Have you ever debated your friends about the NFL’s best young players? Or maybe wondered about the top players … who are older than you? Well, so did we.
We set out to pick the best active football players at as many ages as possible, spanning the NFL, college and high school. We tapped NFL analyst Matt Bowen, draft analyst Jordan Reid and ESPN high school recruiting coordinator Billy Tucker to make their selections, leaning in on how dominant each player is right now. The result is 27 players, hitting ages 40 through 14.
The best player at age 40 was easy to pick, because three-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers is making his comeback from an Achilles injury. After that, though? It gets difficult. Patrick Mahomes or Myles Garrett at age 28? What about Penei Sewell, Sauce Gardner, Puka Nacua, Aidan Hutchinson or Kyle Hamilton at age 23?
Let’s get into the picks, starting at Rodgers and counting down to players just entering high school. (Tucker handled ages 14-18, Reid picked for 19-22 and Bowen did 23-40.) There are a few players who have summer birthdays; we used the publication date (June 13) as the age cut off. We have key stats to know, notes on how each player has dominated and more.
Jump down the list:
College prospects | High school recruits
Birthday: Dec. 2, 1983
Key stat to know: Rodgers has won four NFL MVP awards, second in league history to Peyton Manning‘s five. His most recent was in 2021, when he threw 37 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
Why he’s the best at his age: Rodgers was limited to four regular-season snaps in New York last season due to a season-ending Achilles tear, but he showed in 2022 he still has top-level arm talent. At this stage of his career, his rushing totals and scramble attempts have declined, but he remains one of the best pure throwers in the game, using his quick release to deliver the ball with anticipation and location.
Over 19 NFL seasons, he has thrown 475 touchdown passes, and he has another 35 scores as a runner.
Runner-up: Marcedes Lewis, TE, Bears
Birthday: Jan. 16, 1985
Key stat to know: Flacco threw 13 touchdown passes in five starts for the Browns last season, topping 300-plus passing yards in four of those.
Why he’s the best at his age: The Browns turned to Flacco late last season, and he led them to a 4-1 record from Weeks 13-17, as Cleveland earned a spot in the wild-card game versus the Texans. He threw two picks in a blowout loss, however.
The 16-year veteran has thrown for 43,936 yards during his career, and he will enter the 2024 season as the primary backup to Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis after signing a one-year deal with the team this offseason.
Runner-up: Matt Prater, K, Cardinals
Birthday: March 8, 1986
Key stat to know: Morstead had 36 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line last season, which ranked second in the league.
Why he’s the best at his age: Morstead was busy last season after Rodgers was injured in Week 1 — his 99 punts led the league. He averaged 48.8 yards per kick, with a net average of 41.8.
Originally drafted in 2009 by the Saints, he has played in 238 career games, logging 41,972 punt yards. And he has had just one punt blocked during his career in 897 attempts.
Runner-up: Brian Hoyer, QB, free agent
Birthday: Sept. 1, 1986
Key stat to know: Campbell had six sacks in Atlanta last season, pushing his career total to 105.5.
Why he’s the best at his age: At 6-foot-8 and 282 pounds, Campbell has the strength and versatility to align in multiple fronts as an edge or interior defender. In addition to his sack totals last season, he had 28 QB pressures and 56 total tackles.
Campbell remains unsigned ahead of his 17th NFL season, but he can strengthen the defensive line room for a contending team if he gets a one-year deal before the season begins.
Runner-up: Graham Gano, K, Giants
Birthday: Feb. 7, 1988
Key stat to know: Stafford put up a QBR of 63.5 last season, which ranked sixth in the league.
Why he’s the best at his age: After an injury-plagued and inconsistent 2022 season, Stafford played in 15 games for the Rams in 2023 and had 3,965 passing yards with 24 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He has topped the 4,000-yard mark nine times in his career, most recently during L.A.’s Super Bowl-winning season in 2021.
A natural passer with an aggressive mentality and the arm talent to attack every spot on the field, Stafford can still light up opposing defenses in Sean McVay’s offense. He’s also one of the league’s toughest players.
Runner-up: Andy Dalton, QB, Panthers
Birthday: July 19, 1988
Key stat to know: Williams had a pass block win rate of 95.8% last season, which ranked No. 1 among all offensive tackles.
Why he’s the best at his age: The best left tackle in the NFL, Williams is an explosive run-blocker with the traits and movement skills to consistently secure the pocket in pass protection. Last season — his 14th in the league — he allowed just one sack.
He has posted a pass block win rate of 92% or higher in each of his four seasons with the 49ers. He’s a dominant talent who was named first-team All-Pro in each of the past three seasons, and he has made 11 Pro Bowl teams.
Runner-up: Demario Davis, LB, Saints
Birthday: Oct. 5, 1989
Key stat to know: Kelce caught 32 of his 37 targets for 355 yards and three touchdowns during the Chiefs’ playoff run last season, which ended in another Super Bowl title.
Why he’s the best at his age: Before a 984-yard receiving season in 2023, Kelce had produced seven straight years of at least 1,000 yards. Still the top target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he is a savvy route runner who can set up coverage and find open voids, creating matchup issues for defenses at all three levels of the field. With his ability to run after the catch, Kelce creates explosive play opportunities in Andy Reid’s pass game.
