A big part of determining which NFL teams are set up for future success is looking at how much young talent is on each roster. It’s important for a couple of reasons. Young players are still developing and could become even better, more productive players as they hit their peak years. They also come on cheap rookie contracts that help teams stay under the salary cap and give them room to sign older veteran free agents.
This year, the team with the most valuable young core might be obvious: the Texans. C.J. Stroud has already shown he can succeed in the NFL but still has a few years left on his rookie contract. And he shares a locker room with last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, a promising young pass rusher who may only get better in Will Anderson Jr.
It’s important to note that you don’t need to have youth to be a current Super Bowl contender. But young talent establishes how much success a team is likely to have over the longer term. So here is our ranking of every NFL team by its talent under 25 years old for this season. All ages are as of Sept. 1, 2024. (We didn’t do this exercise last year, so we went back and retroactively projected what the 2023 ranking would have been based on the same formula.)
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Methodology
As is our standard, we have created these rankings based on a combination of factors:
-
Number of starts made by players under 25 years old
-
Number of snaps played by players under 25 years old
-
Quality of play of players under 25 years old, age-adjusted to capture the fact that a 21-year-old player of X ability will likely improve more than a 23-year-old player of X ability — and with extra consideration given to Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections
-
Value and length of player contracts
-
Relative importance of positions, in particular with quarterbacks being more important and running backs, off-ball linebackers and specialists being less important than other positions
-
Draft value added in the 2024 draft
-
Expected key starters and reserves under 25 years old for teams in 2024
-
Significant injuries or suspensions that will affect the 2024 availability of players under 25 years old
2023 ranking: 1
Blue-chip players: QB C.J. Stroud, Edge Will Anderson Jr., CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Notable graduated players: S Jalen Pitre, WR Nico Collins
The Texans are easily No. 1 on this list. In the initial player values that I used to put together our list, the Texans have the top two players in under-25 value. Stroud is by far the No. 1 young asset in the NFL after he threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns and had the second-highest passing DYAR ever for a rookie (after Dak Prescott in 2016). Anderson is second after ranking third with a 25.8% pass rush win rate and collecting seven sacks and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award to match the Offensive Rookie of the Year award won by Stroud. Both players will turn 23 in the early part of the upcoming season.
But wait, there’s more! Stingley is still only 23 and is becoming one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He ranked 14th in coverage DVOA last season and snagged five interceptions. Second-round rookie Kamari Lassiter will likely start at cornerback opposite Stingley and is just 21. Wide receiver Tank Dell — who is 24 — had a surprisingly strong rookie season, totaling 709 yards and seven touchdowns before breaking his fibula. Dell ranked ninth among wideouts in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics.
Two of the starting offensive linemen, left guard Kenyon Green and center Juice Scruggs, are 23 and 24, respectively. Linebacker Christian Harris, who started 12 games a year ago, is just 23. And we haven’t even touched some of the depth players here, such as 23-year-old linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, 21-year-old rookie tackle Blake Fisher and wide receiver John Metchie III, a second-round pick from 2022 who will soon turn 24 after sitting out his rookie year due to a leukemia diagnosis and then playing sparingly in his second season.
The Texans would have been No. 1 on this list a year ago — even before we knew what Stroud, Anderson and Dell could be as pros. Now they lap the field.
1:28
Parker McCollum, Pat McAfee pumped for C.J. Stroud’s 2nd season
Country music artist Parker McCollum, Pat McAfee and A.J. Hawk break down what excites them about C.J. Stroud.
2023 ranking: 3
Blue-chip players: OT Penei Sewell, Edge Aidan Hutchinson, TE Sam LaPorta, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Notable graduated players: None
As you can tell by their placement on this list, the Lions aced the top of the past few drafts. We can certainly have some interesting arguments about positional value with the picks that Detroit made, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Sewell was a first-team All-Pro last season and is 23 years old. LaPorta is also 23 and set an NFL record for catches by a rookie tight end (86). Gibbs and Brian Branch are just 22, while first-round rookie Terrion Arnold is likely to be an NFL starter at 21.
