Shortly after Marshal Yanda announced his retirement, a talk-radio host called to ask if the next stop for the former Baltimore Ravens’ guard was Canton -- and, if so, would it be as a first-ballot choice?

To which I answered, “Yes.” And “no.”

Yes, I think Yanda winds up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But, no, it won’t be as a first-ballot choice. In fact, it might take years, and let me explain.

Marshal Yanda was a premier right guard – maybe the best of his era – and has all the qualifications necessary for admission to Canton. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion.

No, he wasn’t all-decade, but stay tuned. Hall-of-Fame voters make their choices for the 2010-19 all-decade club this month, and Yanda is a slam-dunk choice to make it. So that would complete a resume that not only is Hall-of-Fame worthy but Hall-of-Fame ready.

So on to the next question: Does he make it on the first-ballot? I ask because when Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh introduced Yanda at this week’s retirement ceremony he called him a “first-ballot player.” And when a prominent network broadcaster last fall described Yanda, he, too, called him “a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” a description that’s tossed around far too liberally these days.

But, his supporters ask, if pass rusher Jason Taylor could make it on a first ballot … as he did in 2017 … why not Yanda? It’s a good question. After all, Taylor wasn’t a first-team all-decade pick, and he wasn’t chosen to as many Pro Bowls (6) or All-Pro teams (4) and didn’t reach a Super Bowl.

Ah, but there’s one thing they’re missing: Jason Taylor was a pass rusher. Marshal Yanda was a guard. And Hall-of-Fame voters are slow to warm up to guards.

Exhibit A: Former Steelers’ guard Alan Faneca. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, a Super Bowl champion, a first-team all-decade selection and a guy who missed only two games in a 13-year career. In essence, he's Marshal Yanda. But he didn’t make Canton on his first or second try. In fact, he’s still not there.

Granted he’s been a five-time finalist – and reached the final 10 the last three years – but he hasn’t been elected. And, yes, I’d be shocked if it didn’t happen in 2021. Then again, I was shocked when Jason Taylor was a first-ballot choice.

Exhibit B: Kansas City guard Will Shields. In 14 seasons he was named to 12 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams. He, too, was first-team all-decade and did not miss one game in a career that spanned 14 seasons and included 231 consecutive starts (with playoffs), an NFL record for right guards.

It took him four tries to reach Canton before he was enshrined.

I guess what I’m saying is that first-ballot elections for guards are as rare as Cincinnati playoff wins. In fact, the last pure guard to reach Canton in his first year of eligibility was John Hannah, widely considered the best guard ever.

That was 1991 … or the last year the Bengals won a playoff game.

Moreover, Hannah is the ONLY pure guard to make it as a first-ballot choice. I know, Jim Parker did it. So did Larry Allen, Forrest Gregg and Bruce Matthews. But they played multiple positions, not just guard.

So the bottom line is this: Marshall Yanda was a magnificent guard … the best in Baltimore Ravens’ history … and his next stop will be Canton. But he’ll have to wait. Because unless history takes a sharp U-turn, he won’t get there as a first-ballot choice.

Follow on Twitter @ClarkJudgeTOF