In the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL, youth and talent often shine brightest on the grandest stage. While seasoned veterans dominate headlines, a new generation of talent has rapidly begun to make their mark.
To crack the list, a variety of factors were put under the microscope. Players are evaluated based on their statistical achievements, consistency, and overall contribution to the roster no matter the team’s record. Projection and ability to influence the game in the years to come were also crucial factors.
From explosive offensive playmakers to versatile defensive standouts, the following game changers, all under the age of 25, are not just the future of the league — they are its electrifying present.
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence and Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown were not put into consideration as both will turn 25 in the early portions of the 2024 season.
Opinions vary regarding Brock Purdy.
For some, he’s a product of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and the array of talent to use at his disposal. For others, Purdy’s ability to operate the offense like a fine-tuned machine deserves more attention.
All in all, Purdy remains one of the more efficient and flat out gamers at the quarterback position in todays NFL.
Following a productive year one, his sophomore campaign in 2023 showcased an improving signal-caller whose ability to dissect the third level of a defense popped on tape all year long (12 TDs // 1 INT on throws 20+ yards downfield).
While the Shanahan offense is predicated on feeding playmakers in Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel in the shallow areas, Purdy’s willingness and decisiveness down the field is a part of his game that has improved rapidly.
His 9.2 yards per attempt led the NFL in 2023.
Recently turned just 24 years old, Pat Surtain II has become one of the NFL’s elite at the corner spot.
While his 2023 campaign, for some, failed to live up to expectations after an All-Pro nod in his second season, Surtain still recorded three times as many PBU’s (nine) than touchdowns allowed (three) in 17 starts.
He also gave up a miniscule 62.9% completion percentage on 89 targets against while improving his game as a tackler in the fringe areas (63 tackles finished top 20 among all DBs).
Getting back to an All-Pro level this fall is expectation for Surtain moving into year four.
C.J. Stroud made his transition to the NFL look as easy as we’ve ever seen from a first-year signal-caller.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last fall, Stroud wasted zero time in producing at football’s highest level. The first player in league history with 1,200 or more passing yards and zero interceptions over his first four career games, per NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, Stroud’s success in September was only an appetizer for what was to come.
Working behind an offensive line that enjoyed its fair share of shuffling early on in the campaign, Stroud’s poise, confidence and ability to create off-script remained on display throughout his rookie season.
Still just 22 years old, Stroud will look to build off a 2023 season that saw him accumulate the second-most passing yards (4,557-playoffs included) by a rookie in NFL History (Andrew Luck).
A healthy Aaron Rodgers under center for the Jets this fall should elevate Garrett Wilson to another level in 2024.
Wilson, one of the NFL’s most electric playmakers at the position, has eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau in each of his first two seasons working with a myriad of quarterbacks.
A first-round selection out of the hotbed of receiver talent that is Ohio State, year three for Wilson could see his name discussed as one of the NFL’s premier talents on the outside.
Eight different quarterbacks have earned a start in the last two seasons for New York, and for Wilson, the presence of a healthy Rodgers remains a direct correlation for the talented wideout to skyrocket to superstardom. Wilson will play the entirety of his third season at just 24 years old.
While year one saw Trent McDuffie live as an outside corner, the 2023 All-Pro quickly solidified himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant nickel defenders in 2023.
He’s allowed a lowly 63.6% on passes completed against in his first two seasons, along with 13 PBU’s. On top of his ability to shut down a variety of skillsets in the slot, McDuffie is an aggressive and dynamic extra body as a blitzer from the slot (19 pressures led all NFL DBs).
While McDuffie’s role will take on an extra level of importance with L’Jarius Sneed now in Tennessee, his ability to play inside-out at an elite level will continue to allow DC Steve Spagnuolo to remain unique in his coverages.
There aren’t many players in league history, let alone today’s NFL, that can do what Kyle Hamilton does for a defense.
As versatile and instinctive as they come in football, Hamilton’s skillset at 6’4″, 220 pounds showcases one of the NFL’s most unique defensive chess pieces.
In his first two years, there hasn’t been a spot Hamilton hasn’t aligned, and dominated, for the Ravens. With over 800 career snaps accrued in the slot, including 340-plus in both the box and at free safety, Hamilton’s knack for sniffing out the run while shutting down tight ends up the seam was a major reason why he earned his first All-Pro nod in 2023.
Hamilton, still at the spry age of 23, touts a performance ceiling as lofty as any player in the game.
Already top 20 on Detroit’s all-time sack leaders list, Aidan Hutchinson has rapidly evolved into one of the NFL’s most dominant pass-rushers.
A former top three pick out of Michigan just a few short years ago, Hutchinson has been nothing short of sensational in his first two years as a Lion. Along with his 14 sacks last fall (fifth in the NFC), Hutchinson finished second in the NFL in pressures (121), second only to 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa (122).
Hutchinson has seemingly just begun to scratch the surface of what he can be off the edge, a nightmarish thought for opposing offenses across the league.
Combining elite physical attributes with an advanced technical ability showcase the electric game of Ja’Marr Chase.
A tall task for entire secondary to counter, Chase’s ability to find the soft spot in zone or overpower corners at varying depths makes him a nightmare to limit each week. Combining his game with an overwhelmingly evident rapport with quarterback Joe Burrow just makes things all that tougher.
The 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro-Bowler in each of his first trio of seasons, the may not be a ceiling on how productive Chase can be as he continues to mature.
With three consecutive 1,200-plus yard campaigns already under his belt, Chase remains a flat out game-changer on the outside that can take it the distance from any spot on the field.
At 6’3″ with 33-plus inch arms (key threshold for NFL teams), consider your wideout a non-factor should he find himself aligned in front of Sauce Gardner.
Already one of the NFL’s premier shutdown corners, Gardner has made it a weekly habit in erasing opposing offenses top perimeter weapons.
The 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year and an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, some in New York have already begun to argue whether it’s Gardner, or Darrelle Revis, as the Jets’ top corner since the turn of the century. He’s been that good.
Soon to be 24 years of age, health is the only factor that remains in the way of Gardner serving as one of the NFL’s premier superstars for the next decade.
Athleticism and pure dominance; two words that encompass what you see when studying the game of Penei Sewell.
Currently on a path to become the NFL’s premier offensive lineman, Sewell’s ability to expand a playbook at right tackle is unique to the game we so love.
While much of the attention up front for the league’s past and present is often reserved for the play at left tackle, Sewell’s success in protecting the arm side of Lions QB Jared Goff has seen the Oregon product become an immovable force for any talent that aligns opposite.
Immediate consistency and production has been the game of the game for Sewell. A mainstay along the Lions front with 50 consecutive starts since his rookie season, the 2023 All-Pro has allowed just three sacks the last two seasons combined (1,382 pass pro snaps).
At just 23 years old, Sewell is poised to be viewed in the same light as tackles Trent Williams and Tyron Smith, two future first-ballot Hall of Famers.