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3 Cleveland Browns who should be in the Hall of Fame before Julian Edelman

By Eddie McDonald

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots looks on before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots looks on before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Gary Collins (86) makes a catch as Washington Redskins cornerback Pat Fischer tries to break up the catch in a 27-23 win over the Washington Redskins on September 28, 1969 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nate Fine/NFL)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Gary Collins (86) makes a catch as Washington Redskins cornerback Pat Fischer tries to break up the catch in a 27-23 win over the Washington Redskins on September 28, 1969 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nate Fine/NFL) /

2. Gary Collins: Wide Receiver, 1962-1971

Back in the 1960s, the NFL was not a passing league by any means, especially in comparison to just the last 13 years that Edelman has played. With that being said, Gary Collins certainly put up Hall of Fame numbers for those times and they are comparable to Edelman’s to an extent.

In 127 career games, all with the Orange and Brown, Collins racked up 331 receptions for 5,299 yards. By comparison, Edelman had him beat in that regard with 620 receptions and 6,822 yards. That is also in 10 more games played during an era where quarterback Tom Brady was ascending up the all-time ranks slinging the rock.

Where it isn’t even close to a comparison between these two players is touchdowns. Collins hauled in 70 touchdowns, something that seems unheard of for that day and age. He had double-digit touchdown receptions in four seasons.

Edelman on the other hand, has just 36 career regular season touchdowns, and never had a single season in which he hit the 10 touchdown plateau. He lives in Patriots playoff lore by racking up the second-most receptions and yards, only behind Jerry Rice, including a 10-reception, 141-yard game en route to winning Super Bowl LIII MVP.

He has five career postseason touchdowns, where Collins has the same amount in significantly less games played.

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