...I would like to try to determine who the non senior/old timer HOFers will be in the next 10 classes. Per the current guidelines, that means 40-50 HOFers.
Obviously, to be eligible to make the next 10 classes, any active player would have to retire before the 2013 season. So most of the people that will be in this group are likely already retired...
I think these guys are very likely to be HOFers in the next 10 classes:
QB - Favre
Assuming Peyton and Brady do not retire by 2013. Warner is an interesting candidate based on what he is doing this year to add to his past accomplishments... Certainly the lack of other QB candidates should only help Warner.
RB - Emmitt, Faulk, Martin, Bettis, Tomlinson
Assuming LT retires by 2013. Not sure if Alexander should make this list.
WR - Rice, Brown, Carter, Harrison, Bruce
Assuming Harrison, Owens, and Bruce retire by 2013 and Moss and Holt do not. Also assuming Owens is not in within first ballot or two due to character, and thus misses the cut. Not sure if Reed should make this list.
TE - Sharpe, Gonzalez
OL - Grimm, Kuechenberg, McDaniel, Allen, Pace, Ogden, Walter Jones, Shields, Roaf
Not sure all of these guys will make it within the 10 year window. Assuming those active will retire by 2013.
DL - Bruce Smith, Strahan, Sapp, Dent
Not sure if Jason Taylor should make the list.
LB - Brooks, Lewis, Seau, Derrick Thomas
Assuming Brooks and Lewis retire by 2013.
DB - Deion, Rod Woodson, Aeneas Williams
Not sure about full-time safeties. I don't think Lynch will make it. I think Harrison should but not sure voters will agree. I think Dawkins should, but I'm not sure he'll get in within the 10 year window.
Specialists - None
I don't think any are worthy. However, as a 7 time finalist Guy would appear to have a chance. That said, he's been eligible for 17 years, so it is not a given he'll make it. I think one of the problems he faces in any given year is that he'd have to be chosen over players at other positions that made greater impact for their teams - like everyone else mentioned in this post.
Coaches - Parcells
Assuming Parcells is really done. And assuming Belicheck does not retire in time. Parcells was already a 2 time finalist from previous retirement, but he returned to coaching and now has to wait to regain his eligibility. I suspect he didn't get in the first time in part because voters suspected he wasn't done.
Contributors - Tagliabue
Surprised he isn't already in.
That's 35. So there is room for 15 more guys I didn't include... like Warner, Alexander, Reed, Owens on an early ballot, Jason Taylor, Rodney Harrison, and several others.
Who do you think will make it? Note that will make it and should make it are different, though we can talk about both.