It could soon be time to carve out some more room for the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio. The Cardinals only have 24 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many of them coming from about half a century ago.
Larry Fitzgerald will almost certainly be the next Cardinals player to earn a gold jacket. Patrick Peterson, who recently retired as a Cardinal, has a chance as well. As far as current players go, Arizona just has a few players on a potential path to Canton.
Current Arizona Cardinals with the best chance at making the Hall of Fame
4. Kyler Murray
You have to project a major change in team success to see Kyler Murray making the Hall of Fame. He’s been good, but not great, for most of his career. While he shows flashes of top-ten quarterback play, Murray has failed to show the consistency necessary to be considered elite.
There’s still time to change that narrative, though. If Murray can make this team relevant, win a few playoff games, even make a Super Bowl run, Hall of Fame buzz could come. It’s still a long shot at this point in his career.
3. Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell is one of the more difficult Hall of Fame discussions in the NFL today. His longevity speaks for itself. He's about to begin his 19th season in the league, which makes him the longest-tenured defender currently in the league by a wide margin. He's made six Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.
Outside of Arizona's Super Bowl run in 2008, Campbell has never had the team success that most Hall of Famers enjoy. He's also never had a consistent stretch of being one of the top few defensive linemen in the league. Campbell's best hope is that his longevity and the respect he holds around the NFL will earn him a spot.
2. Budda Baker
Budda Baker has been one of the best safeties in the NFL for most of his career. In eight seasons, he's made seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams. He's racked up over 900 total tackles and seven interceptions.
The only issue is that he’s been surrounded by so many bad teams that most football fans don’t know how good he truly is. Without the name recognition that comes with playing for a large-market franchise, Baker’s chances of making the Hall of Fame are slim. If he lead an elite defense in a Super Bowl run, he’d have a solid argument.
1. Trey McBride
If any one current Arizona Cardinal has a realistic chance at making the NFL Hall of Fame, it’s Trey McBride. He’s only three years into his career, but he’s already one of the top three tight ends in the league. As the Cardinals (hopefully) continue to ascend, McBride will gain more recognition as the superstar that he is.
McBride has already been to one Pro Bowl in his young career. To put himself into Hall of Fame conversations, he'd need to make at least six or seven more appearances. Again, team success is a big factor. If the Arizona Cardinals don't become competitive soon, McBride may never get the recognition necessary to earn that gold jacket.