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Who will make up the Pro Football HOF class of 2017?
Former San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson hopes to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. USA TODAY Sports

Who will make up the Pro Football HOF class of 2017?

With the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame class being enshrined this weekend, it seems like a good time to look at who could be joining this year's honorees in the class of 2017.

There are a few prime candidates who will appear on the ballot for the first time. Some have a shot at getting in immediately, others may need to wait just a few years and some will be debated for years to come. There are others who have been on the ballot for a few years and just need some time to finally get enough votes. Others are fringe guys who just won't get over the top.

With that in mind, here are the players who have the best shot to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

LaDainian Tomlinson
You have to be more than merely good to share the "LT" nickname with one of the greatest players in NFL history, Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. LaDainian Tomlinson fits that bill perfectly.

At the time of his retirement in 2011, the new-era LT was fifth all time in rushing yards and second all time in rushing touchdowns, and his 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006 are still an NFL record — a record that earned him the NFL's MVP award. Add in his versatility as a blocker and receiver out of the backfield, and you have yourself as complete a back as you can find. For his career, Tomlinson hauled in 624 receptions for nearly 4,800 yards and 17 more scores, even catching 100 passes in 2003.

Of all the newbies, Tomlinson looks to be the best bet as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Jason Taylor
That 2006 season that LT dominated was also the year Jason Taylor won NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Taylor scored nine defensive touchdowns for his career, which is stunning for a defensive end. He also was named First-Team All-Pro three times, made six Pro Bowls and ranks sixth on the all-time sacks list.

That's not all. Taylor also has more fumbles returned for touchdowns (six) than anyone ever and led the NFL in sacks in 2002 with 18.5.

Taylor may not be as sure a lock as Tomlinson, but he is certainly going to be in the Hall very soon.

Kurt Warner
I understand the divide here. It wasn't like Warner had this extended career of excellence, and he did bounce around. But those three years in St. Louis at the beginning of his career and how he performed in Arizona at the end make him Hall-worthy.

Warner owns the three highest passing games in Super Bowl history. Yes, the top three of all time in the three shots he got. If not for Adam Vinatieri and Santonio Holmes, he may have three rings (of course, if not for a great open-field tackle at the 1-yard line, he may have zero). He has the seventh-best passer rating and third-best completion percentage of all time, and his postseason stats are even better.

He also won an MVP, made four Pro Bowls, was named to two First-Team All-Pro teams and is fifth in passing yards per game ever. His peaks may not have been as long as others, but his accomplishments make for a great Hall of Fame case.

Terrell Owens
On sheer talent, it's evident Terrell Owens is a Hall of Fame wide receiver. However, things aren't that simple for T.O.

Two things go against Owens. First, people don't like him. Second, receivers tend to have a longer wait to get into Canton than most other positions. T.O. deserves to be in there with the greats, as only Jerry Rice had more receiving yards and only Rice and Randy Moss had more receiving touchdowns. He is the only player in NFL history to score a touchdown against all 32 current teams ... and he's scored at least two against each team. Throw in his longevity, durability and honors — five First-Team All-Pro selections, six Pro Bowls and three seasons with the most receiving TDs in the league — and it's hard to leave him out forever.

Once the voters get over themselves, Owens will be in the Hall.

Brian Dawkins
He's a first-time nominee who should get in at some point. Dawkins was a nine-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro four times, leading the way for the Philadelphia Eagles' sustained success during Andy Reid's tenure as head coach.

He may not get in right away, but it shouldn't take long for Weapon X to be enshrined in Canton.

Terrell Davis
Denver Broncos great Terrell Davis presents one of the biggest debates in Hall of Fame worthiness. He was certainly a great back, but he had a short career and even shorter prime.

Only Jim Brown and Barry Sanders ... who also had short careers ... averaged more rushing yards per game for their careers than Davis, however, and his league-leading 2,008 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns in 1998 earned him MVP along with a Super Bowl. He also made three straight Pro Bowls and three straight First-Team All-Pro teams.

I think he is a Hall of Famer. Now, will it be 2017 when he gets the call? I'm not that sure, but he deserves to be there.

Morten Andersen
Andersen is the NFL's all-time leader in games played and points scored. I know he's "just" a kicker and only one (Jan Stenerud) has become a Hall of Famer, but Andersen deserves to be the second.

Hines Ward
Ward won't get in on his first ballot. As I stated with Owens, it is hard for a receiver to get in the Hall, and Ward doesn't have the mind-numbing numbers that guys during his era had.

However, Ward was more than just a big-time playmaker. He did the grunt work that many receivers don't feel the need to do. He was one of the best blocking receivers of all tim,e plus he even scored a kick return for a touchdown as Bane was destroying Gotham's football stadium.

Alan Faneca
The former Steelers great is an interior linemen, and there isn't any concrete stats that go into who gets in and who doesn't. However, Faneca was on the all-2000s team, and people who pay attention to guys like Faneca know he's among the best to ever play.

He made nine Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro six times, so he's certainly worthy of consideration.

John Lynch
The hard-hitting Lynch was one of the most feared safeties of his time. A two-time Hall finalist, Lynch may still need to wait a few years to get in, though he continues to have a case with nine Pro Bowls, two First-Team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs.

Joe Jacoby
Jacoby was a finalist last year and was a member of those great "Hogs" lines of the Washington Redskins in the 1980s. While that line is always looked upon fondly, only Russ Grimm has made the Hall. Jacoby did make it as a finalist last year, but has he done enough to push him to Canton?

Bob Sanders
Sanders was an elite player for a short time but was riddled with injuries. He only had six picks for his career, with such a short prime at a position that's historically tough to get in the Hall, Sanders is a long shot a best.

There are other names out there like Chad Johnson, Tommie Harris, Larry Johnson and Ricky Williams, though none of them have a legitimate shot at being elected next year. They better hope that voters smile on them soon, however, as guys like Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Tony Gonzalez, Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Troy Polamalu will become eligible in the near future.

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