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Stephen Holder
BALTIMORE — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. sustained a finger injury in the first quarter of Thursday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens and will not return to the game, the team said.
Richardson started the game amid the quarterback battle he’s engaged in with veteran Daniel Jones. On his second possession, Richardson dropped back but was sacked by unblocked linebacker David Ojabo from the right side as Richardson turned his head and looked to deliver the ball to a receiver on his left. It did not appear that Richardson ever saw Ojabo.
Richardson went to the sideline and was examined by trainers, then attempted to grip and throw a ball a few times. But the team quickly ruled him out of the game, and Jones replaced Richardson in the lineup.
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Television replays seemed to show Richardson’s right pinkie finger pointing at an awkward angle before he got up and jogged off the field.
The game was expected to be Richardson’s next step in trying to retain his starting job after the Colts signed Jones during the offseason to a one-year, $14 million deal to compete with Richardson. The Colts were planning to play Richardson for most of the first half while allowing Jones to play roughly the same amount in next week’s preseason matchup with the
NFL training camps are off and running, and the 2025 season is right around the corner. While observing nearly two weeks of practices, our NFL Nation reporters have been logging their observations daily.
One of the biggest storylines throughout every camp is that players are battling for positions on the depth chart. Players spend camp making their cases to be included on the final 53-man rosters at the end of August. Just making it isn’t enough, though. Coaches are seeking clarity on who starts and who will provide backup.
For example, the Los Angeles Rams are looking to secure their third receiving option behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, while the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints are still trying to decide which quarterback will start Week 1.
Here are 32 of the biggest position battles going on at camps across the NFL.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Backup quarterback
Most of the Bills’ 53-man roster is locked in, but who will be the quarterback behind Josh Allen (who hasn’t missed a start since his rookie season) is a question mark. General manager Brandon Beane expressed confidence in last season’s backup, Mitchell Trubisky, at the start of camp, but he and Mike White have shared second-team reps in practice. The preseason games could be key for this battle.
The other biggest battle could be at No. 2 cornerback, but the job is currently Tre’Davious White’s to lose, with first-round pick Maxwell Hairston dealing with a right LCL sprain. — Alaina Getzenberg
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Cornerback
Get ready to hear about this position all season. The Dolphins released or traded both of their starting corners from last season and lost their lone returner,
Wide receiver
So far in camp, the top grouping has been Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, with nine-year veteran Kendrick Bourne and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams next in line. It was notable that when veteran Mack Hollins (who signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal in March) returned to practice last week after opening camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, he worked alongside Diggs and Douglas, slicing into some of Boutte’s reps among the top group.
Meanwhile, 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round), along with spring undrafted free agent standout Efton Chism III, are among those who have shown up making plays. There will likely be six (possibly seven) wide receivers on the initial roster, so something has to give. — Mike Reiss
Center
It is incumbent Joe Tippmann versus Josh Myers, formerly the Packers’ starter. This is a legitimate open competition, with both players getting an equal number of practice reps.
Most outsiders thought Tippmann was entrenched, so it raised eyebrows in the offseason when Myers (56 career starts) signed a one-year, $2 million contract and was promised a shot at the job. Tippmann was a second-round pick in 2023, but he ranked 30th out of 33 centers last season in pass block win rate (Myers was 20th).
Myers’ biggest advantage is his experience, not to mention his familiarity with QB Justin Fields, his former college teammate. — Rich Cimini
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AFC NORTH
Kicker
The Ravens have two rookies battling it out to replace Justin Tucker, who was released in May amid an NFL investigation into sexual misconduct.
Tyler Loop, a sixth-round pick, remains the favorite over undrafted free agent John Hoyland, but the competition has been close throughout the first week of training camp. Loop made his first 23 kicks of the summer and is 28-of-31 (90.3%). Hoyland also has missed three attempts, going 25-of-28 (89.2%).
The Ravens would like to settle on a kicker around the preseason finale on Aug. 23.
“When the winner shows, it’s going to show,” Ravens special teams coach Chris Horton said. “How soon is that going to be? I don’t know, but I do know that these guys are going to be out here getting valuable work every day and in these preseason games.” — Jamison Hensley
Right guard
Early in camp, the battle was billed between Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick, who signed with the Bengals on a one-year deal this offseason. But so far, Ford safely has the inside track.
Ford is firmly in the RG1 spot, something that has been strengthened only with Patrick dealing with an injury that kept him out of practice for a couple of days. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said the offensive line has done well in training camp. –– Ben Baby
Quarterback
The Browns opened camp with what was billed as a four-way QB competition, but the first week saw veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett take the majority of first-team reps.
Pickett’s hamstring injury has seemingly paved the way for Flacco to lead the starting offense and stake his claim to be the starter. It has also opened more opportunities for rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to make an impression, too.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said he has a tentative timeline to make a decision on the starter but wants to evaluate each quarterback in various situations before moving forward. — Daniel Oyefusi
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Camp updates by team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
No. 2 wide receiver
Sound familiar? A year ago, that was the most talked about position battle (other than quarterback, of course) and on paper, the Steelers are in a similar position this year after trading away George Pickens.
The room is led by DK Metcalf, but the order behind him is a little murky. During minicamp, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said receiver Calvin Austin III, a speedy yards-after-catch (YAC) threat drafted in 2022, was the team’s WR2 — but there are other players on the roster battling for the role, including Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson.
The Steelers also acquired receiving threat Jonnu Smith. General manager Omar Khan downplayed the possibility of adding another true wide receiver to the roster, but the team brought in Gabe Davis for a visit earlier this offseason. There could be several wide receivers available on the trade market, too. — Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Offensive tackle
There is a battle in Houston that features both tackle spots and involves rookie Aireontae Ersery, a second-round pick out of Minnesota. He’s battling Cam Robinson and Blake Fisher, who are the starting left and right tackles, respectively. Fisher was a 2024 second-round pick and Robinson was a notable free agent signing.
Last season, quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times, which was the second most in the league, and Houston revamped the unit in hopes to protect Stroud better. The Texans are high on Ersery, as they tried to trade up for him in the first round, according to league sources. — DJ Bien-Aime
Quarterback
Rarely do we see an open competition between two quarterbacks who have previously been starters, but Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones are said to have an equal shot at the job in Indy.
