Top 50 NFL Players 25 and Under

It's always fun and enjoyable to look forward to the future and to see who will be the stars of the NFL for many years to come.

In this case, guys that come to mind are Ray Rice, Clay Matthews, Arian Foster and Cam Newton. All four of those players have had solid NFL careers thus far but they are only getting started.

In that spirit, allow me to introduce to you the top 50 NFL players 25 and under. 

50. Blaine Gabbert

Blaine Gabbert hasn't had necessarily the greatest rookie season, as he's been kind of thrown to the wolves. 

Thus far in 2011, Gabbert has posted a lousy 64.5 quarterback rating while completing only 49.5 percent of his passes. However, I do have faith in Gabbert and I believe that he's got all the talent and upside in the world. He will be just fine, as long as the Jacksonville Jaguars' next head coach doesn't ruin his development. 

49. Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy had one impressive rookie season, as he posted a 74.5 quarterback rating while completing a promising 60.8 percent of his passes for the Cleveland Browns. 

McCoy certainly isn't the most talented quarterback out there, but he's got guts—he gives it everything that he's got, as he was a winner in college with the Texas Longhorns. 

Now in his second year, McCoy has improved a bit with a 76.9 completion percentage while tossing 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions through 12 games. 

If the Browns want to continue the development of McCoy, they need to surround better talent around him as the talent that he has now is pitiful. 

48. Ben Tate

Only if Ben Tate wasn't sharing carries with Arian Foster, he would be considered an elite running back in the NFL. Either way, he's got talent and he's a part of the most effective running back tandem in the NFL today. 

Tate is in his second year in the league with the Houston Texans, as he missed his entire rookie season. Now in 11 games, Tate is averaging an incredible 5.5 yards per carry while scoring a total of five combined touchdowns. 

47. Eric Berry

Eric Berry was sure to be considered one of the top safeties in the NFL if he wasn't placed on injured reserve back in September. 

Either way, Berry has played phenomenal for the Kansas City Chiefs as he recorded 92 tackles as well picking off the opposing quarterback four times while being named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. 

46. Lawrence Timmons

It's hard to believe that Lawrence Timmons is only 25 years old, as he plays like such a seasoned veteran with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Since being drafted in 2007 with the 15th overall pick, Timmons has tallied up an amazing 353 tackles and 15 sacks. 

The lone knock on Timmons is that he started of slow but has really turned it on since 2009. 

45. Christian Ponder

I am a big-time believer in Christian Ponder. He will be an elite quarterback one day, I guarantee it. 

In just seven games this season for the Minnesota Vikings, the FSU standout has completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,522 yards while tossing nine touchdowns and being picked off eight times.

The Minnesota Vikings are in very good shape moving forward with Ponder, Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson being their top offensive weapons. 

44. Gerald McCoy

I really don't think that Gerald McCoy gets enough credit.

Despite being placed on injured reserve back in November, McCoy has played very well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he recorded 28 tackles and three sacks in his rookie season and had 11 tackles and a sack in six games this season.

McCoy will be a major force on Tampa Bay's defensive line for many years to come. 

43. Carlos Dunlap

Carlos Dunlap has all the potential to be an elite pass-rusher in the NFL.

In just his rookie season last year, Dunlap recorded an impressive 10 sacks in 12 games for the Cincinnati Bengals and now has three sacks in nine games this season. 

42. Mike Williams

Mike Williams may not have as many touchdowns, as he did a year ago as a rookie when he recorded 10, but he still has three this season and is having a better statistical season.

The 6'2" wide receiver out of Syracuse is one hell of a talent, as he was a complete steal by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, selected in the fourth round back in 2010.

Thus far in 2011 through 12 games, Williams has 57 receptions for 666 yards to go along with his three touchdowns. 

41. Jermichael Finley

Jermichael Finley will emerge as one of the elite tight ends in the NFL. 

Finely missed most of 2010 but has come on strong this season, as he has 42 receptions and six touchdowns in 12 games for the Green Bay Packers.

