Julio Jones: Hall of Fame?

Falcons Wide Receiver Julio Jones has shown to be a top receiver in the NFL season after season, but will he get into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame?

Currently, Julio Jones sits with 7610 receiving yards, 497 total receptions, and 40 touchdowns in 79 games played. This performance was good enough to earn Jones four trips to the Pro-Bowl (2012, 2014-2016), and two appearances on the AP First Team All-Pro list (2015 & 2016). In fact, Jones finished top three in the NFL in receiving yards each of the last three seasons. Without question, he is one of the most dominant receivers in the game today.

No other receiver can take over a game like Jones, as he is one of only six wide receivers to ever post a 300 yard game, and the first to do so since Calvin Johnson had 329 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in 2013. Further, Jones has led the NFL in receiving yards per game over the last two seasons, and is the career leader in receiving yards per game with an average of over 96 yards every Sunday he suits up.

However, while this an impressive resume thus far, Jones would definitely not make his way into Canton if he never played a snap of football again.

Jones likely needs around 13,000 total receiving yards to get the attention of voters. This would put him along names like Steve Largent and Andre Reed, but also separate him very good players that aren’t Hall of Fame material like Muhsin Muhammad or Keyshawn Johnson.

More Pro-Bowls and All-Pro recognitions would certainly also help, as career accolades are also considered for Hall of Fame candidates. This would show that in addition to impressive statistics, Jones was also outperforming his competition.

Longevity is a major career trait that is most often required for members of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame, and Jones would need to play for much longer to have a chance at consideration for the Hall. There are currently only 25 wide receivers in the Hall of Fame from the modern era of the NFL, with an average career span of around 13 seasons.

Since Jones now has six seasons under his belt, he would likely need to play for at least three more seasons at his current level and three or four seasons more at an above average level. This would give him the longevity, the stats, and the accolades that he needs for a bust in Canton. Also, if Jones can continue to produce at his current level for three more seasons, he will be continuing to play as one of the best receivers in the NFL, meaning he will have dominated the league for six consecutive seasons. This would be a prime that players such as Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, or Jerry Rice have enjoyed.

Also, Jones shouldn’t have to worry about any character concerns or problems that have kept Terrell Owens out of the Hall of Fame. Jones has always been known to be respectful and even refrain from trash talk to let his plays do the talking for him.

The only major concern for Jones’ chances at the Hall is injury. He suffered a season ending injury in 2013, again in 2014, and missed some games this past season as well. There always seems to be a nagging injury with Jones, and turf toe seems to be what’s giving him trouble right now. If injuries cause Jones to miss significant time or stop Jones from being a top receiver in the league, then his chances at the Hall of Fame look unlikely.

Overall, Julio Jones is a great football player and will likely soon eclipse Roddy White as the best Falcons Wide Receiver of all time. As one of the best receivers in the game today, he has the chance and potential to make his way into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame if he can continue his dominance further into the future. Injuries are of course concerning for the star out of Alabama, but Jones is certainly capable of greatness.