Richardson’s status as the team’s 2023 fourth overall pick might give him an edge, so Jones presumably needs to take the job from him. It’s difficult to argue that that has happened thus far, with both passers showing the inconsistency that has plagued their careers. But coach Shane Steichen said he’s willing to take his time reaching a decision, so this one could linger until the end of the preseason. — Stephen Holder
Safety
Eric Murray, whom the Jaguars signed in free agency, is locked in at one spot. The other has been a rotation of Andrew Wingard, Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson.
Wingard, who has had 28 starts with the Jaguars since 2019, had all but won the starting job over Johnson next to Andre Cisco last season, but a knee injury cost him the first nine games of the season. He would be considered the slight favorite at this point, but that could change once the preseason begins. — Michael DiRocco
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Tight end
Chig Okonkwo is the incumbent, but rookie Gunnar Helm will push for the spot — or at the very least, get reps in two-tight-end sets. Both players have really caught quarterback Cameron Ward’s attention. Okonkwo spent time with Ward in Miami to get a head start on developing chemistry. The Titans staff likes to get Okonkwo the ball and let him pick up yards after the catch. Helm has done a good job working the middle of the field and making catches in traffic.
Second-year tight end David Martin-Robinson is an option who is seeing a lot of action in the quick game with this speed. Josh Whyle has faded somewhat, but there’s a good chance the Titans keep four tight ends.
The question will be who contributes more on special teams, Whyle or Thomas Odukoya. — Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Running back
The Broncos, with so many starters from 2024’s playoff team returning, don’t really have the traditional training camp battle anywhere between Player A or Player B. What they have instead are battles for situational snaps.
At running back, there is at least a battle to see who will get the ball in the most situations. J.K. Dobbins, who was signed during the team’s June minicamp, has spent plenty of time in team drills with the starters in training camp’s early going. His reliability as a pass catcher and pass blocker gives him the inside track on much of the third down work.
But rookie RJ Harvey has flashed quality vision and quickness through the hole thus far, so much so coach Sean Payton has said “he’s doing exceptional.”
Jaleel McLaughlin has shown impact as a receiver out of the backfield and Audric Estime, at 227 pounds, is the biggest of the running backs with the most potential power inside.
There will be a lot to sort out and much can change, but Dobbins looks, at the moment, to check the most boxes in the most down-and-distance situations. — Jeff Legwold
Left guard
With rookie first-round pick Josh Simmons taking all the reps at left tackle, the biggest battle for the Chiefs is picking who they want to see first at left guard.
The first option is Kingsley Suamataia, the 2024 second-round pick who has switched from guard to tackle. The more veteran option is Jaylon Moore, who was a spot starter at left tackle with the 49ers. How Suamataia and Moore perform in the preseason will likely determine who wins the starting role.
The runner-up projects to be the Chiefs’ top backup when an injury occurs. — Nate Taylor
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Cornerback
Eric Stokes has played primarily with the starters during training camp, while third-round pick Darien Porter and Decamerion Richardson have alternated first-team reps.
Jakorian Bennett, who has started in 11 career games but had season-ending surgery in 2024, has played with the second- and third-team defense.
This position group is far from being solidified, and even though coach Pete Carroll has given the secondary a ton of praise, there are a few red flags. Stokes has played a full season just twice in his four-year career. Meanwhile, Porter has upside but has started in only seven career college games at cornerback. — Ryan McFadden
Center
The Chargers’ interior offensive line was abysmal last season, and the play at center played a significant role. Center Bradley Bozeman ranked 160th in run block win rate, as the Chargers struggled to produce the dominant rushing offense Jim Harbaugh promised when he took the job.
The Chargers have a three-person battle for that starting spot, among Bozeman, Zion Johnson (who played left guard last season) and Andre James, who the team signed in free agency. — Kris Rhim
NFC EAST
Running back
The Cowboys are essentially giving equal looks to Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who signed as free agents in the offseason.
Each has had their moments in camp, which is a positive sign. Williams might have an edge as a pass catcher out of the backfield, but Sanders might be better suited for the dirty yards with his style.
“If we have a guy that clearly wins the starting job, then he’ll be the starting guy,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said.
“Is he the bell cow? There’s all these cool words that go with it. ‘Oh, he’s a bell cow,’ or ‘He’s the man,’ or ‘He’s the stud,’ or whatever. Let’s let these guys compete. And it does take more than one [back]. It usually takes more than two.” — Todd Archer
Second cornerback
One would think the biggest battle is at right guard with former top-10 pick Evan Neal in the mix, but it’s actually the second starting outside cornerback spot opposite Paulson Adebo.
It’s a full-on competition between 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks and 2022 third-rounder Cor’Dale Flott. They are alternating days with the first-team defense at training camp. The Giants are making Banks earn it after a down season.
“Competition brings out the most in people most of the time,” coach Brian Daboll said.
