When we look at which NFL teams are set up for future success, a big part of that is considering how much young talent is on each roster. Young talent is important for a couple of reasons.
These players are still developing and could become even better and more productive as they hit their peak years. They also come on affordable rookie contracts that help teams stay under the salary cap and give front offices the room to sign veteran free agents.
Young talent helps establish how much success a team is likely to have over the longer term. For the first time since 2022, we do not have the Houston Texans on top of this list.
But that's fine, because they are No. 2.
Instead, our new No. 1 team in terms of young talent beat Houston on its way to the Super Bowl last season.
In fact, both of last season's Super Bowl teams rank in our top 10. However, you don't need to have young talent to be a Super Bowl contender.
The current favorite to win Super Bowl LXI is all the way down in last place when it comes to talent under the age of 25. Who needs the long term when you have so much veteran talent in the short term?
Here are our under-25 rankings for this season. All ages are as of Sept.
1, 2026. Blue-chip players are the top 60 cornerstone assets around the league from whom teams will likely derive their biggest future value.
(Don't get too hung up on this, as there isn't some sort of big gap between player 60 and player 61.) Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH Methodology As is our standard, we have created these rankings based on a combination of factors: Number of starts made by players under 25 years old Number of snaps played by players under 25 years old Quality of play by players under 25 years old, age-adjusted to capture the fact that a 21-year-old player of X ability will likely improve more than a 23-year-old player of X ability -- and with extra consideration given to Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections Value and length of player contracts Relative importance of positions, with quarterbacks being more important and running backs, off-ball linebackers and specialists being less important than other positions Draft value added in the 2026 draft, particularly in the first three rounds Expected key starters and reserves under 25 years old for teams in 2026 Significant injuries or suspensions that will affect the 2026 availability of players under 25 years old 1. New England Patriots Last year's rank: 7 Blue chips: OT Will Campbell , CB Christian Gonzalez , QB Drake Maye Notable graduated players: S Craig Woodson The Patriots' haul of young talent isn't just about Maye, but it certainly starts with him.
My system identifies Maye as the most valuable young commodity in the NFL after he threw for 4,394 yards and came close to winning the MVP award last season. He will turn 24 right before the season begins.
Maye's offensive line had issues during the postseason, but there's no question it features young talent. Left tackle Campbell is just 22, and center Jared Wilson is 23.
First-round pick Caleb Lomu , who will eventually slot in at either left or right tackle, is just 21. Behind those offensive linemen, Maye can hand off to 23-year-old running back TreVeyon Henderson and throw passes to 24-year-old Kayshon Boutte , 23-year-old Kyle Williams or 22-year-old rookie Eli Raridon .
There's less young talent on the defensive side of the ball, but the Patriots' best defender turned 24 in June. Gonzalez was selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl after posting 69 tackles and 20 passes defensed.
Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer is 23, and second-round rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas is 22. 2.
Houston Texans Last year's rank: 1 Blue chips: Edge Will Anderson Jr. , OT Aireontae Ersery , CB Kamari Lassiter , QB C.J.
Stroud Notable graduated players: CB Derek Stingley Jr. , LB Henry To'oTo'o The Texans were No.
1 on this list for three straight years, and they've now fallen all the way down ... to No.
2. However, they're going to fall a lot further next year, because star players Stroud and Anderson barely qualified to be counted.
Anderson -- who had 12 sacks in 2025 -- will turn 25 on Sept. 2, and Stroud -- who threw for 3,041 yards -- will do the same on Oct.
3. However, there's still plenty of young talent behind those two.
Start with the secondary, as safety Calen Bullock and cornerback Lassit