The Lions also have several quality players who are 24 this season, led by one of the league’s top wide receivers in St. Brown. After catching a career-high 119 receptions for 1,515 yards, St. Brown signed a huge contract to keep him in Detroit. Hutchinson led the NFL in pressures and is also 24. So are linebacker Jack Campbell and edge rusher Josh Paschal. And don’t forget about 23-year-old wideout Jameson Williams, a former first-round pick whom the Lions are counting on to develop and finally reach his potential this season.
2023 ranking: 30
Blue-chip players: S Kyle Hamilton, WR Zay Flowers, C Tyler Linderbaum
Notable graduated players: LB Patrick Queen (left in free agency)
First-team All-Pro Hamilton leads the Ravens’ young talent as one of the most valuable defensive players in the NFL. He ranked first in success rate and fifth in coverage DVOA among safeties last season and is just 23 years old. Linderbaum made his first Pro Bowl last season after his second NFL season. He posted the fifth-best pass block win rate (96.4%) and is 24. The Ravens’ receiving corp is also youthful. Flowers, who led the team with 858 receiving yards, is 23; Rashod Bateman, who had 367 yards, is 24 years old.
Rookies Nate Wiggins (cornerback, Round 1) and Roger Rosengarten (right tackle, Round 2) will be starters. Tight end Isaiah Likely has started off strong with 784 receiving yards in his first two seasons and is 24. The Ravens will get even more value from young talent if certain young players can step into major roles this season. Coach John Harbaugh is high on 24-year-old edge rusher David Ojabo, who is finally healthy after battling ankle and knee injuries last season. Trenton Simpson will move into the starting lineup at linebacker next to Roquan Smith and is 23. And running back Keaton Mitchell had one of the best run DVOA ratings ever in limited time last season. He’s 22 and should return from a torn ACL at midseason.
2023 ranking: 8
Blue-chip players: QB Michael Penix Jr., RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts
Notable graduated players: CB A.J. Terrell
We hear a lot about the Falcons’ skill position talent, and those players are still very young. Robinson, London and Pitts all came into the league at age 21; Robinson is just 22 now, and London and Pitts are 23. Robinson played a key role for the Falcons as a rookie. He had 976 rushing yards on 214 carries and 487 receiving yards on 58 receptions. London has 1,771 receiving yards in two seasons, and Pitts has 2,049 receiving yards in three NFL seasons.
No. 8 overall pick Penix is old for a rookie quarterback (he turned 24 in May), and he may not play for a year or two. But as far as this ranking is concerned, the Falcons still have a top-10 quarterback prospect under 25.
The Falcons also have youth at left guard with Matthew Bergeron (24) and at defensive end with Zach Harrison (23). Second-round rookie defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro is 22, as is second-year starting cornerback Clark Phillips III.
2023 ranking: 12
Blue-chip players: QB Caleb Williams, OT Darnell Wright, WR Rome Odunze
Notable graduated players: OT Braxton Jones, S Jaquan Brisker, QB Justin Fields (traded)
Obviously, the Bears will finish high in a countdown of under-25 talent because they had this year’s No. 1 overall draft selection (Williams) and the No. 9 overall pick (Odunze). They also get a lot of value from last year’s first-round pick, 23-year-old Wright, who had an 89.5% pass block win rate in 2023.
Below the blue chips are several 24-year-old standouts who will graduate from this list in a year. We start with a couple of important cornerbacks. Tyrique Stevenson improved dramatically in the second half of his rookie year, registering with four interceptions and 86 tackles. Nickelback Kyler Gordon had seven starts and good charting metrics in 2023. We should see more from defensive tackle Zacch Pickens this year, and linebacker Jack Sanborn and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent are also 24.
