Now that the annual festivities at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton have wrapped up and seven players have seen their busts enshrined inside the Ohio museum, it’s worth wondering who will make the cut this time next year, including a local favorite across North Carolina sports betting.
As the likes of Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael took their place in the history books, the next class that comes through Canton could include first-year candidates like Carolina Panthers legendary linebacker Luke Kuechly, New York Giants two-time Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning, running back Marshawn Lynch and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.
Throw in return candidates like Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, defensive end Jared Allen and running back Eddie George and you have an idea of the talent-laden roster of candidates to be enshrined in Canton in 2025.
With that in mind, BetCarolina.com broke down some hypothetical odds on which candidates have the best chance of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025, beginning with the Panthers’ former defensive mainstay.
Player | Position | Odds | Percent Chance |
Luke Kuechly | ILB | +135 | 42.5% |
Marshal Yanda | OG | +350 | 22.2% |
Eli Manning | QB | +500 | 16.7% |
Earl Thomas | S | +2000 | 4.8% |
Adam Vinatieri | K | +2000 | 4.8% |
Marshawn Lynch | RB | +3500 | 2.8% |
Terrell Suggs | OLB | +3500 | 2.8% |
Aqib Talib | CB | +7500 | 1.3% |
Joe Staley | OT | +7500 | 1.3% |
Keep tabs on the Panthers Super Bowl Odds all season at BetCarolina.com.
One of the most accomplished Panthers players of all time is on the ballot this cycle for the first time, as seven-time Pro Bowler Luke Kuechly looks to add another distinction to his football career. Kuechly retired from the NFL in 2019 (before he could help the Panthers on NC betting apps) wrapping up a 118-game run with Carolina that saw him pull in 18 interceptions while making 1,092 tackles, 75 tackles for loss and post an approximate value (via Pro-Football-Reference.com) of 107.
The five-time NFL All-Pro linebacker leads our Pro Football Hall of Fame odds board, at +135, ahead of Baltimore Ravens offensive guard Marshal Yanda (+350), Manning (+500), Earl Thomas and Adam Vinatieri (+2000 apiece).
Yanda was an eight-time Pro Bowl guard with Baltimore, posting an approximate value of 116 in 177 games (all with the Ravens) and anchoring the trenches for a franchise that won a Super Bowl in 2012.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler at QB for the Giants, twice knocking off Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl and posting an approximate value of 169 in 236 NFL games out of Ole Miss. The younger brother of Hall of Famer Peyton Manning finished his NFL career with a .500 record (117-117) but threw 366 touchdowns to 244 interceptions and threw for 57,023 yards, illustrating his value in the league during an unparalleled run of success in the Big Apple from 2004 to 2019.
Thomas thrived in the league from 2010 to 2019 for the Seattle Seahawks and Ravens, with an approximate value of 98 in 140 NFL games with 30 interceptions and seven Pro Bowl appearances to his name.
Vinatieri was perhaps the most clutch kicker in the NFL during his 365-game run with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, converting 599-of-715 field goal attempts and hitting two game-winning field goals to secure Super Bowl titles for the Pats against the St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers.
Then you have candidates like Marshawn Lynch, who used his “Beast Mode” mentality to run for 10,413 yards and 85 touchdowns across 149 NFL games, racking up an approximate value of 90 and helping the Seahawks win a Super Bowl.
Throw in Terrell Suggs, who made seven Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team (with 154 AV in 244 NFL games) for the Baltimore Ravens and you have both of the candidates listed at +3500 to make the Hall of Fame in 2024.
Longshot candidates for inclusion this year include former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib and offensive tackle Joe Staley, who are both listed at +7500 after the former posted 83 AV in 148 NFL games from 2008 to 2019, while the latter racked up 104 AV in 181 games along the trenches of the NFL from 2007 to 2019.
Player | Position |
Luke Kuechly | ILB |
Marshal Yanda | OG |
Earl Thomas | S |
Adam Vinatieri | K |
Joe Staley | OT |
Marshawn Lynch | RB |
Eli Manning | QB |
Ryan Kalil | C |
Darren Sproles | RB |
Clay Matthews III | OLB |
Travis Frederick | C |
Terrell Suggs | OLB |
Aqib Talib | CB |
Demaryius Thomas | WR |
Kyle Long | OG |
Vernon Davis | TE |
Lorenzo Alexander | LB |
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | DB |
Donald Penn | OT |
Antoine Bethea | FS |
CJ Anderson | RB |
USA Today photo by Jim Dedmon.
Author
Christopher Boan is a lead writer at BetCarolina.com specializing in covering state issues. He has covered sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
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