The future looks bright for these players under age 25 and the franchises who’ve signed them. Several ranked All-Pro and Pro Bowl in their rookie season. A few are already elite. Keep watch on these 20 NFL rising stars.
20. C.J. Stroud: Houston Texans – QB
C.J. Stroud is in his second season as quarterback for the Houston Texans. The 22-year-old played ball at Ohio State and stands 6-3, and weighs 218 pounds. He had an extraordinary rookie season and helped propel the Texans to the top of the AFC South last year. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide.
19. Aidan Hutchinson: Detroit Lions – Edge
Detroit Lions edge defender Aidan Hutchinson, 24, had a stellar rookie year, recording 9.5 sacks and three interceptions. He finished second for Defensive Rookie of the Year. In his second season, Hutchinson garnered 11.5 sacks and 51 tackles, earning him his first Pro Bowl nod. Hutchison stands 6-7, weighs 268 pounds, and played college ball for Michigan.
18. Jahmyr Gibbs: Detroit Lions – RB
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, 22, played college ball at Alabama, stands 5-9, and weighs 200 pounds. Gibbs was the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft last year. Fans screamed overdraft. But they were so wrong. In 2023, Gibbs rushed for 945 yards and ten touchdowns and caught 52 balls for 316 yards and one touchdown.
17. Will Anderson Jr.: Houston Texans – Edge
In his first NFL season, Houston Texans edge defender Will Anderson Jr., 23, finished the season with seven sacks and 45 tackles, with 10 of those resulting in a loss. Anderson stands 6-4, weighs 243 pounds, and played college ball at Alabama. He was the overall No. 3 draft pick in 2023.
16. Kyren Williams: Los Angeles Rams – RB
Los Angeles Rams’ third-year running back Kyren Williams, 24, played college ball at Notre Dame, is 5-9, and weighs 202 pounds. LA’s offense suffered when Williams was out four games last season with an injury. In his return game, Williams rushed for 204 yards and made two receiving touchdowns. In 12 games, Williams rushed over 1,100 yards.
15. Jalen Carter: Philadelphia Eagles – IDL
Philadelphia Eagles interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter, 23, had an outstanding rookie season, even as a rotational player with only one start. Carter finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Carter played college ball at Georgia, stands 6-3, and weighs 314 pounds. He was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
14. Ja’Marr Chase: Cincinnati Bengals – WR
Pundits categorize Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, 24, among the elite in the game and predict he’ll soon be paid accordingly. In his first three seasons, Chase has tallied 268 receptions, 3,717 receiving yards and scored 29 touchdowns. Chase played college ball at LSU, stands 6 feet, and weighs 205 pounds.
13. Alim McNeill: Detroit Lions – IDL
Detroit Lions interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill, 24, stands 6-2 and weighs 315 pounds. He played college ball at N.C. State and is now in his 4th year. McNeill became a starter in 2022. In 2023, he posted a career-high of five sacks and joined the top seven interior defenders. McNeill doesn’t get nearly the recognition he deserves.
12. Amon-Ra St. Brown: Detroit Lions – WR
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, 24, a former fourth-round pick, inked a four-year, $120 million extension in April. Last season, Brown tallied 119 catches, 1,515 yards, and ten touchdowns. He’s profiled in Netflix’s Receiver, which offers fans a glimpse into how and why the Lions star has produced at such a high rate so quickly in his career.
11. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: Cleveland Browns – LB
Cleveland Brown’s linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 24, stands 6-2, weighs 221 pounds, and played college ball at Notre Dame. Many called him undersized. But he’s proved his detractors wrong, showing speed and athleticism are more valuable than brawn as he runs down speedy ball carriers. Last year, Owusu-Koramoah made 72 tackles (60 solo) and 29 assists.
10. Sam LaPorta: Detroit Lions – TE
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, 23, played college ball at Iowa and was drafted 34th overall in a draft class loaded at tight end. LaPorta stands 6-3 and weighs 245 pounds. Last season, LaPorta had 86 receptions for 889 yards and ten touchdowns. He’s become a trusted big-play target for Jared Goff.
9. Nick Bolton: Kansas City Chiefs – LB
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, 24, who stands 5-11 and weighs 237 pounds, proved any detractors wrong about his being undersized with an astounding 180 tackles in 2022. During 2023, injuries hampered Bolton. But he returned in time for the postseason, racking up double-digit tackles three times in four games, including in Super Bowl LVIII.
8. Tyler Linderbaum: Baltimore Ravens – C
Tyler Linderbaum, 24, played college ball at Iowa and was drafted 25th overall. In his third season, the six-foot-two, 314-pound center is now considered the seventh-best in the NFL. In 2023, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and helped Baltimore finish the year with the best rushing attack in the league.
7. Sauce Gardner: New York Jets – CB
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, 24, has gotten slagged for being overrated. However, in only two years in the league, he’s gotten to Pro Bowl nods and made two first-team All-Pro selections. The fact that quarterbacks avoid him is the only reason his interception totals aren’t higher. A Defensive Player of the Year award seems imminent in his future.
6. Penei Sewell: Detroit Lions – OT
Penei Sewell, 23, played college ball at Oregon and was the No. 7 overall pick. The Detroit Lions offensive tackle earned a massive contract extension in April, placing him in the elite category. He’s one of the NFL’s highest-graded tackles with a 95.1 run-blocking grade. Sewell is now in his fourth season.
5. Patrick Surtain II: Denver Broncos – CB
Patrick Surtain II, 24, played college ball at Alabama, where the six-foot-two, 202-pound cornerback was the No. 2. pick by the Broncos. Following his arrival in 2021, he’s considered one of the best young corners in the NFL. Surtain has received two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro honor. In 2023, Surtain had 59 tackles and one interception.
4. Dawand Jones: Cincinnati Browns – OT
Dawand Jones, 23, stands 6-8 and weighs 375 pounds. In his first start ever, Jones stopped former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt from recording a sack. The Cincinnati Browns offense of tackle allowed only three sacks over nine starts in 11 games. Then, a December knee injury prematurely ended his season. Look for a strong comeback.
3. Kyle Hamilton: Baltimore Ravens – S
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, 23, had his first season as a starter in 2023 and became a game-changing defender. Hamilton made 81 tackles (10 for a loss), made three sacks, forced one fumble, defended 13 passes, and pulled down four interceptions. The six-foot-four, 224-pound Hamilton played college ball at Notre Dame.
2. Tyler Smith: Dallas Cowboys – OG
Tyler Smith, 23, stands 6-6 and weighs 332 pounds. He played college ball at Tulsa. In 2022, Smith replaced an injured LT and retained the position when the veteran returned. Last year, Dallas moved Smith to offensive guard. Pundits predict Smith will become Dallas’s best offensive lineman when Zach Martin retires, if not sooner.
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1. Trent McDuffie: Kansas City Chiefs – CB
In 2023, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, 23, earned first-team All-Pro honors with a stellar season. McDuffie, 5-11, 193 pounds, made 80 tackles and three sacks, forced five fumbles, and defended seven passes in 16 games. In Super Bowl LVIII, McDuffie broke up several crucial passes to help the Chiefs beat the 49ers for their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
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