2023 ranking: 28
Blue-chip players: OT Paris Johnson Jr., WR Marvin Harrison Jr., WR Michael Wilson
Notable graduated players: EDGE Zaven Collins
The Cardinals rise substantially up this list because their 2023 draft picks had strong rookie seasons. That starts with the 23-year-old Johnson, who will move from right tackle to left tackle this season. Edge rusher BJ Ojulari is 22 and had four sacks and 40 tackles a season ago. Wilson, who is 24, was tied for 24th in ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics in 2023 and contributed with 565 yards on 38 receptions.
To that trio, you can add two 22-year-old first-round rookies: Harrison and defensive end Darius Robinson. We also credit Arizona for a second-round pick this year (cornerback Max Melton) and four third-round picks. The Cardinals also have 24-year-old tight end Trey McBride, who had 825 receiving yards last season, and several young cornerbacks, including Garrett Williams (23), Kei’Trel Clark (23) and Starling Thomas V (24).
2023 ranking: 5
Blue-chip players: QB Trevor Lawrence, OT Anton Harrison, EDGE Travon Walker
Notable graduated players: LB Devin Lloyd, RB Travis Etienne Jr.
One question in compiling this ranking was how much to penalize Jacksonville because its top young asset — Lawrence — no longer comes cheap. His new $275 million deal matters, because one of the benefits of youth is those rookie contracts. But Lawrence still has room to grow and develop as a quarterback, and the Jaguars have other young talent beside him.
That starts with the No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 draft, Walker, who will be 23 this season. Right tackle Harrison is only 22 and started every game in his rookie season, ranking fourth at his position in pressure rate allowed. Cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Andre Cisco lead the youth movement in the secondary. We also give the Jaguars credit for this year’s draft picks, including wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (who will start as a rookie) and defensive tackle Maason Smith.
2:11
Pat McAfee applauds Trevor Lawrence’s contract extension with the Jaguars
Pat McAfee breaks down Trevor Lawrence’s journey to his new extension with the Jaguars and the implications moving forward.
2023 ranking: 32
Blue-chip players: WR Puka Nacua, C/G Steve Avila, EDGE Byron Young
Notable graduated players: None
The Rams would have ranked dead last in 2023 for under-25 talent. Then they got outstanding contributions from lower-round rookies in 2023; our expectations are way up when it comes to the future values of Nacua and Young. Both players are still just 23, and Nacua in particular now looks like one of the top 10 young players in the NFL, setting rookie records in receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). Last year’s second-round pick, Avila, who will move from guard to center this season, had an 89.2% pass block win rate and allowed only two sacks in 1,094 snaps. The Rams also got a surprising second-year breakout from running back Kyren Williams. He ran for 1,144 yards on 228 carries.
Then there are this year’s draft picks. The Rams finally took a player in the first round in 23-year-old edge rusher Jared Verse, and they got a second-round defensive end to play next to him (24-year-old Braden Fiske). Other Rams starters under 25 include nose tackle Bobby Brown III and linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
2023 ranking: 17
Blue-chip players: WR Jayden Reed
Notable graduated players: QB Jordan Love, WR Christian Watson, OT Zach Tom
The Packers have an absurd number of players under 25 who came out with a small amount of value. Similar to our ranking of the 2023 rookie classes in January, the Packers are high because of quantity more than quality … though all that quantity means there’s potential for a lot of quality.
The 24-year-old Reed, who led the Packers with 793 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns last season, is the only young Packers player who qualified as a “blue chip.” However, most of the rest of the Packers’ receiving corps has under-25 value. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs had the second-most receiving yards for Green Bay last season (674), and Malik Heath contributed with 125 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Dontayvion Wicks and tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft are all 23-year-olds who played a big role for the Packers last season.
On the offensive line, 24-year-old Rasheed Walker went from 2022 seventh-round pick to starting left tackle, and first-round rookie Jordan Morgan will probably move inside to play right guard. On defense, we’ve got linebacker Quay Walker (24), edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (23) and two second-round rookies in safety Javon Bullard (21) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (22).
