The Most Talented Young Players in the NFL
Clubs spend the off-season scouting for young talents who will rise to stardom and bring glory to their team. Across the league, young stars are essential due to their speed, athleticism, and team-friendly contracts. Young talents saturate the NFL every year seeking drafts, but how do clubs recognize the real deal? This article follows a standard to distinguish young players who might be the next big thing in NFL line history. The footballers must be players who trumped the league with their output and elite abilities. Additionally, they must be 25 years or below as of the first week of the 2022 season. Players above 25 are not considered young stars. So, you won’t find such names on this review.
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1. Justin Herbert, Chargers Quarterback
From his debut season, 24-year-old Justin Herbert has awed the audience with his excellent passing skills. The 6ft 6 athlete has recorded 9,350 passing yards, 69 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions in his first two seasons. He’s the first Quarterback to reach 30 touchdown passes in two campaigns.
In 2020, he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named the Rose Bowl MVP.
Also, he’s the rookie quarterback with the most 300-yard passing games. Justin Herbert’s fans are impressed with his skills, like how gamblers marvel at the casino games at casino klarna. Although he is yet to partake in the playoffs, because of the team’s weak defence, he has shown potential to have a successful career in the NFL.
2. Nick Bosa, 49ers Edge
In his rookie campaign, Bosa’s presence in the 49ers game helped the club make it to the Super Bowl. However, when a torn ACL kept him away the following season, the 49ers could not reach the playoffs. His comeback in 2019 returned the squad to the NFC Championship Game.
The 24-year-old has bagged 105 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and 58 QB in three years. He also won the Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2019. If only an injury didn’t keep him out of the games in his second season, his stats would be more impressive than it is. Regardless, Bosa has shown that slowing him down would take more than a torn ACL.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Colts Running Back
Not only is he the youngest player in the NFL to break a record with 2000 yards from scrimmage. He has also become an irreplaceable and valued weapon to the Colts. 23-year-old Taylor has delivered 2,980yards, 659 receiving yards, and 29 rushing yard touchdowns in two years. His 5.3 rushing average per carrying is remarkable. He holds numerous awards, including Offensive Rookie of the Month (December 2020), First-team All-Pro, and Pro Bowl (2021).
4. Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers Outside Tackle
Wirfs distinguished himself as pure talent in his rookie campaign when he started the entire game for the Buccaneers throughout 2020. The Iowa-born player is not only an equipped right tackle, but he is also the best bet for protection. Tom Brady can testify to this. At 23, the lineman has played 2,255 offence snaps and allowed only three sacks in 33 games.
The Pro Bowl and Super Bowl hero is undoubtedly a valuable offensive lineman to the Buccaneers and will enjoy a long career in the NFL.
5. Justin Jefferson, Vikings Wide Receiver
Former LSU player Jefferson’s college career was a glimpse of his extraordinary skills. At 21, Jefferson’s first week with the Vikings started with 175 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. By the season’s finals, he had become the rookie with the most receiving yards.
The 23-year-old has bagged 3016 yards, 17 touchdowns, and two-time Pro-Bowl honours in his two years. Jefferson has not only filled the gap left by Stefon Diggs but has shown that he’s a capable hand.
6. Micah Parson, Cowboys’ Outside Linebacker
In one season, Micah has shown versatility as he seamlessly played and excelled as an edge and a linebacker. His 93.0 pass-rush grade and 8.76 defensive grade earned him the Defensive Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Pro honours. The 23-year-old’s 13 sacks and 84 total tackles are noteworthy.
7. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals’ Wide Receiver
At 21, Chase became a sensation after ending the season with 1,455 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns, and 81 catches. He surpassed the 1,440 records set by former LSU mate Justin Jefferson. Chase’s pairing with QuarterBack Joe Burrow makes the duo a formidable force on the pitch. Chase’s presence helped the club win the AFC championship and appear in the Super Bowl LXVI, their first in 33 years. He won NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro-Bowl, and was named Second-team All-Pro.
8. D.K Metcalf, Seahawks’ Wide Receiver
Metcalf’s dominance, doggedness, and speed have earned him a three-year contract extension with the Seahawks. In his 2019 debut season, Metcalf reached 900 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He recorded 1,303 and 967 receiving yards in the following years, with the highest touchdowns (12) in 2021.
With Russel Wilson as his Quarterback, Metcalf was a force to reckon with on the field. Opponents are wary of the 6’4″, 235-pound who leverages his body size and speed in jump balls. However, Metcalf will move on without Wilson as the Seahawks drafted the Quarterback to Denver Bronco in the postseason.
9. A.J Terrell, Atlanta Falcons’ Cornerback
Terrell’s rookie year might not be exciting, but his second year deserves mention in this list. The 23-year-old had a 90.1 coverage grade which is the highest for a cornerback in 2021. He allowed only 29 catches in 16 games.
