NFL Analysis
7/3/24
13 min read
25 Under 25: Ranking NFL's Top Young Players Heading Into 2024 Season
With the NFL’s move to a passing-oriented league, wide receivers have become more dominant. They are now the second-highest-paid position, as reflected in Justin Jefferson’s recent $35 million per year extension, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
My list of the top 25 NFL players at 25 years old or under (as of 2024 opening day; rookies not included) reflects the rise of wide receivers, with nine of them on this list. There are also four quarterbacks, so 13 players are directly involved in the passing game.
But my top pick from last year — Jalen Hurts, off his MVP runner-up and Super Bowl season — turns 26 in August, so he’s graduated from this ranking.
The Detroit Lions have five players on my list, the most of any team, reflecting their significant improvement from a last-place team to Super Bowl contender.
>> READ: Last Year's List of Top Young Players
TOP 25 PLAYERS UNDER 25 ENTERING 2024 SEASON
25. TREVOR LAWRENCE, QB, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 
In 2022, Trevor Lawrence made the Pro Bowl and led the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs, but his performance dipped at the end of 2023 as the Jaguars fell from playoff contention. His passer rating went from 95.2 in 2022 to 88.5 last season.
Yet, the team strongly believes in the player they picked first overall in the 2021 draft. Jacksonville recently extended Lawrence for $55 million per year, putting him equal to Joe Burrow as the highest-paid quarterback. He’s now expected to perform among the best quarterbacks, which he is capable of talent-wise.
>> READ: Deep Dive Into Lawrence's 2024 Outlook
24. JAHMYR GIBBS, RB, DETROIT LIONS
The explosive first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2023 proved his value as a dual-purpose threat with 945 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry), 10 rushing touchdowns, 52 catches for 316 yards, and one receiving touchdown.
He added 238 total yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ run to the NFC title game. Jahmyr Gibbs was named to the Pro Bowl and was selected as an All-Rookie.
He benefits from running behind the league’s best offensive line as he shares carries with David Montgomery. Gibbs has the prolific Jared Goff throwing to him, and the Lions are talking about utilizing Gibbs more in the passing game this season.
He could become the next Christian McCaffrey — one of the NFL’s top rushers and receivers out of the backfield.
23. CREED HUMPHREY, C, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Creed Humphrey is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the anchors on the Super Bowl champions' offensive line.
He was a second-round pick in 2021 and is among the highest-rated centers as a run blocker and pass protector for Patrick Mahomes.
22. CHRIS OLAVE, WR, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Chris Olave has been highly productive in his first two seasons after the New Orleans Saints selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He improved on his All-Rookie season (72 receptions, 1,042 yards, four touchdowns) with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns in 2023.
He’s an excellent route runner, and his numbers should rise again in his second year working with QB Derek Carr.
21. DEVONTA SMITH, WR, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The former Heisman Trophy winner combines with A.J. Brown to form one of the league’s best wide receiver duos. Devonta Smith had his second straight thousand-plus yard season in 2023 with 81 catches for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 19 touchdown receptions in three seasons.
Smith signed a $25 million per year extension in April that will keep this elite receiver in Philadelphia for many years to come.
20. SAM LAPORTA, TE, DETROIT LIONS
Sam LaPorta burst on the scene as a second-round pick. He had an outstanding rookie year with 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, breaking the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end.
He also was impactful in the playoffs with 21 catches for 176 yards and one TD in Detroit’s three postseason games. LaPorta was named All-Rookie, Second-team All-Pro, and to the Pro Bowl team. He calmed Lions fans' concerns after the Pro Bowl TE T.J. Hockenson was traded to the Vikings in 2022.
LaPorta excels as a receiver, run blocker, and pass protector. He’s a key member of the Lions’ offense, which ranked second in passing yards and third in total offense last season.
19. NICO COLLINS, WR, HOUSTON TEXANS
C.J. Stroud’s leading target last season was Nico Collins, a third-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. He had his best year in 2023 with 80 catches for 1,297 yards (eighth-most in the league) and eight touchdowns as he helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South.
Collins was rewarded this offseason with a three-year, $75 million extension. He’ll be part of a dynamic trio of Texans wide receivers in 2024, along with Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.
18. TRISTAN WIRFS, OT, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Tristan Wirfs continued to play at an elite level last season when he moved to left tackle after playing right tackle in his first three seasons.
