What would a lineup of under-25 NFL all-stars look like? Glad you asked. We polled 43 of our NFL insiders — reporters, analysts, former players — to find out which players under age 25 will be the best at each position over the next three seasons.
The results included four Saints (the most of any team), three players drafted in April and nine players age 22 or younger.
ESPN Insider Field Yates wrote the analysis of each selection.
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Percentage of vote: 65.1
Few quarterbacks have galvanized a franchise as expediently as Watson did the Texans in 2017. Watson, 22, has exceptional football IQ and character to lead teammates paired with unique arm talent (particularly in the vertical passing game) and dynamic athletic ability.
Runner-up: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Running backs
Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Percentage of vote: 58.1
Which team has the top offensive firepower? We ranked all 32. Just running backs and pass-catchers — no quarterbacks, linemen or coordinators allowed.
Which NFL teams have the most complete rosters? Pro Football Focus ranks them all from top to bottom.
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Regardless of what Gurley’s timed speed is — and you know he’s fast — his functional play speed is even better. A step for Gurley, 23, in the open field usually means six points. With outstanding receiving skills and a diverse list of open-field maneuvers, he’s a true dual-threat back.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Percentage of vote: 46.5
A projection for the 21-year-old Barkley based off a sterling career at Penn State, the Giants are hopeful that a skill set highlighted by an abundance of power, soft hands in the passing game and uncommon return skills will yield immediate returns. His polish on and off the field boosted his case as a can’t-miss draft prospect.
Runner-up: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Wide receivers
Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings
Percentage of vote: 53.5
Diggs, 24, has shown the ability to dominate in different ways at the NFL level. He excelled as a vertical threat as a rookie, chewed up catches in a volume role as a sophomore and took another step in his third season. When the ball is in the air, Diggs is a good bet to win in man-to-man coverage.
Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Percentage of vote: 53.5
Hill has made his mark already as a speed threat in the NFL. It’s not hyperbole to suggest the 24-year-old is the fastest player in the league, routinely impacting the game as a receiver, runner and returner. Hill has a compact frame but plays with some power, too.
Runner-up: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight end
Evan Engram, New York Giants
Percentage of vote: 48.8
The reality of some NFL offenses is that tight ends are asked to serve frequently in a detached alignment, working in a slot role that requires immense athletic skills. Engram, 23, is in some ways a jumbo wide receiver, firmly cementing his spot as a bright spot in the Giants’ offense as a rookie.
Runner-up: Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
Offensive tackles
Jack Conklin, Tennessee Titans
Percentage of vote: 72.1
While some still believe that the value of a left tackle surpasses that of a right tackle, Conklin’s immediate emergence on the right side for Tennessee proves it’s a position of massive influence. Powerful and technically sound, the 23-year-old is currently recovering from a knee injury.
Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints
Percentage of vote: 51.2 percent
During a time when NFL teams are finding the challenge of identifying ready-made offensive linemen more difficult, Ramczyk, 24, stepped into a starting role right away. He played every snap in 2017 and handled multiple positions.
Runner-up: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
Guards
Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Percentage of vote: 93 percent
Nelson was a near-unanimous pick, a reflection of his pedigree coming out of Notre Dame. The 22-year-old plays with a blend of nasty and surgical attention to detail. Indy hopes he’ll set the tone for the line for a decade.
Andrus Peat, New Orleans Saints
Percentage of vote: 25.6 percent
The 24-year-old Peat is a dancing bear, an impressive athlete for a player of his size with positional versatility.
Runner-up: Will Hernandez, New York Giants
Center
Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings
Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent
The center position involves more than just meets the eye; Elflein, 24, absorbs great responsibility pre-snap in getting the offensive line in sync. His acclimation to the pro game from his college days was an expedient one.
Runner-up: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
Interior linemen
Sheldon Rankins, New Orleans Saints
Percentage of vote: 53.5 percent
Rankins, 24, is unique in this sense: He’s an immovable object in the middle of the Saints’ defense that makes the group decidedly better against the run, while also adding value as an intention rusher.
Leonard Williams, New York Jets
Percentage of vote: 74.4 percent
Williams’ length stands out, as the long-levered and versatile 24-year-old defender makes it hard for an offensive lineman to stay engaged. His value will transcend his statistics, but those are already quite impressive.
Runner-up: Jonathan Allen, Washington
Pass-rushers
Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
Percentage of vote: 93 percent
Bosa, 23, drew pre-draft comparisons to J.J. Watt, an almost unfair parallel for any player to face. And yet, he has been a dominant force with some shades of Watt in terms of next-level power and acceleration.
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Percentage of vote: 53.5 percent
Garrett was a bit limited by injuries as a rookie but made his mark all the same. He may have been the best talent on the Browns’ roster last season when the team went 0-16. Much more impressively, the 22-year-old may still be the most talented player on an improved roster.
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Percentage of vote: 51.2 percent
The younger Watt, 23, is a terrific athlete and has the reactive skills to be a factor in coverage. Oh, did we mention he’s already an immense force as a rusher for a defense that led the NFL in sacks last year?
Runner-up: Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars
Linebackers
Myles Jack, Jacksonville Jaguars
Percentage of vote: 74.4 percent
In a league where offenses stress a defense every inch of the field horizontally, Jack’s athletic tools stand out. The 22-year-old has already established himself as a ferocious tackler, cooling any concerns over a serious college knee injury.
Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent
Jones, 23, carries a rep as one of the game’s best coverage linebackers already. He runs like an oversized defensive back while also setting the tone as a hitter. He’s the quarterback of Atlanta’s defense.
Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers
Percentage of vote: 32.6 percent
Foster’s NFL career is young, but what already stood out was his feel for finding the football. The 24-year-old must stay healthy and will serve a two-game suspension to begin the season, but he could emerge as San Francisco’s best defensive player.
Runner-up: Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cornerbacks
Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent
Lattimore’s ability to play on an island is reflective of his confidence, reactive athletic ability and ball skills. It’s hard to quantify how much mental toughness impacts defensive back play; the 22-year-old Lattimore has a ton of it.
Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars
Percentage of vote: 95.3 percent
No player earned a higher percentage of votes in this exercise than the 23-year-old Ramsey. The question may not be whether he’s one of the best players under 25, but rather whether he’s on track to becoming the league’s best defensive player.
Runner-up: Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills
Safeties
Landon Collins, New York Giants
Percentage of vote: 67.4 percent
Collins, 24, almost immediately emerged into a leadership role for the Giants. He’s a check-the-box safety, with the ability to do almost any task asked of him. He’ll make you remember his hits too, with excellent playing strength.
Jamal Adams, New York Jets
Percentage of vote: 65.1 percent
Adams oozes confidence with good reason. His pattern recognition and proactive athletic skills will align with a bucket of interceptions in time, while he’s also a player ready to run the alley as a box defender. The 22-year-old can hang in coverage versus tight ends.
Runner-up: Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Kicker
Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
Percentage of vote: 55.8 percent
Butker, 22, had a historic season, as his 38 field goals for the Chiefs in 2017 were the most by a rookie in league annals. He has a cannon for a leg, nailing 38 of 42 attempts, connecting on all of his extra points and booming 78.2 percent of his kickoffs for a touchback.
Runner-up: Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints
Punter
Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Percentage of vote: 32.6 percent
It’s rare to see a specialist win the MVP of a bowl game for a major college program, be selected a unanimous All-American, forego his final college season or earn a fifth-round NFL selection. Dickson, the Seahawks’ 22-year-old fifth-rounder in 2018, did them all. They hope for him to become a major weapon.
Runner-up: Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Colts
