Grading future Hall of Fame chances of AFC North stars entering 2020

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 03: General exterior view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame prior to the NFL Hall of Fame preseason game between the Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 3, 2017 in Canton, Ohio. Dallas won 20-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals

Geno Atkins, DT

Atkins quietly built a Hall of Fame résumé during the 2010s. The Georgia product joined Cincinnati as a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. That’s the same year Linval Joseph, Gerald McCoy, and Ndamukong Suh entered the NFL. While all three of those interior defensive linemen had several great seasons, none of them maintained a Pro Bowl level of play for as long as Atkins.

This past year, Atkins made his eighth Pro Bowl. Along with his two First-Team All-Pro selections, those eight standout seasons give Atkins a good shot at making the Hall of Fame. I wouldn’t classify him as a first-ballot Hall of Fame though.

Verdict: 86 percent

A.J. Green, WR

A few years ago, it looked as though Green could lock up a gold jacket before his 32nd birthday. Unfortunately, injuries stole the past year and a half of Green’s stellar career. After opening his career with seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections, Green hasn’t played a game since Dec. 2, 2018. His 8,907 receiving yards are admirable but not historic.

Verdict: 59 percent

Joe Mixon, RB

Mixon doesn’t have a Pro Bowl to his name yet, but the 24-year-old deserves credit for performing well behind a horrendous offensive line. Despite the Bengals benching Andy Dalton for Ryan Finley at one point last season, Mixon continued chugging along. He’s racked up 2,931 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns through his first three seasons.

Verdict: 15 percent

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