2023 ranking: 7
Blue-chip players: CB Devon Witherspoon, OT Charles Cross
Notable graduated players: OT Abraham Lucas, CB Riq Woolen, EDGE Boye Mafe
Witherspoon was a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate a season ago after posting three sacks, 79 tackles and one interception at 23 years old. That’s also the age of two starting offensive linemen: left tackle Cross and right guard Anthony Bradford.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 22, is waiting for his breakout after catching 63 passes for 628 yards as a rookie. Running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet are both 23. The Seahawks also get credit for this year’s first-round pick, defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who will turn 22 on the opening Sunday of the season. And the Seahawks have value in backup quarterback Sam Howell, who is still just 23. Howell joins the Seahawks after a two-year stint in Washington during which he threw for 4,115 yards, 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
2023 ranking: 4
Blue-chip players: CB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson
Notable graduated players: EDGE Jermaine Johnson, S Tony Adams, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
The Jets will likely fall significantly down this list next year because so much of their under-25 value comes from Gardner and Wilson, the 2022 defensive and offensive Rookies of the Year, respectively. Both players will turn 25 during training camp in 2025. Gardner has 132 tackles, one forced fumble and two interceptions in his first two seasons. Wilson has 2,145 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his two seasons.
Beyond those two, the Jets get youthful value from starting center Joe Tippmann and running back Breece Hall. First-round offensive tackle Olu Fashanu likely won’t start as a rookie, but he doesn’t turn 22 until December.
2023 ranking: 22
Blue-chip players: QB Anthony Richardson, EDGE Laiatu Latu
Notable graduated players: EDGE Kwity Paye
The Colts are another team with a valuable young quarterback in Richardson. He’s returning after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Before his injury, Richardson showed promise by throwing for 577 yards on 50 passes in four games. Many of his wide receivers are also very young: Rookie Adonai Mitchell is 21 and will compete for a starting spot with the 24-year-old Alec Pierce, while slot receiver Josh Downs is 23.
On defense, we start with first-round rookie edge rusher Latu, who is 23. Starting cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones are 24 and 22, respectively. Nick Cross, 22, may be starting next to them at safety; in two NFL seasons, Cross has recorded 56 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
2023 ranking: 6
Blue-chip players: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, CB Deonte Banks, WR Malik Nabers
Notable graduated players: OT Andrew Thomas, C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
Let’s start with the good: Thibodeaux, who had 11.5 sacks last season, doesn’t turn 24 until December. Cornerback Banks, last year’s first-round pick, allowed just 6.6 yards per pass in his rookie season and is also 23. So is Banks’ partner, 2022 third-round pick Cor’Dale Flott. And Micah McFadden has developed into a starting linebacker at age 24.
On offense, receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, 23, stepped up with 525 receiving yards and one touchdown last season, and tight end Daniel Bellinger (also 23) averaged 10.2 yards per catch. And we also have this year’s top draft picks who both will likely start: wide receiver Nabers (21) and safety Tyler Nubin (23).
However, the Giants dropped from last year’s ranking because some of their recent high draft picks were disappointing in 2023. Evan Neal ranked dead last among qualifying right tackles in pressure rate allowed. And edge rusher Azeez Ojulari had just 2.5 sacks. But both players still have growth potential, with Neal at age 23 and Ojulari at 24.
2023 ranking: 9
Blue-chip players: CB Trent McDuffie, EDGE George Karlaftis
Notable graduated players: RB Isiah Pacheco, C Creed Humphrey, G Trey Smith
You might expect a two-time Super Bowl champion to be lower down here, but the Chiefs have done a good job of building a young talent base with later draft picks — along with Miami’s picks acquired via the Tyreek Hill trade. They’ve invested in a lot of draft capital, particularly in their secondary and wide receiver corps.
The star of the secondary is All-Pro nickelback McDuffie, who turns 24 right after the start of this season. McDuffie had five forced fumbles and three sacks in his second NFL season. Starting safety Bryan Cook is 24. So is Chamarri Conner, who might be a third safety or a nickelback, and Joshua Williams, who could be a starting outside cornerback. Linebacker Nick Bolton, the anchor of the defense, is 24, and top edge rusher Karlaftis is 23.
