Top 25 NFL players 25 and under for 2024: Vikings’ Justin Jefferson among nine star WRs to make the list

The NFL isn’t exclusively a young man’s game. The 2024 season, after all, could be defined by some of the league’s most seasoned talent: Think Aaron Rodgers, who’s trying to revive the New York Jets (again) while going on 41 years old. And yet, when push comes to shove, many of the game’s top contenders are driven by relative newcomers, from rookie standouts like C.J. Stroud in 2023 to proven youngsters like three-time Pro Bowler Micah Parsons, who only just turned 25.

Speaking of, who ranks among the NFL’s top young talent entering the new season? We’re here to identify 25 of the league’s best players 25 or younger.

Before we get to the 2024 rundown, here’s our criteria:

Why the age-25 cutoff? Generally speaking, most top players enter the NFL at ages 20-21. That means this list essentially doubles as a ranking of the top players still on their rookie deals, and/or deserving of new contracts.What is the actual cutoff? Players are eligible if they are 25 or younger when the 2024 season officially begins Sept. 5.Is anyone else excluded? This year’s rookies. Our focus is on players who have already played in the NFL.What goes into the ranking? Past performance, future projection and, to a lesser degree, positional value. At the end of the day, it’s a hodgepodge of where guys stand right now and where we think they’re headed.

Without further ado, this year’s top 25 players 25 and under:

Position: RB | Team: Detroit Lions | Age: 22

USATSI

The surprise first-round draft pick made just three official starts while splitting the backfield as a rookie, and even still, the slippery Alabama product eclipsed 1,200 scrimmage yards and 11 scores. His juice as a change-of-pace dual threat gives the already-balanced Lions a home run threat out of the backfield.

Position: TE…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/top-25-nfl-players-25-and-under-for-2024-vikings-justin-jefferson-among-nine-star-wrs-to-make-the-list/

Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2024-06-25 12:46:55

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