Pro Football Hall of Fame potential is a description most often reserved for NFL players who are midway through or near the end of their careers, having displayed sustained dominance at the pro level.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback and current NFL Media analyst Ike Taylor, however, is calling his shot early on Ezekiel Elliott if the former Ohio State running back lands with the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft. The one caveat: good health all around.
"If their offensive line can stay healthy for Dallas, he's going to be a Hall of Famer, if this guy can stay healthy," Taylor said on The Roster Report. "I was impressed (at the combine). One, for his size. Two, if you just roll the tape and see this guy, guys didn't want to hit him. Then when I saw him in person, I was like 'I don't really want to hit this guy either.' This guy is built for speed, he's built (low) to the ground. ... Dallas, running behind that big offensive line, it's going to be scary when gets to that second level."
The Cowboys hold the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, and Elliott isn't expected to be chosen any sooner than that. Team owner Jerry Jones has said the team won't draft a quarterback with the No. 4 pick, and NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein has said he doesn't believe the club will take Elliott's college teammate, defensive end Joey Bosa. That doesn't exactly narrow things down to Elliott, but if Jones' word holds true and Zierlein is on target with the Bosa prediction, there are only so many other worthy options.
Elliott, coming off back-to-back 1,800-yard seasons with the Buckeyes, is certainly one of them.
As for the Hall of Fame, Taylor is making a bold prediction not only about Elliott's success, but about his career longevity, as well. It took Emmitt Smith 13 seasons with the Cowboys, 11 of them resulting in more than 1,000 rushing yards, to put Smith in the Hall.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
