NFL

The NFL's best under-25 starting lineup: Our picks, runners-up

What would a lineup of under-25 NFL all-stars look like? Glad you asked. We polled 43 of our NFL insiders — reporters, analysts, former players — to find out which players under age 25 will be the best at each position over the next three seasons.

The results included four Saints (the most of any team), three players drafted in April and nine players age 22 or younger.

ESPN Insider Field Yates wrote the analysis of each selection.

Quarterback

Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Percentage of vote: 65.1

Few quarterbacks have galvanized a franchise as expediently as Watson did the Texans in 2017. Watson, 22, has exceptional football IQ and character to lead teammates paired with unique arm talent (particularly in the vertical passing game) and dynamic athletic ability.

Runner-up: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Running backs

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Percentage of vote: 58.1

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Regardless of what Gurley’s timed speed is — and you know he’s fast — his functional play speed is even better. A step for Gurley, 23, in the open field usually means six points. With outstanding receiving skills and a diverse list of open-field maneuvers, he’s a true dual-threat back.

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Percentage of vote: 46.5

A projection for the 21-year-old Barkley based off a sterling career at Penn State, the Giants are hopeful that a skill set highlighted by an abundance of power, soft hands in the passing game and uncommon return skills will yield immediate returns. His polish on and off the field boosted his case as a can’t-miss draft prospect.

Runner-up: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Wide receivers

Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings

Percentage of vote: 53.5

Diggs, 24, has shown the ability to dominate in different ways at the NFL level. He excelled as a vertical threat as a rookie, chewed up catches in a volume role as a sophomore and took another step in his third season. When the ball is in the air, Diggs is a good bet to win in man-to-man coverage.

Tyreek Hill has scored touchdowns by rushing, receiving, kick return and punt return over the past two seasons. Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Percentage of vote: 53.5

Hill has made his mark already as a speed threat in the NFL. It’s not hyperbole to suggest the 24-year-old is the fastest player in the league, routinely impacting the game as a receiver, runner and returner. Hill has a compact frame but plays with some power, too.

Runner-up: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight end

Evan Engram, New York Giants

Percentage of vote: 48.8

The reality of some NFL offenses is that tight ends are asked to serve frequently in a detached alignment, working in a slot role that requires immense athletic skills. Engram, 23, is in some ways a jumbo wide receiver, firmly cementing his spot as a bright spot in the Giants’ offense as a rookie.

Runner-up: Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers

Offensive tackles

Jack Conklin, Tennessee Titans

Percentage of vote: 72.1

While some still believe that the value of a left tackle surpasses that of a right tackle, Conklin’s immediate emergence on the right side for Tennessee proves it’s a position of massive influence. Powerful and technically sound, the 23-year-old is currently recovering from a knee injury.

Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints

Percentage of vote: 51.2 percent

During a time when NFL teams are finding the challenge of identifying ready-made offensive linemen more difficult, Ramczyk, 24, stepped into a starting role right away. He played every snap in 2017 and handled multiple positions.

Runner-up: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens

Guards

Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

Percentage of vote: 93 percent

Nelson was a near-unanimous pick, a reflection of his pedigree coming out of Notre Dame. The 22-year-old plays with a blend of nasty and surgical attention to detail. Indy hopes he’ll set the tone for the line for a decade.

Quenton Nelson hasn’t played a down in the NFL, but he was a near-unanimous selection for our under-25 team. Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire

Andrus Peat, New Orleans Saints

Percentage of vote: 25.6 percent

The 24-year-old Peat is a dancing bear, an impressive athlete for a player of his size with positional versatility.

Runner-up: Will Hernandez, New York Giants

Center

Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings

Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent

The center position involves more than just meets the eye; Elflein, 24, absorbs great responsibility pre-snap in getting the offensive line in sync. His acclimation to the pro game from his college days was an expedient one.

