Justin Jefferson among the 25 best NFL players under 25 years old

The NFL is stocked with young talent. The number of players who are still relatively fresh in the league, but who are also among the best players in their position is growing, and it’s only fair to take stock of those players by ranking the top 25 players under the age of 25. Only players who are under the age of 25 when Week 1 begins are eligible — so guys like Jalen Hurts miss out by the narrowest of margins.

There are a few notable names who miss out, but that’s just a testament to the talent on show in the NFL right now. So, let’s kick it off with No. 25 and work our way to the top spot.

Jevon Holland didn’t set the world on fire like he did in 2021, but he’s still the best young safety in the NFL. Holland did everything in Josh Boyer’s defense over the last two seasons. He blitzed the quarterback, notching 25 pressures and 5 sacks in two seasons, per PFF, he was a real player against the run and excellent in coverage as a deep safety, and occasionally in the slot. A switch to Vic Fangio’s defense might have him blitzing less, but his overall versatility makes him the perfect jack-of-all-trades.

The justification for having Kyle Pitts over some of the names left off of the list is tough based on last season. Pitts played just 10 games before tearing his MCL and struggled even when he was healthy. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Pitts was 14th among all tight ends in receiving yards, and 20th in catches, per PFF. Despite that, he should still be considered a gem. His physical traits are unmatched and 2021 gave us a glimpse of what he’s capable of. So many of his struggles were related to Marcus Mariota and his issues. Hopefully, we see the real Kyle Pitts in 2023.

Wilson had an excellent rookie season in 2022 and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. His 83 catches and 1,104 receiving yards led all rookies and Wilson was inevitably the bright spot on a Jets offense that struggled with inept quarterback play. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands, a real elite separator, and one of the best young wide receivers in the game. The sky feels like the limit for Wilson with Aaron Rodgers under center.

Diggs came under real fire in 2021. His 11 interceptions were the most in a single season since 1981, but he allowed over 1,000 yards in coverage and his swashbuckling, daredevil style of coverage had him caught out too many times. The talent was there, and with a little fine-tuning, Diggs was much better in 2022. He cut down on the penalties, and the yards allowed, while maintaining his physical style of play.

We should still be talking about Terrell as one of the best corners in the NFL, even if he had something of a down year in 2022. But, for what it’s worth, being in that Falcons’ defense would affect anyone. He’s still a monster in man coverage and has 28 pass breakups through his first three seasons. Cornerback play is inherently volatile, so it will be interesting to see where Terrell lands on the spectrum of play this year.

Terrell’s teammate, Drake London, cracks the top 20 after a solid rookie campaign. His production was hampered by some dysfunctional play from Marcus Mariota, but London still has all the makings of a receiver who can be one of the best in the league. He’s big, so he’s a natural X, but he can shake, and bake more than the normal 6-foot-5 receiver can, so you can see him like up as a big slot too. His 2022 production won’t wow you, but he’s so much more than that.

Darrisaw is the first of a litany of offensive tackles to make the list. And the first of three from the 2021 draft class. Life in the NFL got off to a slow start for him, but 2022 provided a real glimpse of what Darrisaw can be. He’s big, athletic, and a real people mover in the run game. His pass protection is solid too, allowing only 20 pressures, per PFF. Paired with Brian O’Neill, he forms one of the better tackle tandems in the NFL.

This might feel a little too high for some, but Phillips is an absolute dog. He had a breakout season in 2022, finishing with the fourth-highest pass-rush win rate among all edge defenders, per ESPN. His 70 pressures also tied Danielle Hunter for the sixth most in the NFL, per PFF. Phillips wins with an endless motor, a good array of pass-rush moves, and rare athleticism. He’ll be considered one of the top rushers in the league for years to come.

Much like his Ohio State running mate, Chris Olave hit the ground running in 2022. His production didn’t quite match that of Wilson’s, but Olave also played in two games less. In that time, he still produced 72 catches for 1,044 yards and 4 touchdowns. It’s fair to assume that he would have led all rookies in yards if he had played every game. Olave doesn’t win the same way Wilson — he’s far more refined of a route-runner and much more fluid in his movements. Both are stars in the making however you spin it.

Higgins has been one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers since entering the league in 2020. He’s posted 1,000-yard seasons in back-to-back years and added 13 touchdowns during that time, also proving that he has the chops to be a No. 1 receiver and carry the load without Ja’Marr Chase. He’s a contested catch monster and a strong route runner given his size. And he’d be the best receiver on most other teams in the NFL.

Spoilers: Jonathan Taylor is the only running back on the list. Taylor, when healthy, is the best running back in the NFL. He showed that throughout 2021, and while 2022 was a down year, he still posted 861 yards, and 4 touchdowns at an above-league-average clip of 4.5 yards per carry. Having a running back who is a home run threat as much as he is a consistent runner is a blessing. Overall, the offensive line and offense held Taylor back last season, but the threat of Anthony Richardson in the backfield could make life a little easier.

