5 former 49ers who should be Hall of Famers before Julian Edelman

No. 1: 49ers Running Back Roger Craig

Four-Time Pro Bowler, One-Time First-Team All-Pro

If there’s a No. 1 snub among all Niners players who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s running back Roger Craig.

Almost every year, the movement for Craig to get into the Hall of Fame remains, yet each year, those hopes are dashed. Exactly why that’s the case is anyone’s guess, but let’s not take away the fact Craig had a Hall of Fame-kind of career over 11 seasons that saw him earn four Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection.

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Whereas Edelman never led the league in receptions, receiving yards or any regular-season receiving category of any kind, Craig actually led all offensive players with 92 receptions in 1985 (as a running back, mind you) and had two seasons in which he generated 2,000-plus all-purpose yards (1985 and 1988) leading the NFL the latter year with 2,036.

Craig also had 73 all-purpose regular-season touchdowns, too, compared to Edelman’s 36.

Craig has the rings, if that’s still an argument, with three. And while Edelman’s total yardage in the playoffs is far above what Craig had over 18 postseason games (1,447), one can’t overlook the fact Craig revolutionized the position, becoming the first major standout as a dual-threat running back who could impact the game both on the ground and through the air.

While good in his own right, Edelman wasn’t exactly a revolutionary player.

If Edelman gets into the Hall of Fame, Craig should absolutely be greeting him there.