The reality is that Flott had a better season last year. Banks’ targeted EPA of 33.4 was the fourth lowest in the league among players with at least 100 coverage snaps, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Flott was significantly better at 7.1 while rookie Dru Phillips led all Giants cornerbacks at minus-7.2. — Jordan Raanan
Cornerback The departure of Darius Slay this offseason opened up a starting spot on the outside opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Third-year player Kelee Ringo has been splitting reps with veteran Adoree’ Jackson, who was signed to a one-year deal in March. Ringo gave up some big plays early in camp but has elevated his game of late, while Jackson has been mostly steady throughout. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said the time is now for Jackson to reach his full potential. “In Tennessee, when it came time to re-sign him after his contract was up, they didn’t,” Fangio said. “The Giants, his contract was up, they didn’t. It’s time to show who he is or who he isn’t.” Philadelphia had the No. 1 pass defense in 2024, so they’ll need consistent play from either Ringo or Jackson to maintain that level of defensive dominance. — Tim McManus Right tackle Washington drafted Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round, but he’s rotating first-team snaps with veteran Andrew Wylie. Last summer, the Commanders made quarterback Jayden Daniels prove himself before he earned all the first-team reps and again before being officially named the starter. So, if he has to prove himself, so does Conerly. It’ll be hard to accurately gauge the competition until Conerly plays in the preseason. For now, he’s still learning the speed, how to set quickly versus edge rushers and adapting to the play strength. With Daniels last summer, it was obvious he should start. Conerly is not yet at that point, but having an eight-year vet such as Wylie around gives Conerly time to grow — and the team doesn’t have to force him into the lineup until he’s ready. — John Keim Left tackle The Bears have three players competing to protect Caleb Williams’ blindside: incumbent starter Braxton Jones, second-year offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie and rookie Ozzy Trapilo. Each brings something different to the table — Jones’ 40 starts over three seasons, Amegadjie’s potential and Trapilo’s disciplined, tactician-like play — which means this position battle likely won’t be decided any time soon. Coach Ben Johnson said the team is taking a “blank slate” approach to give each player a fair shot and that he doesn’t care whether it takes three weeks or the entire training camp to come to a decision. Jones, Amegadjie and Trapilo have all gotten first-team reps through the first week of camp and will continue to rotate in with the starting offensive line to find the team’s best fit. — Courtney Cronin Center The Lions’ starting center position is up for grabs, but it’s seeming more and more like it’s veteran Graham Glasgow’s job to lose after the first few padded practices. “It’s looked pretty dang good,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said last week. “So, I think every day that it looks pretty dang good, it gets a little clearer.” Second-round pick Tate Ratledge is also competing for a starting role on Detroit’s offensive line and has played center and right guard in training camp as well. The Lions are trying to sort things out after losing four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow to retirement as well as veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the Titans this offseason. — Eric Woodyard Wide receiver Maybe the Packers don’t have a true No. 1 receiver — with Christian Watson out to start the season while still recovering from right ACL surgery — but there’s still a pecking order to be determined. Green Bay’s 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden might have thrust himself near the top of that list right away. Those who think it’s hard for a rookie receiver to make an immediate impact should watch how smoothly Golden has fit in so far in camp. That said, the likes of Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and even tight end Tucker Kraft can also vie for quarterback Jordan Love’s attention. — Rob Demovsky No. 4 wide receiver The No. 4 wide receiver position wouldn’t seem too important for most teams, but for the Vikings, it is. Starter Jordan Addison could face an NFL suspension after pleading guilty to a “wet reckless” charge of driving with alcohol involved, while Justin Jefferson has been slowed by a strained left hamstring. In other words, the fourth receiver could play a significant role at times this season. Lucky Jackson and Jeshaun Jones have been the early standouts in training camp, while two veterans to keep in mind are Tim Jones and Rondale Moore. — Kevin Seifert Safety Jessie Bates III has one spot locked down, but the other is a competition between veteran Jordan Fuller and rookie Xavier Watts. DeMarcco Hellams, who missed all of last season (ankle), has been playing well in practice, too. Fuller and Watts have been alternating with the first-team defense alongside Bates. Fuller was with Falcons coach Raheem Morris on the Rams’ Super Bowl team, while Watts was a third-round pick who many thought would be drafted higher. Atlanta expects its rookies to get a lot of playing time this year, and that includes Watts. — Marc Raimondi Center Austin Corbett and Cade Mays have been alternating days working with the first-team offense. Corbett was first up, but he has played only nine games over the past two seasons because of injuries. Mays caught the eye of the coaching staff last season when he started eight of the final nine games and allowed only 10 QB pressures. Mays is younger and has the lower-priced contract, counting only $3.4 million against the cap to $5.6 million for Corbett, who turns 30 in September. Mays might be a better long-term solution for continuity if all things are equal. Both have performed well in camp, so this could go down to the wire. — David Newton Quarterback No position battle will be more scrutinized in New Orleans than the one currently going on at quarterback. Kellen Moore said he doesn’t expect to make any big decisions on this until the first preseason game or beyond, and so far the Saints have split first-team reps between three of their four quarterbacks (rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener). Both Rattler and Shough have rotated into the first team offense at least twice. There has been no front-runner just one week into camp, and the Saints will likely try to keep things even for a while — at least until they take a nine-day road trip to California and begin preparing for a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. — Katherine Terrell Nickelback Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles already said Christian Izien will be on the 53-man roster. But in what capacity? The former undrafted free agent grabbed a starting role in 2023 before serving as a backup to Tykee Smith last season but wound up stepping in at safety and even at outside corner. But rookie Jacob Parrish has had multiple interceptions since he got to Tampa, and Bowles wants ball hawks. — Jenna Laine Outside linebacker Arizona committed to improving its pass rush this offseason by signing Josh Sweat and drafting Jordan Burch, adding them to a room that already included Zaven Collins, Xavier Thomas and BJ Ojulari. One side of the line belongs to Sweat. The other is up for grabs and will be a fight between incumbent starter Collins and the others. Coach Jonathan Gannon said he ideally wants his best players on the field, and his staff will be monitoring snaps. While the rest of the outside linebackers will compete to be a starter, there could be room in certain packages and situations for everyone. — Josh Weinfuss No. 3 wide receiver This choice speaks to how set most of the Rams’ roster was going into training camp. Behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, the Rams have a group of Tutu Atwell, 2024 sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington and 2023 undrafted free agent Xavier Smith, who are competing to be Los Angeles’ third receiver. The role is especially important in the Rams’ offense because of Sean McVay’s significant usage of 11 personnel (three receivers on the field). — Sarah Barshop • Early mock drafts: Miller | Reid Safety After years of depth chart and roster stability, the Niners have plenty to choose from here. But safety might be the most intriguing, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh saying the competition here is wide open. Presumptive starters Malik Mustapha (knee) and Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle) are coming off significant injuries, and it’s unclear when they’ll return. From there, the Niners added Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant in free agency and Marques Sigle in the draft. They usually don’t keep more than four or occasionally five safeties, but it’s going to take some time to sort this out following the offseason departure of Talanoa Hufanga. — Nick Wagoner Right guard It isn’t the most exciting position battle, but it might be the most important one given that Seattle’s offensive line needs every edge it can get. Incumbent Anthony Bradford has been taking most of the first-team reps ahead of Christian Haynes and Jalen Sundell. With Haynes mixing in, Bradford made 11 uneven starts last year before an ankle injury ended his season. The Seahawks almost certainly won’t rotate right guards like they did last season, but the competition there and at center could last into the preseason. — Brady Henderson
NFC NORTH
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Brooke Pryor
LATROBE, Pa. — Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard sustained an injury to his throwing hand during Tuesday’s practice, coach Mike Tomlin said.