10. Chase Young, Washington Commanders‘ Edge
Young experienced a fall from grace after a torn ACL abruptly ended his 2021 season. His first NFL year bestowed him the Defender Rookie of the Year because of his assistance in the team’s win in the NFC East Title. At season’s end, he tallied 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.
Although his play stats are not the best, it is modest for one who just began his rookie year. However, the following year was disappointing. Not only did he have 1.5 sacks in 9 games, but an injury also pulled him off for the season. Nonetheless, there’s a certainty that his comeback will be a game changer for the club.
11. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys’ Wide Receiver
2022 will be CeeDee’s chance to be in the limelight, having stayed in the shadow of Cooper as the number two wide receiver. Lamb produced 2,037 receiving yards, 153 catches, and 13 touchdowns in two years despite his secondary position. He is also named in the 2021 Pro Bowl. With Cooper out of the way, Lamb will have all Dak Prescott’s targets to himself.
12. Kyle Pitts, Falcons’ Tight End
In just a season, Pitts has shown that he’s a capable tight end. He exceeded 1000 rushing yards as a tight-end rookie, falling second place in NFL history after Mike Ditka, who has held the title since 1961. He also broke Julio Jones’s 10-year record to emerge Atlanta Falcons’ all-time leading rookie receiver.
At 21, he is the first rookie tight end in 20 years to make the Pro Bowl. Pitts has totaled 1,026 yards, 68 receptions, and one touchdown. Although, he has found it challenging to enter the end zone as he only bagged one touchdown. Still, he has made distinctions in other areas.
13. Devin White, Tampa Bay’s Linebacker
As a draftee, White did not produce phenomenal stats. He ended 2019 with 91 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and four fumble recoveries. But in the 2020 Super Bowl, the 23-year-old made a U-turn, tied up the season with 140 tackles and 9.0 sacks, and came third place with 97 solos. He won the Super Bowl championship and Pro Bowl and was voted Second-team All-Pro.
In 2021, his numbers plunged, much to everyone’s disappointment. But, if he works on improving his consistency and coverage, he will bounce back stronger than he was.
15. Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers Linebacker.
Gary’s career hit came in the third season with an output of 9.5 sacks, 103 tackles and two forced fumbles, 28 quarterback hits, and three fumble recoveries. His 21% pass-rush win ranks best since 2019. Surprisingly, he achieved these outstanding records after injury forced Edge Za’Darius Smith out of season. With Smith leaving the club, the defence now falls on him, and Gary has shown that he’ll not leave fans in the lurch.
16. Creed Humphrey, City Chiefs Offensive Lineman
Humphrey’s addition to the Kansas City Chiefs has boosted their offensive line significantly. He gave a stellar performance by being the rookie offensive lineman with the biggest grade (91.4)and highest snaps (1,184). He holds the fourth position among offensive linemen with the highest overall elite grade.
17. Rashawn Slater, Chargers’ Outside Tackle
Slater got drafted as a much-needed help to the Chargers’ offensive line. He played the left tackle as a rookie effortlessly, which only a few players in NFL history have been able to achieve. In 16 games, Slater ended the season with 1,116 snaps marking the third rookie in offensive linemen to do so. He also had an overall 83.6 grade, placing him second in the group.
18. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars Quarterback
The most hyped and overall first pick did not live up to our expectations, and he is not to be blamed. The Urban Meyers’ disaster and the discordant group of players in the Jaguars did not allow the Quarterback to maximise his full potential. However, he managed to have 3,600 passing yards, 16 interceptions, and 12 touchdowns. With Coach Doug Pederson onboard, he has a second chance this season to make up for his previous uninspiring year.
18. Brian Burns, Panthers’ Defensive End
Burns is an edge rusher that would be valuable to any club. His speed rushes make him the fourth-most defensive end in the NFL. He has attained 135 total tackles, 25.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and one touchdown in three years.
19. Patrick Surtain II, Broncos Cornerback
While most players struggle in their first and second seasons trying to understand the mechanics of playing in the NFL, Surtain quickly blended on the field like a pro. He allowed only 56 percent completion in 530 pass snaps while targeted.
20. Trevon Diggs, Cowboys CornerBack
Diggs’ 11 interceptions in 2021 were unlike any other that year. As much as it is commendable, Diggs yielded more receiving yards than his colleagues. The 23-year-old is like fire and ice; one minute, he exhibits remarkable ball skills; the next, he becomes a rogue. However, if he could be in the grip and work on his weaknesses, he would be a star in the making.
Aside from the names mentioned above, some vibrant young players are worth mentioning, including Quinnen Williams, Tee Higgins, Antoine Winfield, Jaylen Waddle, and more. The list never ends, as we would keep seeing youngsters making their mark in the NFL.
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