On offense, 24-year-old Rashee Rice has solidified himself as the No. 1 receiver. He caught 79 passes for 938 yards in 2023. First-round wideout Xavier Worthy is 21. And while the great Chiefs interior linemen have aged off this list, this year’s starting left tackle will be under 24: either Wanya Morris (23) or Kingsley Suamataia (21).
0:46
What is the point of emphasis at Chiefs minicamp?
Michele Steele explains why acclimating Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown to the offense will be extremely important for the Chiefs.
2023 ranking: 11
Blue-chip players: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, G Zion Johnson, OT Joe Alt, WR Quentin Johnston
Notable graduated players: OT Rashawn Slater
The Chargers may be surprisingly low when you see that they have four “blue-chip” players, but both Johnson and Johnston narrowly qualified. The Chargers have a good amount of young talent, but they’re missing that one no-doubt young star.
But again, there’s a lot here, especially on offense. The offensive line features Johnson (24) at left guard, Jamaree Salyer (24) at right guard and rookie first-round pick Alt (21) at right tackle. The Chargers’ top three wide receivers are also all under 25. Johnston (22) struggled in his rookie season — he had 431 yards and was tied for 92nd in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics — but he still has first-round traits, so we can’t give up on him yet. Fellow outside receiver Joshua Palmer doesn’t turn 25 until late September, while rookie slot receiver Ladd McConkey, 22, is looking to play a big role in 2024.
On defense, edge rusher Tuipulotu, a second-round pick last year, turns 22 in September, while top cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is 24.
2023 ranking: 29
Blue-chip players: TE Dalton Kincaid, G O’Cyrus Torrence, EDGE Gregory Rousseau
Notable graduated players: LB Terrel Bernard
The Bills are Super Bowl contenders with a lot of young talent on their roster, but they won’t be anywhere near this high when we do this ranking again next year. All three of the Bills’ blue-chip players are 24 and will come off this list, as will running back James Cook and wide receiver Khalil Shakir.
As for talent at age 23 and younger, that’s led by rookie second-round wide receiver Keon Coleman (21). Starting cornerback Christian Benford is just 23 and coming off a solid season (54 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles). Kaiir Elam (23), the Bills’ 2022 first-round pick, has disappointed and sits on the depth chart behind Benford.
2023 ranking: 14
Blue-chip players: WR Ja’Marr Chase
Notable graduated players: None
The Bengals’ young talent is led by the 24-year-old Chase, one of the best wide receivers in the league, though he’ll need to get paid some big money soon with a contract extension.
Most of Cincinnati’s top youngsters are on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary. Cam Taylor-Britt (24) and DJ Turner (23) are the two outside starting cornerbacks; Taylor-Britt was slightly better than average and Turner was slightly worse than average in coverage DVOA last season. Free safety Dax Hill, who made a lot of plays but had just seven missed tackles in 2023, turns 24 in late September.
The Bengals also have this year’s draft picks, including first-round offensive tackle Amarius Mims (21) and second-round defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. (22). And don’t forget last year’s first-round pick, 22-year-old Myles Murphy, on the edge. He collected three sacks in his debut season.
2023 ranking: 15
Blue-chip players: QB Jayden Daniels
Notable graduated players: RB Brian Robinson Jr., G Samuel Cosmi, LB Jamin Davis
Washington is boosted significantly by this year’s draft, and that starts with the No. 2 overall pick and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Daniels (23) at quarterback. The Commanders also had three second-round picks this year. Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and tight end Ben Sinnott are both 22, while nickelback Mike Sainristil is 23.
As for players who were in Washington last year, wide receiver Jahan Dotson is 24, although his reputation is better than his performance in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics, where he finished near the bottom of the league. Another young player who struggled in advanced metrics is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Last year’s first-round pick was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league, with only 38 tackles and one interception. However, he’s just 23, and many top corners take two or three years to develop.