With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, I think that it's safe to say that Finely will have a long, productive career at tight end. 

40. Sam Bradford

The thing with Sam Bradford is that the St. Louis Rams need to surround him with talent. It has to be more than Brandon Lloyd, he needs a better wide receiver than him—just my opinion.

Bradford had a very promising rookie season a year ago, as he was good enough that he was named the 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Bradford completed 60 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns while accumulating 3,512 yards. 

39. Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton is a winner and he will take the Cincinnati Bengals to places that they haven't seen in a long, long time: the Super Bowl. 

A rookie, Dalton has led the Bengals to an impressive 7-5 record while posting an 81.6 quarterback rating, completing 59.2 percent of his passes and throwing an incredible 17 touchdowns.

38. Pat Angerer

Pat Angerer is well on his way to being one of the top linebackers in the NFL for the lowly Indianapolis Colts.

In his rookie season as a Colt, Angerer recorded an impressive 89 tackles and now in 2011 he has already tallied up 112 tackles in only 12 games. 

37. Rashard Mendenhall

At times Rashard Mendenhall can be the best running back in the NFL but then there's some other times when he's just another average guy—and I know first hand, as I have had him on my fantasy team for the past three seasons. 

Over his career, Mendenhall is averaging 4.1 yards per carry but is a touchdown machine, as he already has 28 touchdowns in just four seasons in the NFL. 

36. Percy Harvin

I am one of Percy Harvin's biggest fans. I truly believe that he's the most unique wide receiver in the NFL, as he can also line up as a running back and do so many different things. He is such a versatile offensive weapon. 

Through four seasons in the league, Harvin has caught 190 passes for 2,368 yards while scoring a grand total of 15 touchdowns. 

35. Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez may not have the best stats, but he is a winner, as he's been to two AFC title games with the New York Jets.

Through three years in the NFL, Sanchez has a 73.6 quarterback rating but has an impressive 81.1 this season, as he's thrown for a career-high 19 touchdowns, and counting. 

34. Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty played at an elite level last season for the New England Patriots, as he was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

McCourty certainly has all the potential in the world to be a shutdown cornerback for many years to come. 

33. Hakeem Nicks

In just Hakeem Nicks' third-year in the NFL, the North Carolina product has caught a phenomenal 23 touchdowns for the New York Giants.

To go along with his 23 touchdowns, Nicks has 2,702 receiving yards and 183 total receptions—and counting. 

32. Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles could be a bit higher, but after tearing his ACL earlier this season his stock has taken a significant fall.

ACL injuries are scary for running backs and no one is sure if Charles will be able to regain his explosiveness that he once had. 

Throughout Charles' career, he has averaged an incredible 6.1 yards per carry. 

31. Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman had an impressive season in 2010, as he recorded a 95.9 quarterback rating while completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

However, Freeman's stats have been rather low this season, as he has already been picked off 16 times in just 11 games thus far in 2011. 

30. Eric Wood

Eric Wood is one of the NFL's most promising centers.

The Louisville product was placed on injured reserve back on November 15, but was playing at an elite level for the Buffalo Bills prior to tearing his ACL. 

29. Charles Johnson

Just a year ago, Charles Johnson emerged out of nowhere and led the NFL in sacks with a whopping 12.

Now in 2011 through 12 games, Johnson has racked up an amazing nine sacks and appears to be only getting better as time goes by. 

28. DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson should be higher on this list but his attitude is rather questionable.

Jackson is arguably the NFL's top big-play threat wide receiver, as he is currently averaging 17.8 yards per reception as well as tallying up 19 total touchdowns thus far in his career for the Philadelphia Eagles. 

27. Brian Cushing

Brian Cushing has been an absolute monster for the Houston Texans ever since being drafted back in 2009 with the 15th overall pick. 

In 40 games in the NFL, Cushing has recorded an incredible 292 tackles and 10 sacks. 

It appears that Cushing is only getting better, and he'll be an elite linebacker for many years to come. 

26. Navorro Bowman

Navorro Bowman is just yet another productive linebacker out of Penn State—a school known for producing linebackers.

