Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner | Top 25 Under 25

A good article on The Athletic. I will include the whole list and the write up about Wilson and Sauce. For full article please click on below link.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/65...ers-25-and-under-rankings-coaches-evaluators/

How NFL talent evaluators, coaches rank the top players 25 and under entering 2025 season

The future, as they say, is now.

Another NFL season brings with it the evolution process that sees intriguing prospects develop into solid contributors and legit difference-makers. Eventually, they firmly entrench themselves as some of the games’ brightest stars. For some, it’s a gradual process. Others morph into household names in no time.

Once again, we’re examining and ranking those young players on the sharpest and most rapid ascents. We call it the Top 25 players 25 and under.

For consideration, players must have one season of experience, and they can’t be any older than 25 by Week 1. That meant stars such as Justin Jefferson, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Tristan Wirfs and Jordan Love all aged out this season after making the list in previous years.

Keeping with tradition, we reached out to a collection of front office members, scouts and coaches — nearly two dozen in all — for insight. All were granted anonymity so they could speak freely about the players. The participants were given a list of 35 potential players (many of whom had received All-Rookie or Pro Bowl honors) for inclusion. The experts were asked for feedback on where each might rank. The participants were encouraged to nominate any players that they believed had been left out. They also were free to suggest eliminating players they deemed unworthy of inclusion, even if they had made the cut last year.

This year’s original list featured 18 returning players and 17 new entries, but wound up with 16 familiar faces and nine impressive newcomers.

Here’s who made the cut and where they rank:

Top 25

1. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals. Age: 25 (DOB: 3/1/00)
2. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles. Age: 24 (4/4/01)
3. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders. Age: 24 (12/18/00)
4. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions. Age: 25 (8/9/00)
5. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders. Age: 22 (12/13/02)
6. Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos. Age: 25 (4/14/00)
7. Penei Sewell, RT, Detroit Lions. Age: 24 (10/9/00)
8. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans. Age: 23 (10/3/01)
9. Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens. Age: 24 (3/16/01)
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions. Age: 25 (10/24/99)
11. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons. Age: 23 (1/30/02)
12. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans. Age: 24 (6/20/01)
13. Trent McDuffie, CB, Kansas City Chiefs. Age: 24 (9/13/00)
14. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions. Age: 23 (3/20/02)
15. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles. Age: 23 (7/18/01)
16. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants. Age 22 (7/28/03)
17. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets. Age: 25 (7/22/00)
18. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams. Age: 24 (5/29/01)
19. Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets. Age: 24 (8/31/00)
20. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars. Age: 22 (10/8/22)
21. Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans. Age: 23 (9/2/01)
22. Jared Verse, LB, Los Angeles Rams. Age: 24: (11/4/00)
23. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens. Age: 25 (4/07/00)
24. Tyler Smith, LG, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 24 (4/3/01)
25. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars. Age: 25 (10/6/99)

 

17. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets. Age: 25 (7/22/00)
Despite a lack of stability at quarterback, Wilson has shined, recording 1,000-yard seasons in each of his three years in the league. The 101 catches in 2024 tied for seventh in the league and marked a career high.

19. Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets. Age: 24 (8/31/00)
Gardner seemed to regress a little last season and said his play wasn’t up to standards. But he remains one of the brightest young DBs in the game. He’s hoping new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and new head coach Aaron Glenn can help him rebound and regain the Pro Bowl and All-Pro status that he earned in his first and second seasons in the league.