2023 ranking: 10
Blue-chip players: QB Bryce Young, OT Ikem Ekwonu
Notable graduated players: None
So what do we do with young players who have terrible rookie seasons? There’s still youth and potential here, but obviously things need to get better than they were in 2023. Young had one of the worst rookie quarterback seasons ever, throwing for 2,877 yards with 10 interceptions and a 33.4 QBR. Jonathan Mingo, 23, had the worst rookie wide receiver season ever by my DYAR metric.
Things aren’t much better for the veterans. Second-year left tackle Ekwonu was selected sixth overall in 2022 but was near the bottom of the league in pass block win rate (82.2%) a season ago. And 24-year-old cornerback Jaycee Horn plays well when healthy but can’t stay on the field. The young talent in Carolina also includes this year’s draft picks, such as 23-year-old wide receiver Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks, who turns 21 in mid-July.
1:06
Herbstreit to McAfee: Panthers’ Canales will be a great fit for QB Bryce Young
Kirk Herbstreit tells Pat McAfee why Panthers head coach Dave Canales is a great hire and fit for quarterback Bryce Young.
2023 ranking: 25
Blue-chip players: OT Broderick Jones, WR George Pickens
Notable graduated players: OT Dan Moore Jr.
The Steelers graduated a starting offensive tackle, Moore, from this list, but he probably won’t have a starting job this season anyway after posting an 87.5% PBWR and 73.8% RBWR. Instead, younger and higher-drafted talents will man the tackle spots, with Jones and first-round pick Troy Fautanu at age 23.
Center Zach Frazier is also 23 and will start as a rookie. At wide receiver, 23-year-old Pickens takes over as the unchallenged No. 1 receiver in Pittsburgh after having 1,140 receiving yards in 2023. Also age 23: rookie slot receiver Roman Wilson, nose tackle Keeanu Benton and second tight end Darnell Washington. The one exception when it comes to talent under 25 is No. 1 cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who turns 24 in late July.
2023 ranking: 2
Blue-chip players: OL Tyler Smith
Notable graduated players: EDGE Micah Parsons, WR CeeDee Lamb, CB DaRon Bland, TE Jake Ferguson
Dallas falls from the top of this ranking after its stars graduated out of our under-25 requirement. Young talent in Dallas now starts on the offensive line with 23-year-olds Smith at left guard, first-round pick Tyler Guyton at left tackle and third-round pick Cooper Beebe, who could win the center job over Brock Hoffman.
On defense, Damone Clark has matured into a starting linebacker and just turned 24. However, he could lose his job this year to 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown, also 24. Nose tackle Mazi Smith is 23, the same age as rookie edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland.
And yes, we also gave the Cowboys credit for backup quarterback Trey Lance. The third overall pick from 2021 came into the league very young and is just 24.
2023 ranking: 21
Blue-chip players: G Peter Skoronski, OT JC Latham
Notable graduated players: QB Will Levis, LB Jack Gibbens
This seems like another team with a promising young quarterback, but they rank down here because Levis will already be 25 when the season begins. Instead, this is the third straight team where the young talent is mostly along the offensive line. The Titans have used their last two first-round picks on the left side of the line, with 21-year-old rookie tackle Latham and 23-year-old second-year guard Skoronski. They also might be starting 24-year-old Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle, and backup tackle Jaelyn Duncan (also 24) started five games a season ago.
Other top young talent: nickelback Roger McCreary (24), tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (24) and second-round rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (23). Wide receiver Treylon Burks is also still around; the 2022 first-rounder seems to have worn out his welcome in Tennessee but is still just 24 years old and could get a fresh start with another team.
2023 ranking: 27
Blue-chip players: QB Brock Purdy
Notable graduated players: S Talanoa Hufanga
How much credit do we want to give the 49ers for Purdy? Based on his stats, Purdy might be the most valuable young asset in the game other than Stroud and Anderson for the Texans. In two seasons, he has thrown for 5,654 yards and 44 touchdowns with 15 interceptions. (After this season, Purdy will age out of this ranking.)
