3 former NY Jets who should be Hall of Famers before Julian Edelman

3. Nick Mangold, C, NY Jets

The Jets recently saw one longtime stalwart center inducted into the Hall of Fame when Kevin Mawae was granted access to Canton just two years ago. Could his long-term successor be the next Jets’ great to be inducted?

It’s certainly possible.

Nick Mangold was selected 29th overall by the Jets in the 2006 NFL Draft. He, alongside fellow 2006 first-rounder D’Brickashaw Ferguson, helped anchor a Jets’ offensive line that was one of the best in the NFL for close to half a decade.

Mangold spent 11 seasons in green and white starting 164 career games including 82 consecutive contests from his rookie season in 2006 until 2011. During that time, he established himself as arguably the best center in football.

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The Ohio State product was named to seven Pro Bowls including every year except for one from 2008 to 2015 and was twice named first-team All-Pro. It wasn’t a coincidence that those two seasons came in 2009 and 2010 — the two years the Jets made the AFC Championship Game.

Mangold’s success helped catapult the Jets to four postseason victories in two seasons as he led the way for the NFL’s best rushing attack. He’s one of the best Jets of his era and one of the best offensive linemen of his generation.

Mangold will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2023 and while he may not be a first-ballot inductee, there’s a good chance that he ultimately makes it.

It’s hard to say he doesn’t deserve the recognition.

Next: 2. Joe Klecko