Howard, a sixth-round pick, is believed to have injured his hand on a center-quarterback exchange and will be further evaluated.
“I think it was a CQ exchange,” Tomlin said. “But I didn’t have direct eyes on it, so I’m speculating.”
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Aaron Schatz
NFL teams don’t need young talent to be serious contenders, but having it helps indicate their potential for long-term success. Blue-chip players are cornerstone assets from whom teams will likely derive their biggest future value.
For the third straight year, the Houston Texans are No. 1 on this list of teams with the most under-25 talent, which is what happens when they trade up to get the top two picks in the draft and take two players who are very young. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who were both drafted in 2023, are two of the league’s most valuable young players — even with Stroud’s numbers taking a hit last season.
A year ago, the Texans were way ahead of everyone else when it came to ranking talent under 25 years old. Now, things are much closer between Houston and the other teams near the top. Here are our rankings (all ages are as of Sept. 1):
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Methodology
As is our standard, we have created these rankings based on a combination of factors:
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Number of starts made by players under 25 years old
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Number of snaps played by players under 25 years old
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Quality of play by players under 25 years old, age-adjusted to capture the fact that a 21-year-old player of X ability will likely improve more than a 23-year-old player of X ability — and with extra consideration given to Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections
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Value and length of player contracts
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Relative importance of positions, with quarterbacks being more important and running backs, off-ball linebackers and specialists being less important than other positions
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Draft value added in the 2025 draft, particularly in the first three rounds
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Expected key starters and reserves under 25 years old for teams in 2025
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Significant injuries or suspensions that will affect the 2025 availability of players under 25 years old
2024 ranking: 1
Blue-chip players: QB C.J. Stroud, Edge Will Anderson Jr., CB Derek Stingley Jr., CB Kamari Lassiter
Notable graduated players: WR Tank Dell, OL Juice Scruggs
Stroud’s birthday is Oct. 3 and Anderson’s is Sept. 2, and both players will turn 24. The former first-rounders had standout rookie seasons, with Stroud and Anderson taking home 2023 NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, and Anderson had 45 tackles and seven sacks.
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The Texans also have a ton of youth in the secondary, including three starters. Stingley, who made first-team All-Pro last season, is still just 24. The other outside cornerback, Lassiter, is 22 years old, and so is free safety
2024 ranking: 10
Blue-chip players: CB Devon Witherspoon, DT Byron Murphy II, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Notable graduated players: None
The Seahawks climb eight spots on our list for a few reasons. First, 23-year-old Smith-Njigba had a breakout 2024 season, catching 100 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. Second, they drafted a young quarterback in Jalen Milroe — and even young quarterbacks from the third round have value here. And third, they added a whole year of draft picks without having any important players age out of consideration for this list.
Other than Smith-Njigba, the best of the Seahawks’ young players is 24-year-old slot cornerback Witherspoon. In his first two seasons, Witherspoon has recorded 177 tackles, 4 sacks and 25 passes defensed. The rest of the young defense includes last year’s first-round pick, 22-year-old Murphy, as well as 24-year-old edge rusher Derick Hall and 21-year-old second-round rookie safety Nick Emmanwori.
The Seahawks also have more youth on offense with 24-year-old running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, plus the left side of the offensive line, where left tackle Charles Cross and left guard rookie Grey Zabel are both under age 25.
2024 ranking: 18
Blue-chip players: QB Jayden Daniels, OL Brandon Coleman
Notable graduated players: FS Quan Martin
This rank is not all Daniels… but it is very heavily Daniels. The 24-year-old quarterback replaced Stroud as the most valuable young player in the NFL after his dominant rookie season. He ranked fourth in the NFL in QBR (70.6), tied for 10th in touchdowns (25) and threw for 3,568 yards.
On offense, Daniels is joined by 24-year-old Coleman, who will move from left tackle to left guard this season, plus 21-year-old rookie tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Commanders have some young skill players, too, with wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (24) and tight end Ben Sinnott (23).
The Washington defense features less young talent than the offense, but the highlights are cornerback Mike Sainristil, who is 24, and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, the 23-year-old who will replace veteran Jonathan Allen.
2024 rankings: 13
Blue-chip players: WR Malik Nabers, Edge Abdul Carter, QB Jaxson Dart, Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
Notable graduated players: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., LB Micah McFadden
The Giants’ young talent includes a strong core with the four players named above, as well as a long tail of underperformers who still have the potential to develop into key starters.
Dart, this year’s first-round pick, turned 22 in May. He’ll be throwing to Nabers, who ranked an incredible sixth in the ESPN receiver tracking metrics as a 21-year-old rookie! Wan’Dale Robinson is in the slot at age 24, while starting tight end Theo Johnson is also 24.
On defense, there are two young edge rushers. Thibodeaux is in his fourth NFL season and still won’t turn 25 until Dec. 15. Carter, the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, is 21. The secondary features two 24-year-olds in safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Deonte Banks, plus 23-year-old slot cornerback Dru Phillips.
In terms of young players who could still blossom, the Giants will try 24-year-old former first-round pick Evan Neal at guard this season. Deep threat Jalin Hyatt is still 23, while tight end Daniel Bellinger, who started eight games last season, is 24. Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott and safety Dane Belton are both in their fourth NFL seasons and combined to start 16 games in 2024. Flott doesn’t turn 25 until next August, while Belton turns 25 in December.
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Panthers rookies shine on Day 1 of training camp
David Newton highlights the training camp debuts of Panthers rookies Princely Umanmielen and Nic Scourton.
2024 ranking: 5
Blue-chip players: QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, OT Darnell Wright, TE Colston Loveland
Notable graduated players: CB Kyler Gordon, CB Tyrique Stevenson
Teams with young quarterbacks will all appear high on this list, but so will teams that just used a bunch of draft picks. After using the No. 1 pick on 23-year-old Caleb Williams last year, Chicago took four players in the first two rounds this past April.