Bowman had a decent rookie season with 46 tackles but has really turned it on this year, as he has a total of 110 and counting. Bowman is one hell of a force lining up with Patrick Willis for the San Francisco 49ers. 

25. Brandon Flowers

Brandon Flowers is one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. 

Flowers was selected back in 2008 in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs and has already exceeded all expectations. 

In four years, Flowers has a solid 13 interceptions for three touchdowns as well as tallying up 67 pass deflections. 

24. Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez is a mismatch nightmare—he's as big as a tight end, as fast as a wide receiver and runs like a running back.

For the New England Patriots, Hernandez has scored a total of 11 touchdowns through 24 games in his NFL career. 

Hernandez paired up with Rob Gronkowski creates one difficult offense to defend against. 

23. Marcell Dareus

Marcell Dareus was well worth the third overall pick from last year's draft. 

For the Buffalo Bills, Dareus has a total of 30 tackles in 12 games this season as well as four sacks. All in all, Dareus will emerge as one of the premiere defensive linemen for many years to come. 

22. Andy Levitre

Andy Levitre is one impressive offensive guard. In fact, he's been a part of a very strong group in Buffalo. 

Levitre will be a household name in a few seasons—he's just that good. 

21. Joe Haden

Joe Haden is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL at just the young age of 22. 

Haden was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 draft with the seventh overall pick. Since then, Haden has emerged as an elite cornerback that is very dependable and can be left on an island with opposing offense's top receivers. 

20. Bryan Bulaga

Bryan Bulaga is one of the unknown factors of the Green Bay Packers' success last season and this season. 

Bulaga often goes unnoticed, but he's an integral part of Green Bay's offensive line, passing game and protecting Aaron Rodgers. 

19. Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson may be a prima donna and an egocentric wide receiver but he's such an amazing talent.

Johnson has huge upside and potential and he's already displaying it at an elite level with the Buffalo Bills. Through 44 games, Johnson has 153 receptions for 1,859 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

18. B.J. Raji

B.J. Raji has been so dominant that he's already been nicknamed "The Freezer."

The Boston College product was an integral part in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl a year ago and is a main factor in why the team still remains undefeated this late in the season. 

Raji has yet to be named to a Pro Bowl, but he's already recorded 11 career sacks along with 82 tackles. 

17. Matthew Stafford

For the first time in Matthew Stafford's career, he's actually playing a full season without being injured.

Thus far in 2011, Stafford has completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,527 yards while tossing a remarkable 27 touchdowns, and counting.

Stafford will likely emerge as an elite passer for many years to come as long as he keeps throwing to Calvin Johnson. 

16. Brian Orakpo

It's really hard to believe that this is Brian Orakpo's third season in the NFL, as he's such a dominant pass-rusher.

Back in 2009, his rookie season, Orakpo accumulated a whopping 11 sacks and then nine sacks in 2010. Now in 2011, Orakpo already has six sacks through 12 games. 

15. Von Miller

Von Miller will likely win the Defensive Player of the Year, as he's lived up to his high expectations of being the second overall pick from last year's draft.

Through 11 games this season for the Denver Broncos, Miller has recorded an absolutely phenomenal 11 sacks while recording 57 tackles.

Overall, Miller will be an elite pass-rusher for many, many years to come. 

14. Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace started of as only a deep threat wide receiver but now has emerged as a very well-rounded, lethal receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Currently, Wallace is averaging 19 yards per reception as well as a solid 5.6 yards-after-catch with 24 total career touchdowns, and counting. 

For being a third-round pick back in 2009, Wallace has been quite the acquisition. 

13. Jason Pierre-Paul

I am a huge Jason Pierre-Paul believer.

Pierre-Paul was the 15th overall pick from the 2010 draft and really has lived up to the high expectations, as he tallied up five sacks last season for the New York Giants while recording 30 tackles. 

Now a year later, Pierre-Paul is a sack machine, as he already has 11 sacks through 12 games. 

