Buy or sell: First-time eligible players for 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, headlined by Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, took its place in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday afternoon.

Now that this year's class has their gold jackets, let's take a look ahead to some players who will be first-time eligible in 2027 and buy or sell their Hall of Fame chances. Both as part of the 2027 class, or in future classes.

Adrian Peterson, running back

Notable team: Minnesota Vikings

Peterson checks just about every box for a Hall of Fame running back due to an elite peak where he was the best player at his position for several years, while also having the durability and longevity to rack up big numbers and individual awards.

He led the NFL in rushing three times, was a four-time first-team All-Pro, an Offensive Player of the Year, and a league MVP. 

He is also currently the NFL's fifth-leading rusher with 14,918 yards, while also having scored 126 touchdowns (11th most all-time).

Buy or sell: Buy as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rob Gronkowski, tight end

Notable teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While Gronkowski's career numbers do not put him at the top of the league's tight end all-time leaderboards, there might not have been a more physically dominant player at the position in NFL history.

He is 11th on the all-time tight end list for catches, fifth in yards and third in touchdowns, and he did all of that while playing in just 143 games.

He also has four first-team All-Pro honors and three Super Bowl rings.

Buy or sell: Buy as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Richard Sherman, cornerback

Notable teams: Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers

Sherman was one of the best lockdown cornerbacks of his era and the focal point of the Legion of Boom defense that took the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning one of them.

He has three first-team All-Pro honors and led the league in interceptions one time. 

His peak was very short as injuries limited the second half of his career, but it was a dominant peak early on.

Buy or sell: Buy as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger is going to be an interesting case for 2027. He was, without question, one of the best quarterbacks of his era and has two Super Bowl rings, while going to a third. But he has no major individual awards, never received a single MVP vote, and only twice led the league in any major category (two times in passing yards).

Eli Manning, with two Super Bowl MVP awards and no other major milestones, is still not in yet. 

Roethlisberger might have to wait.

Buy or sell: Sell as a first ballot, but buy as an eventual inductee.

Andrew Whitworth, offensive tackle

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams

Consistent. Durable. And a vital cog for both the Bengals and Rams for nearly two decades, with two first-team All-Pro honors. 

To get in as a first-ballot offensive lineman, you have to be dominant. And while Whitworth had an outstanding career with impressive longevity for a lineman, it might not be enough for the first ballot.

Buy or sell: Sell as first-ballot, but buy as an eventual inductee.

Antonio Brown, wide receiver

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The most fascinating player on this list, and the most fascinating debate. 

His resume is absolutely Hall of Fame worthy.

He was the best wide receiver in the NFL for a solid six years in a row, earning four first-team All-Pros and finishing in the top three of Offensive Player of the Year three times. 

The eye test for him was even better.

Talent and numbers? He should be a lock.

But his off-field controversies and the chaos that followed him around as a player and after are going to rub voters the wrong way. He might have a long wait. It also might be a permanent wait.

Buy or sell: Sell as a first ballot, buy as an eventual inductee many years down the line

Cam Newton, quarterback

Primary team: Carolina Panthers

At his peak, Newton was one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, and his 2015 season was legendary as a stand-alone season.

But his peak was very short-lived, and while he does have an MVP award, he never led the league in any major passing category, while also having no Super Bowl rings. That's a lot to overcome for a quarterback.

Buy or sell: Sell. Outstanding career, but probably not Hall of Fame.