Age: 22

The runaway 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud wasted no time showing us all why he’s so special. There is nothing he can’t do as a passer. A laser deep ball and proficient processor? Check. Incredible poise in the pocket? Check. A fabulous creator when the play breaks down? Check. A leader his teammates believe in at all costs? Check. Entering a pivotal sophomore campaign, the sky is the limit for a young man who looks like he already might be the next great NFL quarterback. — Robert Zeglinski

Age: 23

De’Von Achane is more explosive, but Williams is perhaps a bit more reliable even after playing only 12 games last season. His 96 rush yards per contest led the NFL and resulted in All-Pro honors. — Christian D’Andrea

Age: 24

The fastest player to 5,000 career receiving yards in NFL history, Jefferson has entered rare air. It is to the point where mentioning him in the company of names like Jerry Rice or Randy Moss shouldn’t inspire any skepticism. He is unequivocally the league’s finest, most unstoppable playmaker and is on an all-time pace. — RZ

Age: 22

Nacua burst onto the scene as a fifth-round pick and never stopped showing out, finishing with nearly 1,500 receiving yards as a rookie. While drops are a concern, his ability to shake man coverage and find holes in the zone allows him to play like a 10-year veteran in the body of, well, a 22-year-old. — CD

Age: 24

No NFL receiver is more dependable, more reliable, and more capable of carrying his offense all in one quite like St. Brown. The playmaker has now caught over 200 passes and 2,600 yards over the last two seasons. He is showing no signs of slowing down for a budding Lions juggernaut team that figures to lean on him heavily for a Super Bowl push. — RZ

Age: 23

Most rookie tight ends fail to have a major impact thanks to the demands of both blocking and receiving at a high level. Not LaPorta, who emerged as a fully formed top-five player at the position with Second-Team All-Pro honors. — CD

Age: 24

An elite and athletic pass protector, Darrisaw can be trusted on an island against even the most vicious edge rushers. On a burgeoning Vikings offense with plenty of youthful talent, he might be the most important cornerstone. — RZ

Age: 23

The Cowboys are a bit of a mess right now, and Smith may have to kick back outside to tackle. He’d probably be fine there, but there’s no denying his skill at guard. The 2022 first-round pick is a mauler in the ground game and a wall in pass protection, giving Dallas a reliable presence for an offensive line that badly needs one. — CD

Age: 24

Humphrey is the definition of Mr. Reliable. A difference-maker since he began his career in 2021, Humphrey has now been widely recognized as the finest center in pro football for three years running. He is the ideal bodyguard for Patrick Mahomes. — RZ

Age: 24

Smith is a bit of a cheat since he’ll turn 25 this summer. Still, he’s too good to leave off this list. He was drafted four rounds after Humphrey but has proven just as useful for an offensive line tasked with keeping Patrick Mahomes upright as he searches for open targets amongst an underwhelming receiving corps. — CD

Age: 23

Sometimes, it’s frightening to think about how much more room Sewell has to grow. Because, at this stage, he is an All-Pro tackle moving metaphorical mountains for Ben Johnson’s dynamite Detroit offense. By age 26, we might be talking about him as a certain future First-Ballot Hall of Famer. Sewell is, indeed, that exceptional. — RZ

Age: 23

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Travon Walker over him in 2022, and this will haunt them for years to come. Hutchinson has been a monster in every aspect of the game, crashing pockets and shedding blockers as a constant presence in opposing backfields. — CD

Age: 23

The Eagles selected Carter in the top 10 of last year’s draft, expecting him to make an immediate impact on an already-loaded defensive front. Carter did not disappoint, amassing nine quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, and six sacks in his first NFL season. A lofty jump to superstardom in Year 2 won’t surprise anyone. — RZ

Age: 24

The Patriots don’t have many young building blocks on which they can rely, but Barmore qualifies. He’s a difficult-to-move presence in the middle of their defensive line who rose up when asked to do more against the pass last fall. His 8.5 sacks more than doubled his career total. — CD

Age: 23

Thibodeaux followed a promising rookie season by blossoming into one of the NFL’s premier young pass rushers. He is a uniquely gifted tornado of power off the edge. With Brian Burns now garnering attention on the other side of New York’s defensive front, Thibodeaux might be in line for his first-ever All-Pro selection this fall. — RZ

Age: 24

Sure, it’s at least a little bit of a cheat to include Parsons here instead of at the edge. But he’s not merely an edge rusher, and while he hasn’t been asked to do it much since his rookie season, he’s useful in coverage. That versatility is rare and certainly deserving of a spot between the guys attacking the corners and the ones stuffing the run up the middle. — CD

Age: 24

Injuries derailed much of Bolton’s 2023 campaign, but he remains one of the most underrated off-ball linebackers in the game. A cerebral player, few can diagnose and blow up a play as fast as him. On a star-studded Chiefs roster, Bolton deserves more time in the limelight. — RZ

Age: 24

Jones isn’t the reason why the Rams’ rebuild is ahead of schedule, but his development helped a unit that only returned two players who had started at least 10 games for LA in 2022 gel into a playoff squad. He’s solid in coverage, proficient as a blitzer (4.5 sacks), and, after 2023’s solid campaign, is in line for a potential leap to stardom in 2024. — CD

Age: 22

Under the tutelage of DeMeco Ryans, Stingley resembled an All-Pro-caliber player during his second NFL season. He sticks to receivers like glue, is more than reliable in run support, AND has impeccable ball skills (five picks in 2023). What more could you want from a potential franchise player in your secondary? — RZ

Age: 23

Kansas City was content to trade away L’Jarius Sneed, in part, because McDuffie offers so much to this secondary. He’s a steady boundary corner who can shift inside if needed and works well in both zone and man coverage. Whatever the Chiefs need, McDuffie has the chops to give. — CD

Age: 23

Don’t let Gang Green’s embarrassing 2023 season overshadow Gardner’s brilliance. The Jets might have struggled as a team, but Gardner still put receivers on his own personal island every single week. He is the gold standard for boundary cornerback play until further notice. — RZ

Age: 23

Hamilton’s relatively slow 40-yard dash time and a lack of emphasis on the safety position let him slide to the middle of the first round in 2022 despite a stellar Notre Dame career. This was terrible news for the rest of the AFC North, as he’s poised to terrorize his division rivals with steady coverage and thumping downhill run-stopping for the next decade. — CD

Age: 24

There’s a lot of promising young safety talent in the current NFL pantheon, but few bring the total package like Holland. The lynchpin of an underrated Miami secondary, Holland is a steadfast playmaking leader who sets the tone while creating his own “No-Fly Zone” on the back end. — RZ