The Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023 will officially be inducted on Aug. 3.
With less than a month until the annual event in Canton, Ohio, we're examining which players — past and present — on the league's 32 teams we think will one day receive a similar honor.
Here are three Indianapolis Colts who should eventually receive football immortality:
Guard Quenton Nelson
Unfortunately for the Colts, the pickings are slim regarding potential future HOFers, and Nelson might be their best bet now. A four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Nelson has been one of the top guards in the NFL since his rookie year.
The 28-year-old has allowed more than two sacks in a season just once in his six years, and if you take out his 2022 season, Nelson has allowed just five total sacks on 5,363 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus, which equates to one sack allowed every 1,072 snaps.
On top of that, he’s surrendered more than 24 pressures only once and never allowed more than 20 hurries or six QB hits in any season. Nelson will have a strong HOF case if he continues that kind of play for another eight to 10 years.
Running back Jonathan Taylor
This is another one about projecting what could be more than what’s already been accomplished. Taylor had a fantastic first two seasons in the NFL, combining for 2,980 yards and 29 touchdowns, but injuries derailed him in the last two years.
Taylor is only 25, and he’s already made a Pro Bowl, been a First-Team All-Pro, and led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Even if he keeps up his average pace of 1,145 rushing yards and 10 for another six or seven seasons, Taylor would be only 31 or 32 and rank close to the top 100 all-time in rushing yards and the top five all-time in rushing touchdowns. Those certainly sound like HOF credentials.
Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner
This is the longest shot of the group. Buckner has always been considered a top-10 defensive tackle, but he’s rarely mentioned in the same conversation with Aaron Donald, Jeffery Simmons or Chris Jones. But on paper, his resume looks good — three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, four seasons with eight or more sacks.
For Buckner to have Hall of Fame-level credentials, however, he will need at least a few seasons with double-digit sacks and probably another four or five Pro Bowls and two or three more All-Pro honors. He’s at 61 sacks right now, so if he can crack into the 100 to 115 range, which would put him right around the top 25 all-time, it would certainly strengthen his chances.