12. Darren McFadden

Darren McFadden will be a lethal running back for many years in the NFL—that is of course if he can stay healthy, which has been a struggle. 

Run DMC has yet to play a full season in the NFL ever since being drafted back in 2008. However, he is averaging 4.8 yards per carry while scoring a total of 16 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns through 45 games in his career. 

11. Tim Tebow

Call me crazy, but Tim Tebow is one of the better players in the NFL today. 

Do you know why? Simply because he is clutch and he is a winner. 

Thus far in Tebow's career, the Florida product has posted an impressive 7-3 record as a starting quarterback and continues to get better and better each week.

It's important to keep in mind that this is only Tebow's second year in the NFL, so he does deserve some slack, as he's not fully developed as a passer. 

10. Ray Rice

Ray Rice is just a human bowling ball. 

Throughout Rice's impressive career, he has accumulated 3,939 total rushing yards while averaging an impressive 4.5 yards per carry and scoring a total of 21 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens. 

9. Jimmy Graham

In my opinion, Jimmy Graham is the second best tight end in the entire NFL.

In just his second season in the league with the New Orleans Saints, Graham has already developed a strong connection with Drew Brees, as they have connected for 75 passes for a total of eight touchdowns—and that's still counting. 

8. Cam Newton

For an NFL rookie quarterback, you cannot get much better than Cam Newton—his rookie season has been an absolute success.

Through 12 games, the rookie out of Auburn has completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 3,297 yards while tossing 13 touchdowns and posting a solid 82.4 quarterback rating. 

7. Matt Forte

Matt Forte wont be eligible for this for long, as he turns 26 years old on December 10—so happy early birthday to you, Matt! 

Either way, Forte is one of the premiere players in the NFL today, as he's arguably the most dynamic running back in the NFL.

Prior to Forte injuring his knee this season, he was on pace to be one of the likely candidates for the 2011 MVP award due to his pure dominance thus far for the Chicago Bears.

Forte is not only an incredible running back, but he's one phenomenal receiver, as he's accumulated a whopping 1,187 yards this season while scoring four touchdowns. 

6. Jerod Mayo

In 2010, Jerod Mayo proved that he is one of the elite linebackers in the NFL today. 

Mayo has recorded a grand total of 464 tackles for the New England Patriots through only four seasons—that's an incredible average of 116 tackles per season. 

5. Ndamukong Suh

You may label Ndamukong Suh a dirty player, but he's still an absolute beast along the Detroit Lions' defensive line. 

The second-year product out of Nebraska has recorded 97 tackles thus far as well as accumulating 13 sacks. 

Suh is simply a dominant force on the defensive line. 

4. LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy is nothing short of lethal—he's the most dangerous running back in the NFL.

Throughout McCoy's three-year career, he is averaging 4.9 yards per carry while also averaging an incredible 7.4 yards per reception for the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCoy could very well be the NFL's top receiving running back. 

3. Rob Gronkowski

In just his second year in the NFL, Rob Gronkowski has already emerged as the NFL's best tight end.

Through 12 games this season for the New England Patriots, Gronk has already tied the NFL single season record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 13 and still has four games left. To go along with those 13 touchdowns, Gronk has caught 65 passes for 928 yards.

All in all, no team has yet to come up with an answer in defending Gronkowski. 

2. Arian Foster

Arian Foster is the best running back in the NFL today, hands down.

At 25 years old, Foster has yet to enter the prime of his career, and that's extremely scary.

Just a year ago Foster led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,616 and is currently sitting at No. 8 in the NFL entering Week 14. 

I can only imagine how many yards Foster will accumulate in the next five seasons. 

1. Clay Matthews

There is no doubt in my mind that Clay Matthews is the best 25-and-under NFL player in the game today. 

In Matthews' first two seasons in the league with the Green Bay Packers, the USC product accumulated a whopping 14 sacks. Now in 2011 through 12 games, Matthews has racked up an impressive six sacks as well as recording 36 total tackles. 

Matthews may be only 25 years old, but he is Green Bay's top defensive weapon and is an integral part to their perfect season thus far.