I’m personally not ready for fall, but at least that means football season is on the way. The regular season games kick off on Sept. 7 with a highly-anticipated matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs, who are the current Super Bowl champions, and the Detroit Lions. So, who are the youngest, most valuable players in the NFL?
NFL.com has come out with its list of the most valuable players in the NFL under 25 years old.
One Detroit Lions made the list. That’s defensive player Aidan Hutchinson, who is 22 years old. Hutchinson hails from the University of Michigan. He led all rookies with 9.5 sacks last season. “In a typical year, that production probably would earn him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but he happened to be part of the same draft class as Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, who won the award,” NFL.com explains. “Hutchinson’s three interceptions further underscore how much of an impact he can have on a game.”
Moving along to the New York Jets, they have a gem in Sauce Gardner, who is also 22 years old. He was actually named Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. “Gardner was elite in his first NFL season,” NFL.com states. “He should continue play at that level (if not an even higher one) in the years ahead.”
Kyle Hamilton of Baltimore Ravens is also on the list. At age, Hamilton proved his versatility last season and played several roles with the team. He shines most as safety, though. “The physical traits that made him a tantalizing prospect coming out of Notre Dame have translated, and it will be interesting to see just how quickly he takes another step in Year 2,” NFL.com states.
Breece Hall of the New York Jets rounds out the list. The 22-year-old didn’t play a lot during his rookie season after suffering an ACL tear, but when he did play, he was unstoppable. Find NFL.com’s full list here.