On offense, Williams is joined by fellow 23-year-old Odunze, who caught 54 passes for 734 yards last season. Wright is 24. Then, you have the rookies: first-rounder Loveland is 21, as is second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III. Second-round offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo turns 24 in October. The other 2025 second-round pick is defensive tackle Shemar Turner. The 22-year-old will play with Gervon Dexter Sr., who is still just 23 after two seasons in the NFL.
2024 ranking: 2
Blue-chip players: OT Penei Sewell, CB Terrion Arnold, WR Jameson Williams, TE Sam LaPorta, DB Brian Branch, FS Kerby Joseph, RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Notable graduated players: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, LB Jack Campbell
The Lions drop a couple of spots because Hutchinson has aged out of our list, but they still have a ton of blue-chip talent.
Detroit will probably drop further in 2026, because a lot of these players are 24 years old. That starts with Sewell, who was a first-team All-Pro for two straight seasons. Williams and LaPorta are also both 24, combining for over 1,700 receiving yards a season ago. The most notable 24-year-old on defense is first-team All-Pro Joseph, who had nine interceptions in 2024.
However, some of the Detroit blue chips will still count for this list a year from now. Gibbs, 23, was second in the NFL in FTN Fantasy’s rushing DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) metric with 20 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. Safety/slot defender Branch is also 23, while Arnold is 22.
The Lions also have their rookies. While second-round guard Tate Ratledge is 24, first-round defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is 22 and third-round receiver Isaac TeSlaa is 23.
2024 ranking: 25
Blue-chip players: QB Drake Maye, CB Christian Gonzalez, OT Will Campbell
Notable graduated players: None
Here’s an up-and-coming collection of young talent: the all-new, all-different Patriots! Maye is a very promising young quarterback talent who turns 23 on Aug. 30. He ranked 17th in QBR (58.6) last season despite subpar receiver and offensive line play.
But young talent is here to save the offense. First-round rookie Campbell is 21 years old. Third-round rookie center Jared Wilson is 22. At receiver, the Patriots have 22-year-old rookie Kyle Williams, plus the 23-year-old Kayshon Boutte and 24-year-old DeMario Douglas. They may even be able to get something out of 2024 second-round pick, Ja’Lynn Polk, who had a troubling rookie season but is 23 years old with plenty of potential.
One more leading young player is 23-year-old Gonzalez, the second-team All-Pro who covered opposing No. 1 receivers more often than any other corner in the league last season.
However, the Patriots have much less young talent on the defensive side of the ball. They concentrated their early draft picks this year on offense and picked up most of their new defenders in free agency. Even in the 2024 draft, the Patriots selected only one defensive player: sixth-round cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., who turns 25 in December.
2024 ranking: 7
Blue-chip players: WR Brian Thomas Jr., WR/CB Travis Hunter, OT Anton Harrison, Edge Travon Walker
Notable graduated players: QB Trevor Lawrence
Did I give Hunter extra credit when compiling the values that were the basis for this ranking? Yes, of course I did. Did I know how much extra credit I should be giving the Jaguars for Hunter playing both ways? No, of course I did not, because none of us knows how it is going to go. But it is going to be fascinating and a lot of fun to watch.
Even if the 22-year-old Hunter could only play one way, he would be lining up at wide receiver across from another 22-year-old Thomas, who had 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
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The Jaguars’ offense also starts 23-year-old Harrison and 24-year-old tight end Brenton Strange. Tank Bigsby gets a lot of the running back work, and he just barely counts as 24 (his birthday is Aug. 30, so he’s still 23 as this article publishes).
On defense, the main young player is 2022 No. 1 selection Walker, who will turn 25 in December. Across three seasons in Jacksonville, Walker has amassed 24 sacks, 162 tackles and 20.5 stuffs. The other planned starter under age 25 is defensive tackle Maason Smith, who turns 23 in October.
2024 ranking: 22
Blue-chip players: CB Cameron Ward, OT JC Latham, DT T’Vondre Sweat
Notable graduated players: TE Chig Okonkwo
This year’s No. 1 selection, Ward, turned 23 years old in May and leads the young talent for the Titans. The players protecting him on the offensive line include 22-year-old Latham at right tackle and 24-year-old Peter Skoronski at left guard. However, the many young players in Nashville absolutely do not include the wide receivers, as 29-year-old Van Jefferson is the youngest of the Titans’ starting group.
Tennessee would appear higher on this list if there were more young talent on the defensive side of the ball. That group is highlighted by two 24-year-olds: defensive tackle Sweat and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Rookie edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo turns 22 in September, while rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr. turns 22 in December.
2024 ranking: 15
Blue-chip players: OT Joe Alt, WR Ladd McConkey, WR Quentin Johnston, CB Tarheeb Still
Notable graduated players: G Zion Johnson, LB Daiyan Henley, DL Otito Ogbonnia
The Chargers may be younger than most realize. Alt, who ranked fourth among tackles in pass block win rate (94.3%) as a rookie, is 22 years old. McConkey, who also starred last season as a rookie with 1,149 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, is 23 years old.
Fellow wide receiver Johnston has disappointed a bit in his two NFL seasons after being a first-round pick in 2023, but he’s also just 23. Second-round rookie receiver Tre Harris turned 23 in February, and first-round rookie running back Omarion Hampton turned 22 in March.
On defense, the Chargers will be starting two young cornerbacks. Still, 23, was outstanding as a rookie, ranking in the top 10 in my coverage DVOA metric. Cam Hart, who will play on the outside when Still is in the slot, doesn’t turn 25 until December. Edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is another Chargers starter who is very young given his experience, as he has already played two NFL seasons but doesn’t turn 23 until Sept. 3.
2024 ranking: 31
Blue-chip players: TE Brock Bowers, RB Ashton Jeanty
Notable graduated players: Edge Tyree Wilson
Most of the young talent in Las Vegas is on the offensive side of the ball. The biggest name is 22-year-old Bowers, of course, who set the NFL record for most receptions (112) by a rookie tight end in 2024. His running mate, tight end Michael Mayer, just turned 24 in early July.
