Young NFL Stars Who Could Be Next to Take the League by Storm

The NFL is in a transition period. While longtime veterans such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers are pondering their futures, young players like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have taken over as the league's faces.

Jackson, the dual-threat wunderkind out of Louisville, won the regular-season MVP award in his first full season as the starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens. Mahomes, in his second season as the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback, just won the Super Bowl MVP award. Mahomes was the league MVP last year.

As the NFL shifts its focus to younger stars—a group that includes Saquon Barkley, Michael Thomas and Christian McCaffrey—fans have to wonder which player will be its next transcendent standout.

Here, we'll examine some top young players who, through a combination of talent, role and exposure, could be the NFL's next big thing.

Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

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Though quarterbacks typically get the majority of the attention, wide receivers have had their fair share of time in the spotlight. From Randy Moss and Terrell Owens to Odell Beckham Jr. and Thomas, receivers have regularly been among the league's biggest stars.

San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel has the potential to do the same. If you watched him during Super Bowl LIV, you got a firsthand look at how special the 24-year-old is. He set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a receiver with 53 and caught five passes for 39 yards. He finished his 2019 rookie campaign with 802 receiving yards, 159 rushing yards and six total touchdowns.

When he has the ball in his hands, Samuel can make magic. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan is the perfect creative mind to find ways to get him the ball early and often.

Samuel could break out as one of the league's most exciting players in 2020, especially with San Francisco getting plenty of national attention following its latest Super Bowl appearance. He'll have another year of experience and may not have to compete for targets with veteran Emmanuel Sanders, who is scheduled to become a free agent March 18.

Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers

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Super Bowl LIV also provided a glimpse of how dominant 49ers edge-rusher Nick Bosa can be. He only finished the game with one sack, but he also had a forced fumble and flustered Mahomes for much of the contest.

"If you watch this game you understand why Washington will draft Chase Young," Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller tweeted during the Super Bowl. "Pass rush matters."

Pass rush does matter, and few edge defenders have been as instantly successful at it as Bosa was this past season. He amassed nine sacks, but as was the case in the Super Bowl, he was often more impactful than raw numbers might indicate.

One could argue Bosa has already burst into the spotlight, and he has. However, the 22-year-old will have a chance to go from Defensive Rookie of the Year to Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and potentially make himself a media darling—much like J.J. Watt did when he earned his first DPOY award in 2012.

Chase Young, DE, 2020 Draft Prospect

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As Miller pointed out, there's a strong chance the Washington Redskins will take Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young with the second pick in April's draft. There's also a chance Young will have a rookie season that rivals or even exceeds Bosa's.

"Young, like Nick Bosa last year, is too good to pass up at No. 2 overall. Even if this isn't a top-tier need (Bosa wasn't either for the 49ers), sometimes you have to take the best player available. Especially when the player is at the second-most important position in football," Miller wrote.

Young, who had 16.5 sacks this past season, was arguably the most dominant defender in the country. The soon-to-be 21-year-old could immediately become one of the NFL's most productive young pass-rushers, especially if he goes to Washington.

Like Bosa, Young would join a talented defensive front. With players such as Montez Sweat, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen on the line, opposing teams will have a hard time doubling the rookie. 

Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

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Though their teams often deploy them in different ways, Jackson and Mahomes possess many of the same attributes: accuracy, arm talent, mobility, leadership and a winning mentality. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday, has some of the same traits.

While Murray didn't take over a playoff-ready team like Jackson and Mahomes did, he was nevertheless impressive. Despite having little talent around him—and a first-year coach in Kliff Kingsbury—Murray finished his rookie year with 3,722 passing yards, 544 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns.

With a better supporting cast, Murray could leap into the national spotlight, much like Jackson did in 2019. There's a good chance the Cardinals provide him with a better arsenal, too. They're projected to have $51.5 million in cap space entering free agency.

With a few more weapons around him and a year's worth of experience under his belt, Murray could put up some impressive numbers in 2020.

Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

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The runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, should see plenty of media coverage in 2020. With the Raiders making their move to Vegas, they're likely to see a few prime-time outings, and with two first-round picks and a projected $54.7 million in cap space, they could also field a playoff-caliber roster.

If Las Vegas is in the spotlight often next season, the world will get to see just how impressive Jacobs is as a runner. He quickly became the centerpiece of the Raiders offense as a rookie and was almost impossible to contain.

In just 13 games, Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards, added 166 yards receiving and found the end zone seven times.

While running backs are often underappreciated, players such as Barkley, McCaffrey and Derrick Henry have brought the position back to the forefront over the last couple of years. Jacobs has the potential to follow in their footsteps in his second season and become an even more popular player by bringing the Raiders back to prominence.

Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

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Quarterback Carson Wentz became a superstar for bringing the Philadelphia Eagles back to prominence in 2017 as much as for his play on the field. Though he didn't participate in the game because of a torn ACL, he helped guide the Eagles to Super Bowl LII and has stayed in the spotlight since.

Next season, though, Wentz will have to share the attention with emerging running back Miles Sanders.

Though the 22-year-old back wasn't heavily utilized during the first half of the season, Sanders still finished his rookie campaign with 818 rushing yards, 509 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His ability to run, catch, cut and sprint made him one of 2019's must-see players.

Sanders will likely see a bigger role in 2020, especially if the Eagles part with Jordan Howard, who is scheduled to become a free agent. With a bigger workload, Sanders could have the sort of special season Barkley and McCaffrey have recently had. Since Philadelphia gets plenty of attention via national headlines, Sanders could emerge as the most electrifying young back in the league next season.

Gardner Minshew II, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

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While Wentz helped the Eagles get to a Super Bowl, Nick Foles won it. But last offseason, he landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, suffered a broken clavicle in Week 1 and was replaced by rookie Washington State product Gardner Minshew II.

Minshew was impressive in his inaugural campaign—many might argue more impressive than Murray. He finished with 3,271 passing yards, 344 rushing yards, 21 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.

While Minshew is expected to compete with Foles for the starting job in 2020, he could become the league's next darling quarterback if he wins it. He has a brash, playful personality that the media embraced during the brief bout of Minshew Mania in 2019.

If the 23-year-old is Jacksonville's starter next season, Minshew Mania could return on a permanent basis, taking over the NFL as it does.

Joe Burrow, QB, 2020 Draft Prospect

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The second draft prospect on this list, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, appears to be a special one. He took the college football world by storm in 2019 by throwing 60 touchdown passes, and winning the Heisman Trophy and national title all in the same season. He could be just as compelling and successful as a pro.

Unlike some standout college quarterbacks, Burrow, 23, appears to possess the skill set needed to immediately thrive.

"He is extremely accurate, efficient and instinctive. He is very smooth in his drop and he has the ability to process through his reads at a rapid pace," NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah wrote. "He throws with anticipation and he can naturally layer the ball over and under coverage."

The biggest obstacle for Burrow is that he'll land with a bad team—likely the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 1 overall. If he can meet the lofty expectations he carries, though—as Murray did with the Cardinals in 2019—Burrow has the skills and confidence of a readymade media sensation.

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