Some NFL players need time to emerge. That doesn’t apply to the following group of players who have quickly become impact players and stars in the league.
Here’s a look at our top 25 players under the age of 25 for the 2016 NFL offseason.
(All ages as of June 1, 2016.)
1. Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals: The versatile 24-year-old is already a first-team All-Pro safety with a knack for making big plays. He’s the only defensive player on this list who is already a bonafide superstar.
.@OBJ_3's first career NFL touchdown.
The first of MANY. 🏈🏈🏈 #FBF https://t.co/ATyigpZuuA
— NFL (@NFL) April 15, 2016
2. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants: The 23-year-old wide receiver has caught 90 or more passes for 1,300-plus yards and 12 or more touchdowns in each of his first two NFL seasons. He’s already one of the league’s shiniest playmakers, and he’s the only offensive player on this list who is already a bonafide superstar.
3. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans: The 23-year-old’s numbers have climbed dramatically in each of his first three NFL seasons. In 2015, the stud receiver ranked third in the league with 111 receptions for 1,521 yards.
Todd Gurley passes 1000 yds rushing this season with the touchdown!
21-3 @STLouisRams pic.twitter.com/flAE3OArxR
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) December 18, 2015
4. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams: The 21-year-old running back went over 1,000 yards despite missing three games in a weak offense as a rookie in 2015. He topped the 125-yard mark on a league-high five occasions.
5. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars: The 22-year-old receiver finished 2015 tied for the NFL lead with 14 touchdown grabs while accumulating 1,400 receiving yards.
Blake Bortles tosses it up to Allen Robinson for the #Jaguars #touchdown!#ATLvsJAX pic.twitter.com/Kxkfrcuxno
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) December 20, 2015
6. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars: He has to cut down on his mistakes, but the 24-year-old quarterback threw 35 touchdown passes while establishing himself as a deep threat in 2015.
7. Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers: The right guard played at an All-Pro level down the stretch in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl nod as a sophomore. He turns 23 this month.
8. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans: The rookie No. 2 overall pick posted a stellar 91.5 passer rating while completing 62.2 percent of his passes in 2015. He also fell just short of the 3,000-yard mark despite missing a quarter of the season. Not bad for a 22-year-old.
9. Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders: The 21-year-old wide receiver had 1,070 yards and six touchdowns during his rookie season in Oakland. He’s gonna have a monster career.
10. Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints: The 24-year-old was graded by Pro Football Focus as the third-best offensive tackle in football in 2015, which explains why the Saints signed him to a $64 million extension in the offseason.
Safety help or no safety help, doesn't matter
Once Sammy Watkins beats the cornerback on a double move — it's over. https://t.co/g0WErHLraB— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2015
11. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills: The 22-year-old wide receiver scored nine touchdowns while going over the 1,000-yard mark in his second NFL season.
12. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings: Over the first two years of his career, the steady 23-year-old quarterback has completed 64.9 percent of his passes.
13. Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins: The 23-year-old receiver broke out with 1,157 yards in his sophomore NFL season, earning a Pro Bowl nod.
14. Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings: The 24-year-old doesn’t jump off the tape or the page, but he was graded by Pro Football Focus as the best 4-3 outside linebacker in football in 2015.
15. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The top pick of the 2015 draft had an up-and-down rookie season, but we’re projecting a bit in favor of the 22-year-old.
16. Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs: The 23-year-old cornerback finished tied for the league lead with eight interceptions as a rookie in 2015, earning a Pro Bowl nod.
17. Jason Verrett, San Diego Chargers: The 2014 first-round pick emerged in 2015, becoming a top-10 corner and earning a Pro Bowl nod thanks to a stellar season in coverage. He turns 25 this month.
Tyler Lockett touchdown catch. pic.twitter.com/C7DOituUBQ
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) January 17, 2016
18. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks: The first-team All-Pro return man also caught six touchdown passes as a 23-year-old rookie in 2015.
19. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons: The 24-year-old back ran for 1,056 yards while scoring 14 touchdowns in a breakout second season.
20. Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars: The other young Jacksonville received named Allen had 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015, which is astonishing considering the 24-year-old wasn’t drafted in 2014.
Drew Brees goes DEEP.
Brandin Cooks is FAST.71 yards later… 🏃💨#Touchdown. #JAXvsNO https://t.co/jkzvly0JUX
— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2015
21. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints: The 22-year-old receiver had 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns while emerging as Drew Brees’ top weapon in 2015.
22. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He slipped up a bit in 2015 but still finished with 1,000 yards for the second time in as many years. He needs to make more big plays and drop fewer passes.
https://twitter.com/JetiKnightNY/status/635101681777278976
23. Leonard Williams, New York Jets: The 21-year-old defensive lineman had three sacks in 15 starts while earning the fourth-best PFF grade at his position against the run as a rookie in 2015.
24. Weston Richburg, New York Giants: The versatile 24-year-old interior offensive lineman was graded by Pro Football Focus as the third-best center in the NFL last season.
25. Ryan Shazier, Pittsburgh Steelers: The 23-year-old linebacker has to become more consistent, but he still showed signs of greatness in his second NFL season.
