BEST OF THE BEST: Top 5 NFL Players Under 25 Years Old

The current NFL landscape isn’t just seeing a “youth movement”, it’s experiencing a seismic shift, a revolution where NFL best rising stars under 25 years old are not merely showing potential, but actively leading their teams to victory and shattering long-held expectations. Forget the old adage of players needing years to develop, these select players are different.

They’re hitting the ground running, transforming what it means to be a truly elite NFL player in their early 20s. What’s truly fascinating is why this is happening. It’s more than just luck. The game itself has evolved, with a heightened emphasis on athleticism, speed, and scheme versatility, favoring players who are genetically gifted and have been training with professional intensity since high school.

Furthermore, the rookie wage scale, put into effect with the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, dramatically changed team building. Gone are the days of top draft picks holding out for exorbitant, uncapped contracts that could cripple a team’s salary cap for years. First round picks now arrive on structured, cost-controlled deals, freeing up significant cap space for general managers to surround their young cornerstones with veteran talent.

This creates an unparalleled competitive advantage: imagine having a Pro Bowl-caliber player delivering elite performance at a fraction of a veteran’s market value. This strategic incentive has led to teams aggressively targeting talent that can contribute immediately. We’re seeing rosters trending younger, as evidenced by teams like the Green Bay Packers, who started the 2024 NFL season with an average roster age of 25 years, 7 months, and 25 days, making them the youngest in the league.

It’s a clear signal that franchises are banking on youth, and it’s paying off. The future of the NFL isn’t some distant promise, it’s unfolding right before our eyes, powered by these extremely talented athletes who are already carving out their legacies before their 25th birthdays. All players must be 24 years old or younger as of July 1, 2025.

HONORABLE MENTION: CB Trent McDuffie (24), EDGE Will Anderson (23), WR Puka Nacua (24), WR Malik Nabers (21), EDGE Jared Verse (24)

Here are the top 5 NFL players under 25 years old. Create your own rankings below!

PSO Rankings

QB JAYDEN DANIELS (24)

– Jayden Daniels had an all-time rookie season with records, awards, and wins to show for it

– Coming off the Heisman, Daniels pretty much lapped the field in NFL OROY voting

– Daniels took a mediocre defense, weapons, and O-Line and carried them all the way to the NFC Championship

– The most impressive part about Daniels game was his resilience and ability to deliver with his back against the wall

OT PENEI SEWELL (24)

– Penei Sewell anchors one of the best Offensive Lines in football as an elite strong side protector with 2 All-Pro 1st Teams and a major catalyst for Detroit’s innovative offensive attack

– Sewell boasted a 92.6 PFF overall grade over a three-year span, cementing his status as a premier young offensive lineman

– His dominant run-blocking is evidenced by a career 95.2 PFF run-blocking grade, which is the second-best mark among all offensive linemen since he entered the league in 2021

– In 2024, Sewell led all NFL Right Tackles with a 89.6 PFF overall grade and allowed only one sack across the entire regular season and playoffs despite a high snap count

TE BROCK BOWERS (22)

– Brock Bowers made history in his rookie season, setting rookie tight end records with 112 receptions for 1,194 receiving yards, showcasing his immediate impact as a primary receiving option.

– Bowers was selected to play in the Pro Bowl and was named to the All-Pro 1st Team, a rare feat for a first-year tight end.

– His exceptional route-running ability and knack for creating separation allows him to consistently win matchups against linebackers and safeties and become a primary offensive target

– The rookie demonstrated dynamic yards after catch (YAC) ability, consistently turning short receptions into significant gains

DL JALEN CARTER (24)

– Jalen Carter‘s 81.5 PFF pass-rush grade ranked 4th among all interior defenders in his most recent season, underscoring his elite ability to disrupt the passing game from the inside

– He accumulated 75 total pressures, which ranked 3rd among all interior defenders, demonstrating his consistent presence in the backfield

– Carter also led all interior defenders with 3 forced fumbles, highlighting his playmaking ability and impact on turnovers

– The 24-year-old shined brightest when Philly needed him the most in the Playoffs with an exceptional performance vs. the Rams in the 4th quarter and a massive showing in the Super Bowl

S KYLE HAMILTON (24)

– Kyle Hamilton earned an elite 90.0 PFF overall grade, ranking 2nd among all safeties

– He was the only safety in the league to earn at least an 80 PFF grade in coverage, run defense, and pass rushing in 2024, proving his elite versatility across all phases of defense

– He’s accumulated 18 TFL’s and 7 SKs in his 3-year NFL career, a rare statistical achievement for a Safety

– Named an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his last 2 seasons