Other than Purdy and 24-year-old safety Ji’Ayir Brown, not a lot of the young 49ers talent has developed. Spencer Burford (24) was near the bottom of the league in pass block win rate (86.1%) a season ago and is not penciled in as a starter this year. Edge rusher Drake Jackson (23) hasn’t started a game in two years, although he does have a reasonable total of six sacks in 23 career games.
Instead, most of the 49ers’ top young standouts are this year’s rookies. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is older for a rookie, turning 24 during the first week of the season. Second-round cornerback Renardo Green is 23, and third-round guard Dominick Puni is 24.
2023 ranking: 18
Blue-chip players: WR Jordan Addison, QB J.J. McCarthy
Notable graduated players: WR Justin Jefferson, OT Christian Darrisaw, G Ed Ingram
The 22-year-old Addison had a great rookie year with 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. McCarthy, the franchise quarterback in waiting, will likely play during his rookie year. So will edge rusher Dallas Turner, also chosen in the first round.
The only other player who qualifies for this list and started more than one game for last year’s Vikings is linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. He was a surprise undrafted star with 2.5 sacks, one interception and 102 tackles.
2023 ranking: 20
Blue-chip players: QB Drake Maye, CB Christian Gonzalez
Notable graduated players: None
The Patriots don’t have as much young talent as you would expect from a rebuilding team, but there are some strong young assets here. The top one is Maye, the quarterback of the future and this year’s No. 3 overall pick. He will be throwing to a receiving corps that includes second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk (22), fourth-round pick Javon Baker (22), slot receiver DeMario Douglas (23) and potential deep threat Tyquan Thornton (24).
The other top name to know is a 2023 first-round pick: 22-year-old cornerback Gonzalez. He got to play only four games as a rookie because of a torn labrum but was impressive in that first month. He had one interception, one sack and 17 tackles before his injury.
0:29
Jacoby Brissett excited for QB competition with Drake Maye
Jacoby Brissett speaks on his relationship with new Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and what he’s expecting during the quarterback competition this offseason.
2023 ranking: 16
Blue-chip players: CB Pat Surtain II, QB Bo Nix
Notable graduated players: WR Jerry Jeudy (traded)
The Broncos are in a similar position as the Patriots except their top guys are a little older. They are also led by a young quarterback (Nix) and a young cornerback (Surtain), though Surtain is more established than New England’s Gonzalez. However, Nix and Surtain are also 24 and will not qualify for this list a year from now. Most of the other young players who qualify for the Broncos are also 24.
Joining Nix on the Denver offense are wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (22), running back Javonte Williams (24) and tight end Greg Dulcich (24). There aren’t any other young starters on the defense other than Surtain, but there are some interesting bench players with potential, including edge rusher Nik Bonitto (24), cornerback Riley Moss (24) and cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (24).
2023 ranking: 19
Blue-chip players: DE Calijah Kancey
Notable graduated players: OT Tristan Wirfs, OT Luke Goedeke, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, RB Rachaad White
You probably don’t know much about Bucs defensive end Kancey, but you should. Typically, 5-tech defensive ends don’t put up a lot of stats, but the rookie had four sacks with 21 pressures in 2023. He also made his average run tackle after a gain of less than a yard last season. The 23-year-old Kancey plays opposite another young defensive end, 24-year-old Logan Hall. Hall’s stats were less impressive (0.5 sacks and 11 pressures, with an average run tackle at 2.7 yards).
The rest of Tampa’s young talent is made up mostly of this year’s draft picks. First-round center Graham Barton and second-round edge rusher Chris Braswell are 22. Tampa Bay’s third receiver will either be second-year Trey Palmer (23) or this year’s third-round pick, Jalen McMillan (22).
There would be a lot more counted here if we were doing an under-26 list instead of an under-25 list. The Buccaneers had a lot of players turn 25 over the past year. The list of notable graduated players above could also include guard Cody Mauch, edge rusher Yaya Diaby and tight end Cade Otton.