Runner-up: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

Interior linemen

Sheldon Rankins, New Orleans Saints

Percentage of vote: 53.5 percent

Rankins, 24, is unique in this sense: He’s an immovable object in the middle of the Saints’ defense that makes the group decidedly better against the run, while also adding value as an intention rusher.

Leonard Williams, New York Jets

Percentage of vote: 74.4 percent

Williams’ length stands out, as the long-levered and versatile 24-year-old defender makes it hard for an offensive lineman to stay engaged. His value will transcend his statistics, but those are already quite impressive.

Runner-up: Jonathan Allen, Washington

Pass-rushers

Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers

Percentage of vote: 93 percent

Bosa, 23, drew pre-draft comparisons to J.J. Watt, an almost unfair parallel for any player to face. And yet, he has been a dominant force with some shades of Watt in terms of next-level power and acceleration.

Myles Garrett had seven sacks in 11 games played during his rookie season. AP Photo/David Richard

Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

Percentage of vote: 53.5 percent

Garrett was a bit limited by injuries as a rookie but made his mark all the same. He may have been the best talent on the Browns’ roster last season when the team went 0-16. Much more impressively, the 22-year-old may still be the most talented player on an improved roster.

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Percentage of vote: 51.2 percent

The younger Watt, 23, is a terrific athlete and has the reactive skills to be a factor in coverage. Oh, did we mention he’s already an immense force as a rusher for a defense that led the NFL in sacks last year?

Runner-up: Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars

Linebackers

Myles Jack, Jacksonville Jaguars

Percentage of vote: 74.4 percent

In a league where offenses stress a defense every inch of the field horizontally, Jack’s athletic tools stand out. The 22-year-old has already established himself as a ferocious tackler, cooling any concerns over a serious college knee injury.

Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent

Jones, 23, carries a rep as one of the game’s best coverage linebackers already. He runs like an oversized defensive back while also setting the tone as a hitter. He’s the quarterback of Atlanta’s defense.

Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers

Percentage of vote: 32.6 percent

Foster’s NFL career is young, but what already stood out was his feel for finding the football. The 24-year-old must stay healthy and will serve a two-game suspension to begin the season, but he could emerge as San Francisco’s best defensive player.

Runner-up: Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cornerbacks

Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints

Percentage of vote: 60.5 percent

Lattimore’s ability to play on an island is reflective of his confidence, reactive athletic ability and ball skills. It’s hard to quantify how much mental toughness impacts defensive back play; the 22-year-old Lattimore has a ton of it.

Marshon Lattimore was named 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars

Percentage of vote: 95.3 percent

No player earned a higher percentage of votes in this exercise than the 23-year-old Ramsey. The question may not be whether he’s one of the best players under 25, but rather whether he’s on track to becoming the league’s best defensive player.

Runner-up: Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills

Safeties

Landon Collins, New York Giants

Percentage of vote: 67.4 percent

Collins, 24, almost immediately emerged into a leadership role for the Giants. He’s a check-the-box safety, with the ability to do almost any task asked of him. He’ll make you remember his hits too, with excellent playing strength.

Jamal Adams, New York Jets

Percentage of vote: 65.1 percent

Adams oozes confidence with good reason. His pattern recognition and proactive athletic skills will align with a bucket of interceptions in time, while he’s also a player ready to run the alley as a box defender. The 22-year-old can hang in coverage versus tight ends.

Runner-up: Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers

Kicker

Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs

Percentage of vote: 55.8 percent

Butker, 22, had a historic season, as his 38 field goals for the Chiefs in 2017 were the most by a rookie in league annals. He has a cannon for a leg, nailing 38 of 42 attempts, connecting on all of his extra points and booming 78.2 percent of his kickoffs for a touchback.

Runner-up: Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints

Punter

Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks

Percentage of vote: 32.6 percent

It’s rare to see a specialist win the MVP of a bowl game for a major college program, be selected a unanimous All-American, forego his final college season or earn a fifth-round NFL selection. Dickson, the Seahawks’ 22-year-old fifth-rounder in 2018, did them all. They hope for him to become a major weapon.

Runner-up: Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Colts