Rookie star back Jeanty is 21 years old and comes in with high expectations after being a 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist. The Raiders will also start two young wide receivers this season. Third-year receiver Tre Tucker is 24 years old, and the Raiders will also start either second-round pick Jack Bech or fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton Jr., who are both 22 years old.
The Raiders also have youth on the offensive line with starting center Jackson Powers-Johnson (22) and starting right tackle DJ Glaze (23), plus two third-round rookies in tackle Charles Grant (23) and guard Caleb Rogers (23).
There is less young talent on the defense, as cornerback Darien Porter might start as a third-round rookie but he’s already 24.
2024 ranking: 19
Blue-chip players: QB Bryce Young, WR Tetairoa McMillan
Notable graduated players: CB Jaycee Horn
Young ended last season on a high note after struggling the season prior as a rookie. He finished 2024 with 2,403 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Young just turned 24 on July 25, and he’ll be throwing to three receivers under 25: 2025 first-round pick McMillan (22), 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette (24) and 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker (23). There’s also 22-year-old tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who has been in the league three years but won’t turn 25 until Oct. 31.
Inside linebacker Trevin Wallace started eight games last season and is only 22 years old. So is nickelback Chau Smith-Wade, and free safety Demani Richardson is 24. The defense also features rookies such as edge rushers Nic Scourton (21) and Princely Umanmielen (23).
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2024 ranking: 14
Blue-chip players: WR Xavier Worthy, CB Trent McDuffie
Notable graduated players: WR Rashee Rice, FS Bryan Cook
Kansas City’s talent under 25 generally comes in three categories: extremely valuable players, guys who didn’t make it but still might and this year’s draft picks.
The first group starts off with second-team All-Pro McDuffie, who played more on the outside last season after making the first All-Pro team as a slot corner in 2023. He’s still 24 but turns 25 on Sept. 13. Edge rusher George Karlaftis is also 24, and Worthy, who broke out in the second half of last season, is 22.
The second group begins with two failed left tackles. Last year’s second-round pick, Kingsley Suamataia, might move to guard in 2025, but he’s still just 22 years old and has plenty of time to improve. Wanya Morris, who started 11 games last season but will now be on the bench, is 24 years old.
The Chiefs are still waiting to get more out of 2023 first-round edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah, 23, who has just three sacks in two NFL seasons. And wide receiver Skyy Moore, who has played three NFL seasons, is 24.
The third group is highlighted by first-round left tackle Josh Simmons, who is 22 years old. Second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott is 23, and both third-round picks, edge Ashton Gillotte and cornerback Nohl Williams, are 22.
2024 ranking: 29
Blue-chip players: DL Jalen Carter, CB Quinyon Mitchell
Notable graduated players: DT Jordan Davis, WR Jahan Dotson
The Super Bowl champion Eagles had the No. 1 defense in the league by DVOA last season, and much of the improvement on that side of the ball was driven by young talent.
That starts with the two then-rookie cornerbacks. Mitchell is now 24 and Cooper DeJean is only 22. Mitchell had 46 tackles and 12 passes defensed. DeJean had 51 tackles, 6 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble. Second-team All-Pro Carter, linebacker Nakobe Dean and edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr. are all 24.
The Eagles’ defense will again depend on a series of younger players in 2025 after a slew of players departed in free agency. Jalyx Hunt, 24, was the big sleeper in my 2024 SackSEER edge rusher projections and now takes over for Josh Sweat. Defensive lineman Moro Ojomo, who takes over for the departed Milton Williams, will turn 24 on Aug. 15. Cornerback Kelee Ringo is 23 years old and might take over for Darius Slay.
The defense will also be counting on two highly drafted rookies: first-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell (21) and second-round safety Andrew Mukuba (22).
The Eagles would rank even higher if they had any significant young talent on the offensive side of the ball, but we’re just talking about depth receivers (Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson are 24) and a third-string running back (23-year-old Will Shipley).
2024 ranking: 3
Blue-chip players: WR Zay Flowers, FS Kyle Hamilton, OT Roger Rosengarten
Notable graduated players: WR Rashod Bateman
The Ravens would be a little bit higher, but their best young talents are 24 years old. That includes second-team All-Pro Hamilton, No. 1 wide receiver Flowers and inside linebacker Trenton Simpson.
There are still some younger talents on the roster. Rosengarten is 23. Cornerback Nate Wiggins is 22. The Ravens also have this year’s draft picks, highlighted by safety Malaki Starks (21) and edge rusher Mike Green (22).
2024 ranking: 27
Blue-chip players: C Graham Barton, DE Calijah Kancey
Notable graduated players: DE Logan Hall
The Buccaneers climb up this list thanks to a very good 2024 rookie class. Barton, now 23 years old, took over immediately in the middle of the offensive line. Running back Bucky Irving, 23, rushed for 1,122 yards on 207 carries with eight touchdowns. Nickelback Tykee Smith, 24, was a real surprise. He finished in the top 15 of my coverage DVOA metric after recording 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 54 tackles.
Another valuable rookie from last season was wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who had 37 catches for 461 yards. McMillan, 23, will be competing for No. 3 receiver snaps this season with 22-year-old first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. Two other high draft picks from this year, second-round cornerback Benjamin Morrison and third-round cornerback Jacob Parrish, are both 21 years old.
2024 ranking: 21
Blue-chip players: G Tyler Smith
Notable graduated players: LB DeMarvion Overshown
The Cowboys like to pour draft resources into the offensive line. From left to right, you have left tackle Tyler Guyton at age 24, left guard Smith at age 24, center Cooper Beebe at age 24 and rookie right guard Tyler Booker at age 21. Also on offense, new wide receiver George Pickens qualifies as a young talent — he turns 25 next March.
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On defense, the leading young talent is 24-year-old defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who started all 17 games a season ago. Linebacker Marist Liufau is also 24, as is third-round rookie cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. Second-round edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku turns 22 on Sept. 25.
Since most of the players listed above are already 24, the Cowboys might be near the bottom of this list in 2026.
2024 ranking: 8
Blue-chip players: Edge Jared Verse, WR Puka Nacua
Notable graduated players: G Steve Avila, DE Braden Fiske, RB Kyren Williams
The top two young talents on the Rams’ roster are two of the best young talents in the league, period. Nacua won’t turn 25 until next May, and last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Verse turns 25 in November. However, note that Verse’s fellow ex-Florida State running mate from the class of 2024, Fiske, is already 25 years old.
