According to
Positions - Pro Football Hall of Fame, there are 19 modern era WRs. At least that is the number in parentheses there. But the list below only contains 17 names. Does anyone know if the number is truly 17 or 19, and, if 19, who the missing two players are?
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Observations/thoughts:
1. 17 modern era WRs have been inducted since 1968. That is 17 in 38 classes, or about 1 every 2.2 classes.
2. 6 WRs have been inducted in the past 11 classes, which may indicate a slight acceleration in the rate. This is reasonable, given the rule changes from 1974 to 1978 that opened up the passing game. However, one of those players was an Old-timer committee nominee, not sure if or how much that matters. Regardless, it is hard for me to see more than 5-6 WRs being inducted within any given 10 year period... I can't see that much of an acceleration of the WR rate.
3. I'm less familiar with the players in the early 1970s, so I'm not sure of this, but I believe Hayes, Irvin, and Monk are the only finalist WRs in the past 25 years or so not yet inducted. I doubt Hayes will make it, and it is a bit odd that he suddenly appeared as a finalist for one year in 2004, having been eligible since 1981, but I think this probably bodes well for Monk and Irvin.
4. As noted, this is Reed's first year of eligibility. Carter will be eligible in 2008. Tim Brown & Rice will both be eligible in 2010. IMO all of these guys will (and should) make it, and I could see these 4 plus Irvin and Monk making it over the next 10 years. I think this amazing set of WRs pretty much eliminates any chance for any other guys like (e.g., Fryar, Sharpe, or Rison) to sneak in there during that span.
5. It will presumably be another 7+ years before Harrison, Owens, Moss, Rod Smith, Jimmy Smith, McCardell, Bruce are eligible, depending on when they retire. Personally, I would expect Harrison, Owens, and Moss to ultimately make it, and none of these others. But it's just too hard to see 7-15 years into the future how players will measure up against each other and against history.