The 2026 NFL season is just weeks away from kicking off and youth is starting to inject itself into the sport, including some of the game’s elite under the age of 25.
Last season, the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots benefitted greatly from their young quarterbacks. Both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye showed that their skills can win plenty of games en route to deep postseason runs.
Veterans like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes still receive a lot of the attention, but franchises are constantly adding younger players to bolster rosters. However, teams like the Seattle Seahawks fall somewhere in between with a healthy mix of established and young players.
Some franchises have a knack for evaluating talent and developing players into the game’s next biggest stars. The Los Angeles Rams are a great example with head coach Sean McVay injecting his offensive mindset into his team.
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Making the case for the NFL’s young elite
The offensive side of the ball certainly receives the most attention, especially with young stars like Puka Nacua and Brock Bowers leading the charge. However, the NFL is also getting faster and stronger on the defensive end.
Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr. are two of the toughest matchups in the game for offensive lines to handle. Both pass rushers also play for elite defensive schemes in Philadelphia and Houston.
The Athletic recently dropped its own list, but here are the 7 best under-25 NFL players prior to the 2026 season beginning in September.
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Best NFL players under 25 years old
- Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
- Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans)
- Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Penei Sewell (Detroit Lions)
- Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions)
- Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles)
Honorable mentions: Jaxson Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), Drake Maye (New England Patriots), Derek Stingley Jr. (Houston Texans), Quinyon Mitchell (Philadelphia Eagles), Trent McDuffie (Los Angeles Rams), Kyle Hamilton (Baltimore Ravens), Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jared Verse (Cleveland Browns)
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