Last year, the Lions landed five players on Pro Football Focus' annual ranking of the NFL's top 25 players under the age of 25 -- while no other team had more than three.
Wash, rinse, repeat for this year.
A couple of the names are different for the Lions, but the takeaway is the same: Detroit has the best collection of young talent in the NFL. Headlined by right tackle Penei Sewell, who checked in at No. 1 on the list for the second year in a row. Sewell, who turns 25 in October, earned his second straight first-team All-Pro nod last season:
After another dominant season as one of the three highest-graded players at his position, his spot at the top remains solidified. Sewell’s run-blocking ability is his best asset, as he owns a 95.2 PFF run-blocking grade for his career — the second-best mark among all offensive linemen since entering the league in 2021.
The Lions' next two players last year, Aidan Hutchinson and Amon-Ra St. Brown, have aged out of the ranking. But they still landed three players in this year's top 10, with safety Brian Branch entering the ranks at No. 8 and running back Jahmyr Gibbs jumping up from No. 21 to No. 10.
Both were the second highest-ranked players at their respective positions, Branch behind Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens and Gibbs behind Bijan Robinson of the Falcons. Branch, who turns 24 this season, is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection:
Branch’s versatility has been a significant asset for Detroit, as he served as a high-end nickel cornerback in Year 1 before transitioning to a more permanent full-time role as a movable chess piece in Aaron Glenn’s defense and never disappointing, earning top-15 PFF overall grades for his position in each season.
Gibbs has averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 31 touchdowns over his first two seasons in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler turned 23 in March:
Gibbs and Robinson are in a neck-and-neck battle to be the best young running back in the NFL, and they’ll likely continue to be compared to one another throughout their careers after being separated by just four picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
At No. 23 on the list is tight end Sam LaPorta, down slightly from No. 19 last year. LaPorta, who turned 24 in January, wasn't quite as productive in year two as he was in year one, but still caught 60 passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns last season:
While he regressed slightly in 2024, his 79.1 PFF receiving grade was still the sixth-best mark at the position in 2024, and the sixth-best figure over the past two seasons. LaPorta ranks fourth at the position overall and fifth on the Lions in PFF WAR since 2023, making him another worthy Detroit player for this list.
And rounding out the rankings at No. 25 is another newcomer in first-team All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, who led the NFL with nine interceptions last year. Joseph, who just signed a four-year, $86 million extension with Detroit, turns 25 in November:
Joseph would have been much higher on this top-25 list had his All-Pro 2024 campaign — which earned him a large new contract — extended to his previous seasons. He was the top-graded safety overall (90.4) and in coverage (91.1) this past season.
The only other team with more than two players in this year's ranking was the Texans, featuring the same three as last year: Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (No. 7), quarterback C.J. Stroud (No. 12) and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 13).