Pro Football Hall of Fame: Who are the big first-year nominees for 2019?

NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens gestures on the field in the second half against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ed Reed

With the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies winding down, it is never too early to look to next year. Who are the big first-year nominees in 2019?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame 48-member selection committee has spoken. The 2018 Hall of Fame class includes Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Brian Urlacher, Terrell Owens and Brian Dawkins. Of the five members selected Lewis, Moss and Urlacher are first ballot Hall of Famers. While it is not unusual to have first ballot Hall of Famers, having three in one year is a testament to these players’ ability.

Could there be three more first ballot hall of famers next year? Highlighting next year’s first year-nominees are safety Ed Reed, tight end Tony Gonzalez and cornerback Champ Bailey. All three players are certainly hall of fame worthy. But they face stiff competition from returning nominees Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce and Edgerrin James. Also, don’t underestimate a dark horse candidate like John Lynch who could make election difficult for Reed.

Let’s take a way too early look at next year’s big first-year nominees.

Ed Reed, Safety

Before getting to statistics, the most impressive aspect of Ed Reed’s game was his ability to line up all over the field to hide coverages. During Reed’s tenure, the Baltimore Ravens could line up Reed as a linebacker in a 46 front only to send him over 50 yards across the field for a cover-2 defensive shell. The fact that Reed could pull that off effectively makes him a sure fire hall of fame safety. His ability to line up all over to hide coverages made the Ravens defense completely unreadable pre-snap. He is a major reason that Ravens defense was historically good.

The statistics also bear this out. Reed is the owner of the two longest interception returns in NFL history (106 and 107 yards). He also has the most career yardage off interceptions with 1,590. He has seven career pick-sixes.

Ed Reed created the mold of free safety that NFL teams are now looking to duplicate. There was only one Ed Reed and he is a first ballot Hall of Famer. But how do Gonzalez and Bailey stack up?