NFL’s 6 best young cores, ranked for the present and future

In the NBA, having a young core of talented players can mean everything. Just take the Oklahoma City Thunder, for example. OKC rampaged through the NBA en route to its first NBA title with a young trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams wrecking everything in their wake.

In the NFL, having a young core not only sets up your competitive present, but future as well. But which team in the NFL has the best young crop of talent? For this exercise, we have to set some parameters, namely the young core has to consist of players still on their rookie contract. If the player doesn’t have a new deal, then they’re eligible for this ranking. Guys who were drafted in 2025 do play a factor in this ranking, but more emphasis will be placed on players that have played an NFL down. With that being said, let’s get into the ranking!

6. Seattle Seahawks

Notable players: DB Devon Witherspoon, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DB Riq Woolen, OT Charles Cross

Very quietly, the Seahawks have put together a really fascinating core of talent still on rookie deals. Health is a question mark, but when he’s on the field Cross is very good at left tackle. Smith-Njigba offers a lot of promise as a slot receiver, but I think most of their young talent lies on defense. Witherspoon and Woolen get most of the attention, but EDGEs Boye Mafe and Derick Hall have played well, and DT Byron Murphy II has also shown flashes. The Seahawks still need to get production and consistency from the other spots up front, but the young talent is there.

5. Houston Texans

Notable players: QB CJ Stroud, EDGE Will Anderson Jr., CB Kamari Lassiter

You can make a legitimate argument for the Texans being higher because they hit on the QB, but slotting them here feels like a good stopping point. Stroud is great, a throwback signal caller who throws with touch and precision. Anderson Jr. is one of the focal points of the Texans’ defensive front and is due for another big campaign in 2025, and Lassiter came on extremely strong to end his rookie season. Outside of that, the young core of this team has a lot of question marks. If WR Tank Dell can come back healthy and Houston gets some production from their youth on the offensive line, they could end up much higher.

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

4. Los Angeles Rams

Notable players: WR Puka Nacua, EDGE Jared Verse, DT Kobie Turner

The Rams have struck gold in recent drafts, finding impact players on both sides of the ball, which lands them on this list. The headliners are Nacua and Verse, both phenomenal in their own ways on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. When you go down the roster though, there’s still some really fun young guys on rookie deals. Starting guard Steve Avila, defensive tackles Kobie Turner and Braden Fisk, Kyren Williams at running back. There’s an argument to be made that the Rams should be higher. But I feel like the misses at DB late in the draft hold them back a little bit.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Notable players: DT Jalen Carter, CB Quinyon Mitchell, CB Cooper DeJean, EDGE Nolan Smith

It’s impressive how the Eagles have built a roster with strong veteran talent and incredibly impactful young players. Carter has an argument for best defensive tackle in the league, with stretches of pure dominance. Mitchell and DeJean played massive roles on the Super Bowl winning team, and Smith grew into his own last season, finishing with 6.5 sacks. This list leaves off guys like Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo, who could also be impactful players coming up. The Eagles were bound to be here, and they fly into the third spot.

2. Baltimore Ravens

Notable players: S Kyle Hamilton, C Tyler Linderbaum, WR Zay Flowers, TE Isaiah Likely

The Ravens are one of the better drafting franchises in football, and the amount of talent still on rookie deals is a great example. Outside of all-world safety Kyle Hamilton, you have impact players on both sides of the line (Linderbaum and RT Roger Rosengarten on offense, DT Travis Jones and EDGE Odafe Oweh on defense), Flowers and CB Nate Wiggins in the skill position room and Likely bringing up more support at tight end. It’s truly unfair how much young talent is on that roster, and only getting better.

1. Detroit Lions

Notable players: S Brian Branch, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

The question for Detroit isn’t if they’ll be on this list, it’s for how long, because all of their prominent young core members could be eligible for massive extensions. Branch is one of the best safeties in football and Gibbs can turn every touch into a big play. Hutchinson is the star of the group, and he’s due for a big extension soon. GM Brad Holmes and the Lions have done a great job of building out this young group, and it’s helped them reach the top of the NFC.

Honorable Mention:

• Washington Commanders: Hit on the QB, question marks everywhere else
• Arizona Cardinals: very fun and underrated young roster, especially in the secondary. Need a boost from young offensive players to make leap.
• Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons and Tyler Smith are still on rookie deals. That’ll get you on the list
• Chicago Bears: Lot of projection with this, but if the QB hits then it makes the whole young core look better
• Jacksonville Jaguars: If Travis Hunter is good, this looks a lot different in a year.
• Tennessee Titans: Lot of fun, young talent up front and in the secondary. If Cam Ward hits then the conversation changes
• New York Giants: Again, a lot unknown about this group, especially with Jaxson Dart. But WR Malik Nabers, RB Tyrone Tracy and DBs Dru Phillips and Tyler Nubin are good starts