Ranking the top 10 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists

1. Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers

Peppers is practically a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame after a 17-year career with three franchises. The former 2002 second overall pick for the Panthers, Peppers finished his career with 159.5 sacks, the fourth-most all-time, 175 tackles for loss, 52 forced fumbles, the second-most all time, 21 fumble recoveries, 11 interceptions, four interceptions returned for touchdowns and two fumbles returned for touchdowns. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 or more interceptions and at the time of his retirement ranked sixth all-time among defensive players with 266 games played.

Peppers was a nine-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro, the 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a member of both the 2000’s and 2010’s All-Decade teams. This is Peppers’ first year of eligibility and as a finalist and will likely have a bust in Canton by this time next year.