There is some more young talent here, too. Center Beaux Limmer is 24 years old, as is linebacker Omar Speights, who started 10 games as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2024. Safety Kamren Kinchens turns 23 near the end of September.
The Rams did not have a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, but second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson will likely be a starter at age 22 and third-round edge Josaiah Stewart is also 22.
2024 ranking: 6
Blue-chip players: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., OT Paris Johnson Jr.
Notable graduated players: TE Trey McBride, WR Michael Wilson, DE Dante Stills, G Isaiah Adams
The Cardinals had some top players graduate off this list, but there’s still plenty of young talent left. We’ll start with Harrison, 23, who still has a ton of potential despite a somewhat disappointing first season. Harrison caught 62 passes for a 33rd-ranked 885 yards. The offense also features Johnson, who turned 24 in early July, plus talented young running back Trey Benson (23).
There’s even more young talent on the defensive side of the ball, including nearly all of the cornerbacks. Garrett Williams, now 24, was one of the top slot corners in the league last season. The outside starting cornerbacks will likely be 22-year-old rookie Will Johnson and 23-year-old Max Melton, and the fourth corner is 24-year-old Kei’Trel Clark.
Up front, we don’t know if the Cardinals will start 21-year-old first-round rookie tackle Walter Nolen III or 23-year-old Darius Robinson, who was taken in the first round in 2024. One other player to watch is edge rusher BJ Ojulari, who is in his third NFL season at 23 years old but missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
2024 ranking: 12
Blue-chip players: QB Anthony Richardson Sr., TE Tyler Warren
Notable graduated players: WR Alec Pierce
Yes, Richardson still counts as a “blue-chip player” despite his struggles last season. Taken at No. 4 in the 2023 draft, he has thrown for 2,391 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons. Remember that he came into the league very young, so he will be only 23 years old in his third season. There’s plenty of potential for him to develop.
If he can win the starting job over veteran Daniel Jones, he’ll be throwing to a set of young receivers including 24-year-old Josh Downs, 22-year-old Adonai Mitchell and 23-year-old rookie Warren. The projected right guard, Matt Goncalves, is still 24; projected center Tanor Bortolini turned 23 in June.
On defense, the young talent starts in the secondary, where both 23-year-old safety Nick Cross and 23-year-old cornerback Jaylon Jones started all 17 games last season. Jaylon Carlies moves into the starting lineup at linebacker at age 23. Last year’s first-round pick, edge Laiatu Latu, turns 25 on the final day of 2025, and another important Colts edge rusher, second-round rookie JT Tuimoloau, is 22 years old.
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2024 ranking: 24
Blue-chip players: QB J.J. McCarthy, WR Jordan Addison
Notable graduated players: None
The top young talents for the Vikings are impressive, but it’s notable that they don’t have a huge number of recently drafted players. There are only four players on their roster who are under 25 and played more than five games in 2024, plus the Vikings did not have a selection in the second or fourth rounds of this April’s draft.
That group, of course, does not include 22-year-old starter McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury. Addison is currently 23, and he is one of the top No. 2 wide receivers in the game.
The other three young players with experience are linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (24), kicker Will Reichard (24) and last year’s first-round pick, edge rusher Dallas Turner (22). The Vikings also have their 2025 rookies, led by 22-year-old guard Donovan Jackson.
2024 ranking: 4
Blue-chip players: RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London
Notable graduated players: QB Michael Penix Jr., G Matthew Bergeron
The Falcons have drafted a lot of skill players in recent first rounds, and many of those players are still under 24 years old. Robinson, 23, finished the 2024 season ranked third in yards (1,456) and fourth in carries (304). London and tight end Kyle Pitts are 24.
The rest of the young talent in Atlanta is primarily on the defensive side of the ball. This year’s first-round edge rushers, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., are both 21. Edge rusher Bralen Trice will be back this season after missing his entire rookie year with a torn ACL. Defensive lineman Zach Harrison is still 24 years old in his third season, while last year’s second-round pick, defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, is 23.
2024 ranking: 9
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: WR Jayden Reed, WR Romeo Doubs, LB Quay Walker, OT Rasheed Walker
There are so many young wide receivers in Green Bay right now. A couple of them have graduated from our list by turning 25, but others are still younger than that.
First-round pick Matthew Golden turns 22 on Aug. 1. Third-round pick Savion Williams turns 24 in November. Dontayvion Wicks is 24 years old. Tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave also count as under-25 talent, although Musgrave just barely (he turns 25 on Sept. 2).
The Packers’ offense also features right guard Sean Rhyan, who is 24. Second-round rookie tackle Anthony Belton is also 24, and so is last year’s first-round pick Jordan Morgan, although neither of them has a starting role right now.
On defense, the youngest talent is at safety. Javon Bullard is only 22 years old, and Evan Williams is now 24. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is 23 and becomes a full-time starter in the middle in 2025. Edge rusher Lukas Van Ness has been a disappointment since he was chosen No. 13 in the 2023 draft, but he’s still only 24 years old with potential.
2024 ranking: 30
Blue-chip players: OT Taliese Fuaga
Notable graduated players: WR Chris Olave
Any look at young talent in New Orleans begins on the offensive line with the starting tackles: Kelvin Banks Jr., chosen No. 9 this year, and Fuaga, chosen No. 14 last year, are 23. Spencer Rattler is still 24 and is theoretically competing for the starting quarterback job, but remember that the player he’s competing with, second-round pick Tyler Shough, is turning 26 in late September.
Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee was a first-round pick two years ago and is still just 23 years old. Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry started nine games already last year, and is 22 years old to start the season (he turns 23 on Sept. 30).
The rest of the young talent on defense is depth including edge rusher Isaiah Foskey (24) and rookies Vernon Broughton (a 24-year-old defensive tackle) and Jonas Sanker (a 22-year-old safety).