Smith settled in nicely in his second NFL season. A drop-off in production was expected with A.J. Brown in the building, but Smith outperformed expectations by a long shot, posting 95 catches for 1196 yards, and 7 touchdowns, all improvements from his rookie year. His performances, as well as his ability to do just about everything as a receiver, were instrumental as the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl.

Waddle gets the nod over Smith, but like another set of receivers further up the list, it’s a pick-your-poison scenario. An explosive athlete with some of the best run-after-catch abilities you’ll see. His 6.9 yards after the catch per reception led all wide receivers in the NFL, meaning once he got the ball in his hands, you were in for trouble. Waddle is a house call waiting to happen, but he’s so much more too.

Sewell was pegged to be the next star tackle in the NFL when he was drafted in 2021. Generally, it’s hard for offensive linemen to hit the ground running, but Sewell has proven to be an exception. He’s been a stalwart at right tackle for the Lions, allowing just one sack in true pass sets — meaning non-play action, and screen passes — in 17 games, per PFF. Sewell is just 22 years old too. He’ll be a cornerstone tackle for the next decade at least and could make the shift over to left tackle soon.

Slater was an All-Pro candidate in his rookie year with the Chargers in 2021 — if that’s not a testament to his quality then nothing is. Despite his 33-inch arms, Slater is one of the best pass-blockers in the NFL. He’s technically refined, an excellent athlete, and just as good of a run-blocker as he is in pass protection. He only played three games in 2022 due to injury, but he’ll be back to being among the premiere left tackles in no time.

Lamb is a big-play monster, and despite receiving more attention from defenses in 2022, he had a career year as the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver. Most of his work comes from the slot, but his shiftiness, and natural ability to separate despite not being the quickest receiver. He can work against man, against zone, and press coverage. Oh, and despite now being in his fourth year, Lamb is only 24.

A center in the top 10? Sacre bleu! Once you get past the initial shock and start to think about it, it makes a ton of sense. He’s allowed only one sack and 28 pressures in his two NFL seasons, per PFF, and has walked into the best offense in the NFL, and seamlessly slotted in at one of the game’s toughest positions. He’s already the 1A or 1B of centers in the league too. That’s just not something many guys can attest to after just two years. Humphrey is special.

The shift in Thomas’ performance from his rookie season to the last two years has been unprecedented. Thomas allowed 57 pressures and 10 sacks in his rookie season, and the verdict was in on him pretty quickly. He didn’t look ready to be an NFL tackle. But he’s put the work in and solidified as an elite left tackle — giving up just 39 pressures over the last two seasons.

Lawrence is the prince who was promised. Big things were expected for the former No. 1 pick and, after a rough rookie season, Lawrence bounced back in a big way in 2022. He’s everything the NFL wanted and more. With a big strong arm, accurate, and incredible pocket feel, Lawrence is fast becoming one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks — and considering the hype, that’s an impressive feat.

Per Mockdraftable, the best physical comparison for Tristan Wirfs is Trent Williams. Now, their play styles aren’t identical, but their impact over the last few years is. Wirfs has been on the Mount Rushmore of offensive tackles since stepping foot in the NFL and was tasked with the tough task of protecting Tom Brady. In that time, which amounts to three seasons, he’s given up just 41 pressures (including just five last year) and 5 total sacks, per PFF. Holy moly, the kid is good.

The NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year clocks in at No. 5 on the list after just one season. Gardner was so good in his first year that he even had a case for Defensive Player of the Year. He led the NFL with 14 pass breakups and allowed just 361 yards in coverage despite being targeted 74 times, per PFF. He’s long, athletic, and incredibly battle-tested. Being this good after just one season is unheard of.

How about being this good after two seasons? Okay, having Surtain over Gardner might rub a few people the wrong way, but cornerback is an incredibly volatile position. The fact that Surtain only got better after his rookie season — and became an All-Pro cornerback in the process is seriously impressive. He ticks every single box when it comes to what you want from a cornerback.

Chase is another superstar who had a tremendous amount of hype around him coming into the NFL. So far, he’s cleared every hurdle and elevated himself to the status of league elite. In two seasons, he’s racked up over 2500 yards and 22 touchdowns in just 29 regular season games. He’s a big play threat, a dynamo with the ball in his hands, and an explosive yet refined route runner. There might only be one receiver better than him in the NFL.

And it’s this guy. Chase versus Jefferson is essentially another “pick-your-poison” battle. Chase is the more explosive and dynamic receiver, while Jefferson is more nuanced, winning with shiftiness, crisp route-running, and deception. Through three seasons in the NFL, he’s totaled 4825 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson catching the ball is as inevitable as death or taxes.

Micah Parsons is a phenom of a player. Originally drafted as an off-ball linebacker/hybrid edge rusher, Parsons’ workload as a pass rusher heavily increased from 307 snaps in 2021 to 488 snaps in 2022 and, as a result, his impact was even greater. He led the league in pressures, per PFF, and his pass-rush win rate was the highest among all edge defenders. Parsons did it all while still occasionally dropping back into coverage. He’s an incredibly disruptive force in the NFL and should be coveted as the best young player in the NFL.