2023 ranking: 31
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
No Browns players qualified as “blue chips,” but there’s a lot of youth that helped the Browns rank as one of the NFL’s top defenses last season. Cornerback Greg Newsome II is 24 and ranked 12th in coverage DVOA in 2023. Another cornerback, Martin Emerson Jr., is 23 and ranked 10th. Star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (24) had 3.5 sacks last season. The defense will also add second-round defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (21).
The top young asset on offense may be a player who won’t play much this year. Dawand Jones started nine games at tackle and is 23, but a healthy Jack Conklin will put Jones back on the bench. There are also several 24-year-olds on offense: wide receivers Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, backup running back Jerome Ford and backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
2023 ranking: 13
Blue-chip players: DT Jalen Carter
Notable graduated players: WR DeVonta Smith, G Landon Dickerson, G/C Cam Jurgens, S Reed Blankenship
The Eagles’ young standouts are almost entirely on defense, starting with two linemen: Carter (23) and Jordan Davis (24). Carter faded over the second half of last season but still finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Davis hasn’t quite lived up to his potential as the 13th overall pick in 2022 yet, but he’s strong against the run.
Safety Sydney Brown started six games as a rookie and may become a starter again once he returns from a torn ACL. The Eagles’ cornerbacks include two rookies: Quinyon Mitchell is a bit older at 23, but Cooper DeJean is 21. Behind them are a couple of 23-year-olds from last year’s draft class, Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks. The linebackers include Nolan Smith Jr. (23) on the edge and Nakobe Dean (23) in the middle.
2023 ranking; 23
Blue-chip players: WR Chris Olave
Notable graduated players: G Cesar Ruiz, CB Alontae Taylor, CB Paulson Adebo, LB Pete Werner
Oh, the Saints. Their salary cap shenanigans always leave them as one of the oldest teams in the league. Last year, they led the NFL in snap-weighted age. They were the oldest on offense, No. 2 on defense and No. 6 on special teams.
So the New Orleans list of under-25 talent includes just three players who started games in 2023. The best here is 24-year-old star receiver Olave, who has put up two straight 1,000-yard seasons since he entered the NFL. A.T. Perry, who will be the Saints’ third receiver this season, is also 24. So is free safety Jordan Howden, and that does it for guys who started games.
Last year’s first-round pick, Bryan Bresee (22), is still a valuable player despite not getting starts. The Saints also have this year’s draft picks, led by first-round offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (22) and second-round cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (21).
2023 ranking: 26
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: G Dylan Parham, QB Aidan O’Connell
The Raiders’ top two young guys may be tight ends: 21-year-old first-round pick Brock Bowers and 23-year-old Michael Mayer. The offensive line also features some young talent, with 24-year-old Thayer Munford Jr. at right tackle and 21-year-old second-round rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson possibly starting at left guard. Running back Zamir White doesn’t turn 25 until mid-September, barely making this list. With Josh Jacobs departing for Green Bay in the offseason, White will assume the starting role in 2024.
Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, is 24 and may play on the edge, the interior or both. He’s coming off a disappointing rookie season in which he had only 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
2023 ranking: 24
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: WR Jaylen Waddle, OT Austin Jackson, EDGE Jaelan Phillips, CB Kader Kohou
It’s hard to know how much credit to give Miami for 22-year-old running back De’Von Achane. He had an incredible rookie season, with 7.8 yards per carry and 11 combined touchdowns. But that’s over just 11 games and 130 touches. He’s a great player but also a great part-time player.
The other main youngster with NFL experience is 24-year-old safety Jevon Holland. In three NFL seasons, Holland has posted four sacks and five interceptions. Otherwise, the top talents here are rookies: first-round edge rusher Chop Robinson (21) and second-round offensive tackle Patrick Paul (22). There’s also cornerback Cam Smith (23), last year’s second-round pick who hasn’t earned a starting job yet.