2024 ranking: 17
Blue-chip players: OT Amarius Mims
Notable graduated players: WR Ja’Marr Chase, RB Chase Brown, CB Cam Taylor-Britt
Let’s start the Bengals off with last year’s first-round pick, Mims. He started 13 games in 2024 and turns 23 in mid-October. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. also has an October birthday, but he’ll be 24. Second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. is already 25 years old, but first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart is only 21 and third-round guard Dylan Fairchild is 22.
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The Bengals also have a bunch of guys who are 24 years old and saw time on the field last season. They aren’t necessarily starters, but they’re useful players. That includes cornerbacks Josh Newton and DJ Turner, safety Jordan Battle and injured tight end Erick All Jr. Nickelback Dax Hill, 24, started only five games in 2024 because of a torn ACL but will be back this season.
2024 ranking: 16
Blue-chip players: CB Christian Benford, WR Keon Coleman
Notable graduated players: WR Khalil Shakir, TE Dalton Kincaid, RB James Cook, G O’Cyrus Torrence, Edge Greg Rousseau
As you can see listed above, the Bills have a lot of talent that is just over the age of 25. As far as talent under 25, the most important player is Benford, who ranked in the top 10 for coverage DVOA last season and will not turn 25 until September. Linebacker Dorian Williams is also 24, and wide receiver Coleman, last year’s first-round pick, is still 22 years old.
After that, the main young talents are the rookies. First-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston, second-round defensive tackle T.J. Sanders and third-round edge rusher Landon Jackson are all 22 years old as of Sept. 1.
2024 ranking: 20
Blue-chip players: OT Broderick Jones, C Zach Frazier
Notable graduated players: CB Joey Porter Jr., G Mason McCormick
Any look at young talent for the Steelers has to be focused on the offensive line. Frazier was already one of the best centers in the NFL as a rookie last season, and he turns 24 on Aug. 29. Jones, in his third NFL season, is 24 years old. Right tackle Troy Fautanu, last year’s first-round pick who was injured for most of the season, turns 25 in October, so he still counts for our list.
Next, let’s look along the defensive front. Nose tackle Keeanu Benton turned 24 in mid-July, and first-round rookie Derrick Harmon turns 22 on Aug. 3. Other young Steelers talents include 23-year-old edge rusher Nick Herbig and 22-year-old running back Kaleb Johnson.
2024 ranking: 11
Blue-chip players: OT Armand Membou
Notable graduated players: WR Garrett Wilson, CB Sauce Gardner
The Jets ranked nice and high in our countdowns of young talent for a while, but eventually Wilson and Gardner had to grow up. Wilson turned 25 on July 22. Gardner almost qualified for our rankings but will turn 25 on Aug. 31.
Instead, just like in Pittsburgh, the young talent for the Jets is now focused on the offensive line. Last year’s first-round pick, left tackle Olu Fashanu, is 22. This year’s first-round pick, Membou, is just 21. Center Joe Tippmann, in his third NFL season, is 24 years old.
The Jets’ offense also features a three-headed young running back committee. Breece Hall is 24 this year, Braelon Allen is just 21 (despite having a season of NFL experience) and Isaiah Davis is 23. It’s also worth mentioning the new starting tight end, second-round rookie Mason Taylor, who turned 21 in May, and third-round rookie cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, who turned 21 in early July.
2024 ranking: 28
Blue-chip players: DT Mason Graham
Notable graduated players: WR Cedric Tillman, CB Greg Newsome II
The highlight here for the Browns is their 2025 rookie class, as they had five draft picks in the first 100. Three of those players will be just 21 years old as of Sept. 1: first-rounder Graham, second-round running back Quinshon Judkins and third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger is 22, and third-round quarterback Dillon Gabriel is 24.
The Browns also have some veterans who are still under 25, particularly on defense. Starting cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. is 24, as is linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. (Diabate was a starter for much of last season but will probably play behind Schwesinger in 2025.) New starting left tackle Dawand Jones is also 24, and free safety Ronnie Hickman will probably start at age 23.
2024 ranking: 23 Purdy no longer counts as talent under 25, but the 49ers still have some younger starters. Safety Malik Mustapha, 23, started 12 games in 2024. Linebacker Dee Winters is 24 and started 10 games. Cornerback Renardo Green and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall — both expected starters in 2025 — are 24. Second-round rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins is 23, and the youngest of the 49ers is their first-round pick, edge rusher Mykel Williams. He turned 21 in late June. 2024 ranking: 32 It’s not that there aren’t young players on the Dolphins’ roster, but rather that we haven’t seen enough of them yet to know if they will play a major role. The exception is 23-year-old running back De’Von Achane, who didn’t quite achieve the heights of his 2023 season in 2024 but is still as fast as ever. Edge rusher Chop Robinson is 22 years old and ranked 11th at his position in pass rush win rate (18.5%) last season, but we haven’t seen him as a starter. Storm Duck and Cam Smith are both 24 and will probably be the starting cornerbacks this season, but Duck has three NFL starts and Smith has zero so far. Patrick Paul, last year’s second-round pick, is in line to start at left tackle, and he also has just three NFL starts so far. The Dolphins had only two picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft, defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and guard Jonah Savaiinaea. Both players are 21 years old, with Grant’s birthday in October and Savaiinaea’s in January. 2024 ranking: 26 The Broncos don’t have as much talent under the age of 25 because so many of their players aged out of consideration for this list. That includes last year’s draft picks, as Nix and Moss were considered old for their draft class and are both already 25. Defensive Player of the Year Surtain also turned 25 in April. Among veterans, the leading talent under 25 is wide receiver and return man Marvin Mims Jr., who is 23. There’s also promising edge rusher Jonah Elliss (22) and a couple of running backs, Jaleel McLaughlin (24) and Audric Estime (21). That’s about it until you get to the rookies. The Broncos’ new starting running back, second-round selection RJ Harvey, is another overaged player at 24. First-round cornerback Jahdae Barron is 23, and third-rounders receiver Pat Bryant and defensive end Sai’vion Jones are both 22.
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: QB Brock Purdy, G Dominick Puni, SS Ji’Ayir Brown
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: FS Jevon Holland (left in free agency)
Blue-chip players: None
Notable graduated players: QB Bo Nix, CB Pat Surtain II, CB Riley Moss, Edge Nik Bonitto