The 10 best NFL players under 25 entering the 2021 season

#6 DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers, 23

Also a DROY, 2019 #2 pick Nick Bosa had an INT, two passes deflected, a forced fumble, nine sacks, 47 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 25 QB hits last season.

He was much more productive than Chase Young in his rookie year, but his season-ending ACL injury two games into 2020 hurt his stock. We need to see how explosive and agile he is on the field this year as he comes off of rehab. Bosa is one of the players projected to win the DPOY award this year.

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#5 WR DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks, 23

DK Metcalf has the frame of an NFL LB and possesses speed straight out of the track. He makes up for his average route-running with speed and physicality at the point of catch.

In the past two seasons, Metcalf has already had 2,203 receiving yards from 141 catches, 17 TDs and a 61.6% catch rate. He had his best season last year with 83 catches for 1,303 yards and ten TDs.

Metcalf is a proper steal from the second round in 2019, and holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in a playoff game as a rookie (163). His 1,303 receiving yards in 2020 is a franchise record with Seattle.

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#4 FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers, 24

If Minkah Fitzpatrick had stayed in Miami, he might not have blossomed into one of the best safeties in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers got the best possible player with the 2020 first-round pick they traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Fitzpatrick has been a Pro Bowl player and First-Team All-Pro the last two seasons with the Steelers, and has nine INTs, two TDs, two forced fumbles, 79 tackles and two tackles for loss in that span.

He has become an elite ball-hawk in the NFL, and always seems to be around the ball carrier. In 2020, he had the lowest completion rate (45.5%) when targeted. He was #52 in the NFL Top 100.