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The 25 best NFL players under the age of 25
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The 25 best NFL players under the age of 25

The NFL is a young player's game, and the future is bright with so many elite talents under the age of 25. These are 25 of the best youngsters heading into the 2023 season.

 
1 of 25

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Chase took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, with 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. While he wasn't able to top those numbers in his second year due to injury, Chase still had over 1,000 yards in 12 games.

 
2 of 25

Landon Dickerson, OG, Eagles

Landon Dickerson, OG, Eagles
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

Dickerson has developed into an elite guard for the Eagles offense in two seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022, starting all 17 regular season games.

 
3 of 25

Trevon Diggs, CB, Cowboys

Trevon Diggs, CB, Cowboys
Stephen Lew / USA Today Sports Images

Diggs is now known as more than just Stefon Diggs' younger brother, being named an All-Pro in 2021 and a Pro Bowler last season. The aggressive cornerback helped orchestrate a huge turnaround for the Cowboys' defense, though he's missed most of 2023 due to injury.

 
4 of 25

Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets

Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images

The hype was real for the fourth overall draft choice in 2022, as Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was an All-Pro. He finished his rookie campaign with a league-high 20 passes defensed and two picks.

 
5 of 25

Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals

Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
Steve Roberts / USA Today Sports Images

Higgins was slightly upstaged by Ja'Marr Chase in the Bengals offense but has still been a star in three seasons. He's gained over 1,000 yards in back-to-back years.

 
6 of 25

Talanoa Hufanga, S, 49ers

Talanoa Hufanga, S, 49ers
Cary Edmondson / USA Today Sports Images

Hufanga was awarded an All-Pro designation in only his second NFL season and his first as a starter for the 49ers. He finished the 2022 campaign with 97 tackles and four interceptions.

 
7 of 25

Creed Humphrey, OC, Chiefs

Creed Humphrey, OC, Chiefs
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

A late second-round pick, Humphrey played as well as the Chiefs could have imagined in his first two seasons, including one Pro Bowl. He's set to protect Patrick Mahomes for years to come.

 
8 of 25

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

Jefferson had a historic rookie season and only built on it in the last two years. He led the league in catches and receiving yards in 2022, and has over 4,800 yards in his first three seasons.

 
9 of 25

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images

It didn't take long for Lamb to overtake Amari Cooper as the Cowboys' top receiver. He's made the Pro Bowl in back-to-back years, peaking with 107 catches for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.

 
10 of 25

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Lawrence struggled initially, but found his footing with the Jags last season. He finished his second NFL season as a Pro Bowler after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

 
11 of 25

Micah Parsons, LB, Cowboys

Micah Parsons, LB, Cowboys
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Parsons was an All-Pro and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 with an incredible season and capped it off with another All-Pro performance in 2022. He has 26.5 sacks in two seasons.

 
12 of 25

Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons

Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

The highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, going fourth overall in 2021. Had had over 1,000 yards in his rookie season, but struggled in his second year.

 
13 of 25

Patrick Queen, LB, Ravens

Patrick Queen, LB, Ravens
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Queen has shored up Baltimore's run defense with consistency over the last three seasons. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting with 106 tackles in 2020 and has 321 tackles in three years.

 
14 of 25

Penei Sewell, OT, Lions

Penei Sewell, OT, Lions
Lon Horwedel / USA Today Sports Images

Sewell has become an elite NFL tackle in two seasons, making the Pro Bowl in 2022. The giant tackle has helped anchor one of the best offensive lines in the league.

 
15 of 25

Rashawn Slater, LT, Chargers

Rashawn Slater, LT, Chargers
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

The 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Slater did a great job protecting Justin Herbert's blindside in his rookie year. However, Slater played only three games in 2022.

 
16 of 25

DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles

DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama, Smith wasted no time showing what he could do in the NFL. He finished his rookie season as the Eagles' top receiver with 64 catches for 916 yards and five touchdowns, and then had 1,196 yards in his sophomore campaign.

 
17 of 25

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
Lon Horwedel / USA Today Sports Images

St. Brown has been a terrific find for the Lions out of the fourth round in 2021. He had over 900 yards in his rookie season, and capped it off with 106 catches for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns last year.

 
18 of 25

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Stroud has been a revelation for the Texans, putting together what could eventually be considered one of the best rookie seasons ever. He's led the team to a 6-4 record through 10 games, throwing for 17 touchdowns and leading the league in passing yards per game.

 
19 of 25

Pat Surtain, CB, Broncos

Pat Surtain, CB, Broncos
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today Sports Images

Surtain was able to follow in his father's footsteps as an All-Pro in 2022. He's been a lockdown corner for the Broncos over two NFL seasons.

 
20 of 25

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Taylor looked like a generational running back in his second NFL season, leading the league with 332 carries for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, and over 2,100 all-purpose yards. He wasn't able to match the performance in 2022 due to a nagging ankle injury, limiting him to 11 games.

 
21 of 25

A.J. Terrell, CB, Falcons

A.J. Terrell, CB, Falcons
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

Atlanta hasn't had much to cheer for, but Terrell's performance has been a good sign. The 2020 first-round pick received All-Pro second-team honors with 81 tackles and three picks in 2021, and continued to play well last season.

 
22 of 25

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

The speedy Waddle was one of the centerpieces of the Dolphins' offense over the last two seasons. He has over 2,300 yards over that time, and led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception in 2022.

 
23 of 25

Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets

Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
Mark Konezny / USA Today Sports Images

Wilson won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 after catching 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns for the Jets. The Ohio State alum is well on his way to becoming one of the top wideouts in the league.

 
24 of 25

Tristan Wirfs, RT, Buccaneers

Tristan Wirfs, RT, Buccaneers
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

Wirfs did a great job protecting Tom Brady in three seasons. He's made back-to-back Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2021.

 
25 of 25

Tariq Woolen, CB, Seahawks

Tariq Woolen, CB, Seahawks
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports Images

Seattle struck gold late in the draft on a defensive back again. Woolen was a Pro Bowler in 2022 after leading the NFL with six interceptions.

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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