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The 25 best NFL players under the age of 25
Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

The 25 best NFL players under the age of 25

The NFL is a league of young stars and has a bright future with the selection of great players yet to turn 25. These 25 players represent the best and brightest the NFL has to offer.

 
1 of 25

Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers

Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Alexander has emerged as Green Bay's top cornerback, if not their best defensive player, over the last three seasons. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2020 and is just entering his age 24 season.

 
2 of 25

Jessie Bates, S, Bengals

Jessie Bates, S, Bengals
Sam Greene / USA Today Sports Images

Despite a poor supporting cast around him, Bates has helped stabilize the Cincinnati secondary in his three NFL seasons. He has yet to make a Pro Bowl, but a trip seems inevitable with 100-plus tackles in three consecutive seasons. Bates will be 24 this season.

 
3 of 25

Nick Bosa, DE, 49ers

Nick Bosa, DE, 49ers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Bosa was the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year, recording nine sacks and 47 tackles. Unfortunately, he played only two games last season due to injury but hopes to rebound in his third year.

 
4 of 25

A.J. Brown, WR, Titans

A.J. Brown, WR, Titans
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Brown has been spectacular in his first two NFL seasons, exceeding 1,000 yards each year. He's been an elite deep threat, averaging 17.4 yards per catch, and could see more single coverage this year after the Titans acquired Julio Jones. Brown turns 24 at the end of June.

 
5 of 25

Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals

Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
Sam Greene / USA Today Sports Images

Burrow's rookie season ended early due to a torn ACL, but before that time he was on a strong pace with 2,688 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games. The former Heisman Trophy winner will turn 25 in December.

 
6 of 25

Devin Bush, LB, Steelers

Devin Bush, LB, Steelers
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

The Steelers lost Bush to a leg injury in his second season, which was a brutal blow after he recorded 109 tackles in his rookie year. The Michigan alum should help the Steelers defense again this year at age 23.

 
7 of 25

Jeremy Chinn, S, Panthers

Jeremy Chinn, S, Panthers
Jim Dedmon / USA Today Sports Images

The Panthers got a steal with Chinn late in the second round last year out of Southern Illinois. His rookie season featured 117 tackles and two touchdowns.

 
8 of 25

Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers

Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers
Joseph Maiorana / USA Today Sports Images

Claypool joined one of the best young wide receiver rooms in the NFL last year, recording 62 catches for 873 yards and 11 total touchdowns. He became a major deep threat after he got a few games under his belt.

 
9 of 25

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Bills

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Bills
Jamie Germano / USA Today Sports Images

Edmunds has emerged as an elite middle linebacker in his three seasons with Buffalo, making two Pro Bowls. He has at least 115 tackles in each of his three seasons, and will only be 23 in 2021.

 
10 of 25

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Steelers

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Steelers
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

Fitzpatrick has already been an All-Pro at safety twice in three seasons. The former first-round pick has four career touchdowns and 11 picks as a great playmaker and will turn 25 in November.

 
11 of 25

Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers

Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Herbert won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 with a historic season, throwing for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Chargers are hopeful he can take another big step forward this year.

 
12 of 25

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

It didn't take long for Jackson to make a huge impact in the NFL, winning MVP in his second season in 2019. Playoff success has been fleeting, but Jackson has been one of the most exciting players in the NFL during his three seasons.

 
13 of 25

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

Jefferson fell to the 22nd overall pick in 2020 but put together one of the best seasons ever by a rookie wideout with 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. He was able to help Vikings fans forget about losing Stefon Diggs.

 
14 of 25

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports Images

Lamb fell in the Cowboys laps with the 17th pick in the 2020 draft and was able to match the hype with 74 catches for 935 yards and five scores. He could soon emerge as the top receiver on the Cowboys' loaded roster.

 
15 of 25

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seahawks

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seahawks
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

Metcalf dropped in the 2019 draft due to injury concerns, but he's already become a superstar. He emerged as Seattle's No. 1 receiver last season with 83 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns, and will only turn 24 in December.

 
16 of 25

D.J. Moore, WR, Panthers

D.J. Moore, WR, Panthers
Jim Dedmon / USA Today Sports Images

Moore has improved in each of his three NFL seasons and has over 1,100 yards receiving in back-to-back years. The former first-round pick is entering his age 24 season with new quarterback Sam Darnold throwing him passes.

 
17 of 25

Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals

Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports Images

The first overall draft choice in 2019, Murray has matched expectations so far. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and made his first Pro Bowl last season, proving to be an elite threat with his arm and legs.

 
18 of 25

Patrick Queen, LB, Ravens

Patrick Queen, LB, Ravens
Evan Habeeb / USA Today Sports Images

Needing help at inside linebacker, the Ravens found it with Queen in his rookie season. The first-round pick had 106 tackles and three sacks last year at age 21.

 
19 of 25

Roquan Smith, LB, Bears

Roquan Smith, LB, Bears
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

The speedy Smith has been one of the top inside linebackers in the NFL in his three seasons, totaling 361 tackles and 11 sacks. He could soon be the face of the Chicago defense and is just entering his age 24 season.

 
20 of 25

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports Images

Taylor had a terrific rookie season for the Colts with 1,468 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. The Wisconsin alum enters 2021 as the team's bell-cow back at age 22.

 
21 of 25

Fred Warner, LB, 49ers

Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Warner is arguably the best middle linebacker in the  NFL three years into his career. He was an All-Pro in 2020 with 125 tackles and will turn 25 in November.

 
22 of 25

Devin White, LB, Buccaneers

Devin White, LB, Buccaneers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

White was a catalyst on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl defense last year, with an incredible 140 tackles and nine seasons in 15 regular-season games. The former first-round pick is still just 23.

 
23 of 25

Quinnen Williams, DT, Jets

Quinnen Williams, DT, Jets
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images

The third overall pick in the 2019 draft, Williams had a breakout year last season with 55 tackles and seven sacks. He will have more help this year after the Jets were busy in free agency.

 
24 of 25

Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Buccaneers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Winfield was a terrific rookie addition for the Bucs last year, finishing the regular season with 94 tackles while performing well in coverage. The former second-round pick will turn 23 in August.

 
25 of 25

Chase Young, DE, Washington

Chase Young, DE, Washington
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

The second overall draft choice in 2020, Young was just as advertised as the Defensive Rookie of the Year with 7.5 sacks and 44 tackles. He already made the Pro Bowl and is looking to great his numbers at age 22.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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