He made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2023 and is a two-time All-Pro. Wirfs was a Super Bowl champ as a rookie first-round starter, helping protect Tom Brady in 2020.
Wirfs’ fifth-year option will pay him $18.244 million this season, but he is seeking a lucrative extension and was a “hold-in” at minicamp. That could continue in training camp without a new deal in the range of Penei Sewell’s recently signed $28 million per year extension.
17. WILL ANDERSON JR., DE, HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans pulled off the rare feat of having both the Offensive Rookie of the Year (Stroud) and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Will Anderson, who was the third overall pick in 2023, one spot behind Stroud.
Including Houston’s two playoff games, Anderson had eight sacks, 24 QB hits, 49 tackles, and 12 tackles for loss. He helped the Texans’ defense improve from 30th in 2022 to 14th last season in a surprising year for the team.
Anderson was also selected for the Pro Bowl and All-Rookie team. He and free agent signee Danielle Hunter should form one of the league’s best pair of pass rushers this season.
16. GARRETT WILSON, WR, NEW YORK JETS
Garrett Wilson was the Offensive Rookie of the Year after he was drafted in the 2022 first round. He had 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns that season.
He followed it up with another excellent performance in 2023 with 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns. In both seasons, the New York Jets’ quarterback play was shaky.
That should change this season if Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, in which case Wilson’s production could skyrocket.
15. PATRICK SURTAIN II, CB, DENVER BRONCOS
By his own admission, Pat Surtain’s performance fell off some in 2023 compared to the previous season when he was selected First-team All-Pro. However, he is still one of the league’s top young corners. The seventh overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft made the Pro Bowl for the second straight time last season.
He had only one interception in 2023 compared to six in the previous two seasons but did have 12 passes defensed and 69 tackles.
14. PUKA NACUA, WR, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Puka Nacua is a Los Angeles Rams draft steal as a fifth-rounder last year who surprised opposing teams to the tune of 105 catches, 1,486 receiving yards (fourth-most in the NFL), and six touchdowns.
He set a rookie record for receiving yards and was selected as a second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler for a Rams team that made the playoffs in a rebound season. He and Cooper Kupp will be a formidable duo for teams to contain if Kupp can stay on the field after two injury-filled seasons.
13. TRENT MCDUFFIE, CB, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Trent McDuffie’s career is off to a great start. The Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2022 has won Super Bowl titles in his first two seasons.
He was a First-team All-Pro last season when he produced 80 tackles, three sacks, nine QB hits, five forced fumbles, and seven passes defensed in the regular season. He broke up seven more passes in the postseason, including three in the Super Bowl.
McDuffie is seeking his first career interception, but teams won’t throw his direction much.
12. JORDAN LOVE, QB, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Jordan Love finally succeeded Aaron Rodgers in 2023 (his fourth season as a former first-round pick). After a shaky first half of the season, Love exploded with 18 touchdown passes and one interception as the Green Bay Packers went 6-2, earning a wild-card berth.
Then, Love passed for 272 yards and three touchdowns in a wild-card round blowout of the Cowboys in Dallas. He almost led an upset of the 49ers before falling in the divisional round.
Love ranked second in the league with 32 touchdown passes and seventh in passing yards (4,159). He’s going into the final year of his contract and is reportedly on the verge of signing a lucrative extension that should push him over $50 million yearly in new money.
11. AIDAN HUTCHINSON, DE, DETROIT LIONS
The second overall pick in 2022 is the best player on the Lions’ defense. Aidan Hutchinson followed up an All-Rookie season with his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023.
Hutchinson is a high-motor player who is all over the field, as shown by his 11.5 sacks, 33 QB hits, 51 tackles, and 14 tackles for loss last season. He was a big reason the Lions won their first playoff games in 32 years and their first division title since 1993 — Hutchinson added three more sacks in the postseason.
He also has four career interceptions to further show his versatility and athleticism.
10. KYLE HAMILTON, S, BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Baltimore Ravens have lost several starters off last year’s sixth-ranked defense, but among their returning stars is First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton.
In his second season since being Baltimore’s first-round pick in 2022 (when he was selected All-Rookie), Hamilton was a dominating defender with four interceptions, 13 passes defensed, three sacks, 81 tackles, and 10 tackles for loss in 15 games.
