resume -- a three-time All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler and 2004 NFL Alumni Tight End of the Year -- make him my fourth pick.

It may surprise you that Devin Hester would be my fifth.

It shouldn't. 

And yes, I know the arguments against his case: That he was a specialist and the Hall should be for position players or that a returner doesn't have enough impact on games. Okay, then take out the two kickers and punter.

The reason Hester belongs is that he's not only the G.O.A.T. at his position, but he's so far ahead of the field he's a phenom. He had 20 non-offensive touchdowns (most ever in NFL history) and combined for 19 combined kick/punt return touchdowns, also the most. His 14 punt returns are four more than the next player on the list.

He has a hold on the return record book the same way Jerry Rice has a hold on the receiving record book. Both top most of the lists.

Hester did play on some scrimmage plays at wide receiver and defensive back, but he was not quality at either. But if you kicked or punted to him, he'd make you pay big time. And, if you didn't, the Bears still gained good field position, as punts could be shortened or shanked and land out of bounds.

The same was true on kickoffs. He was avoided by squib kicks or kickoffs launched high and short to allow coverage teams to defend him. Even so, he was always a threat to take one to the house. Because of that dominance, he should get a bronze bust. In fact, if it were up to me -- which it's not -- he'd go in this year. He's one of the top five football players on the list.

But that's my opinion. We'll hear what voters have to say on Thursday, Feb. 8, when the Pro Football Hall of Fame reveals its Class of 2024 at the NFL Honors show.