9. AMON-RA ST. BROWN, WR, DETROIT LIONS
Amon-Ra St. Brown is a great success story. A fourth-round pick in 2021, he developed into a two-time Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro last season. He deservedly received a $30 million per year extension this offseason from a Detroit team that has committed big money to keep its top players.
He ranked third in the league with 1,515 receiving yards last season on 117 receptions with 10 touchdowns as a vital member of the Lions’ second-ranked passing offense.
8. JA’MARR CHASE, WR, CINCINNATI BENGALS
Ja’Marr Chase made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2023 as he posted a career-high with 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.
He was the fifth overall pick in 2021 when he was the Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Second-team All-Pro. He had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 368 receiving yards in the postseason (an NFL rookie record) during the Cincinnati Bengals’ Super Bowl run.
Cincinnati picked up Chase's fifth-year option for 2025, but he is seeking an extension similar to Jefferson, his college teammate at LSU.
7. C.J. STROUD, QB, HOUSTON TEXANS
C.J. Stroud is coming off a fantastic rookie season in which the second overall pick was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading the Texans’ huge turnaround from cellar dwellers to AFC South champs.
He added a playoff win against the Browns’ top-ranked defense when he threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
Stroud ranked sixth in passer rating (100.8) and eighth in passing yards (4,108). His five interceptions were the fewest by a quarterback with more than eight starts. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
6. BROCK PURDY, QB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
“Mr. Irrelevant,” as the last pick in the 2022 draft, has quickly established himself as plenty relevant after winning his first seven starts (including two playoff games before his elbow injury) in his rookie season and following it up with a tremendous 2023 season.
Brock Purdy led the league in passer rating (113.0) with 4,280 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. He directed the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC West title and then the Super Bowl before falling to the Chiefs in overtime. He showed good running ability on top of his passing skill in a Pro Bowl season.
A big payday awaits Purdy if he continues at his current pace.
5. CEEDEE LAMB, WR, DALLAS COWBOYS
CeeDee Lamb is coming off his best season, in which he led the league with 135 receptions and ranked second with 1,749 receiving yards while adding 14 combined touchdowns. The 2020 first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
He is scheduled to be paid $17.991 million under his fifth-year option in 2024 but is expected to hold out from training camp if he does not have his contract extended in the next several weeks.
>> READ: Predicting Lamb's Extension
4. SAUCE GARDNER, CB, NEW YORK JETS
The fourth overall pick in 2022 has already established himself as the league’s best corner and a key player on the Jets' defense that ranked second against the pass last season.
Sauce Gardner has earned First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in both of his seasons. Last season, he had no interceptions and 11 passes defensed as teams avoided throwing in his direction.
3. PENEI SEWELL, OT, DETROIT LIONS
The big and athletic Penei Sewell was the seventh overall pick in 2021. He’s emerged as one of the league’s best offensive linemen, earning First-team All-Pro honors last season. He’s the two-time Pro Bowl right tackle on the Lions’ dominant offensive line.
Sewell recently signed a four-year, $112 million extension ($28 million per year), making him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman in new-money average. At only 23 years old, he has a great and well-paid future ahead.
2. MICAH PARSONS, DE/OLB, DALLAS COWBOYS
Micah Parsons is a three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler since he joined the Cowboys as their first-round pick in 2021 (when he was the Defensive Rookie of the Year).
He has demonstrated his great speed and strength as a consistent playmaker in run defense (213 career tackles) and as a double-digit sack-getter each season (40.5 career sacks and seven forced fumbles).
Parsons awaits a huge extension, which he’s now eligible for as he enters his fourth season. It should put him equal to or above Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year as the league’s highest-paid defensive player.
1. JUSTIN JEFFERSON, WR, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Justin Jefferson missed seven games with a hamstring injury last season, but he still produced 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. It was his fourth straight thousand-plus yard season since joining the Minnesota Vikings as their 2020 first-round pick.
The league’s highest-paid non-quarterback has the most receiving yards in a player’s first four seasons, was 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, and is a three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler. He also holds the NFL record with 98.3 career receiving yards per game. Jefferson is clearly on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
He is also a team captain who will play a key role in J.J. McCarthy’s transition as the Vikings' starting quarterback whenever that happens.
>> READ: What Is Jefferson's Path To The Hall of Fame?