Kelce has been the model for receiving production at the tight end position, and he has a case as the best player at the position in league history.
Runner-up: Lane Johnson, OT, Eagles
Birthday: Nov. 20, 1990
Key stat to know: Martin has produced a pass block win rate of at least 92% in the seven seasons ESPN has been tracking offensive linemen blocking metrics.
Why he’s the best at his age: Martin is still a staple of the Dallas offensive line as he heads into his 11th season. In the 15 games he played in 2023, he had a pass block win rate of 92.1% while posting a run block win rate of 75.4%, which ranked 10th among guards.
Martin, who has been named first-team All-Pro seven times, uses his movement traits and instincts to secure the interior and create daylight in the run game.
Runner-up: Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers
Birthday: April 27, 1992
Key stat to know: In just 13 games last season, Allen turned 22 third-down receptions into first downs, which tied for the fifth-most in the league.
Why he’s the best at his age: Allen is a highly skilled route runner with the elite coverage awareness to find open grass. He finished last season with 103 receptions despite missing four games due to injuries. He has produced 904 receptions over 11 seasons.
Allen was traded to Chicago this offseason, and he will operate as a top target with chain-moving ability for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Runner-up: DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Cowboys
Birthday: Nov. 18, 1992
Key stat to know: Thuney’s pass block win rate of 99.1% led all offensive linemen during the 2023 season.
Why he’s the best at his age: In 643 pass-block reps for the Super Bowl champs last season, Thuney was credited with just four losses, and he surrendered just one sack. A technically sound interior lineman, he can win with positioning or power. He has the foot quickness to shut down defensive tackles to keep the pocket firm.
Thuney signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs in free agency in 2021, and he remains one of the highest-paid guards in the league. He was named first-team All-Pro last season for the first time in his career.
Runner-up: Davante Adams, WR, Raiders
Birthday: March 1, 1994
Key stat to know: Hill has posted back-to-back seasons with 1,700-plus receiving yards.
Why he’s the best at his age: Hill is arguably the most feared receiver in the league since Randy Moss, due to his blistering speed and explosive play ability. He tied for the NFL lead in receptions of 20-plus yards (25) and touchdown grabs (13) last season. He’s a vertical threat from both boundary and slot alignments, and the pre-snap movement in Mike McDaniel’s system allows him to get free releases into his routes.
Hill ranks fifth among active pass-catchers with 76 career receiving touchdowns, and he has been named a first-team All-Pro five times in his career, including in both of his seasons in Miami.
Runner-up: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
Birthday: Oct. 11, 1994
Key stat to know: Watt has forced 27 fumbles in seven seasons, the most of any defender during that stretch.
Why he’s the best at his age: Watt’s 19 sacks last season led the league, and he has 96.5 in his career. That ranks eighth among active players, and he still hasn’t hit age 30.
A savvy rusher who uses speed, power and technique to set up offensive tackles, Watt is a natural disruptor. In addition to the forced fumbles, he has batted down 28 passes and grabbed seven interceptions in his career. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is a game-changer who creates impact plays for the Pittsburgh defense.
Runner-up: Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
Birthday: Sept. 17, 1995
Key stat to know: Mahomes has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in each of his six seasons as the Kansas City starter. He has played in four Super Bowls over that stretch, winning three titles.
Why he’s the best at his age: The two-time regular-season MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP uses his vision and anticipatory skills as a thrower to attack voids, while leaning on his rare instincts and second-reaction ability to make off-schedule plays. He is also one of the league’s best scramblers, as he has 1,881 rushing yards on scramble attempts in his career while converting 117 first downs.
Mahomes, who signed a contract extension worth $450 million in 2020, is the unquestioned best quarterback in the game today.
Runner-up: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns
Birthday: Jan. 7, 1997
Key stat to know: Jackson had a career-high 3,678 passing yards while adding 821 rushing yards last season, picking up his second career regular-season MVP award.
Why he’s the best at his age: Jackson remains the league’s premier dual-threat talent at the quarterback position. He completed 67.2% of his passes in 2023, and he has rushed for more than 750 yards in five straight seasons. He combines excellent arm talent and electric movement ability to create consistent conflict for opposing defenses. And he has found the right offensive fit under coordinator Todd Monken, who creates space — both vertically and horizontally — for Jackson to attack as a runner and thrower.
Jackson, who signed a five-year contract extension for $260 million last year, hasn’t had the same success as Mahomes in the playoffs, as the Ravens are just 2-4 in his postseason starts.
Runner-up: Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
Birthday: Oct. 23, 1997
Key stat to know: Bosa’s 44.5 sacks over the past three seasons rank third behind T.J. Watt (47) and Myles Garrett (46).
Why he’s the best at his age: The NFL’s best speed-to-power rusher, Bosa has the ability to uproot offensive tackles at the point of attack, collapsing the edges to create pass-rush production. He had 10.5 sacks (and 56 QB pressures) last season after a league-high 18.5 in 2022. The tape also shows he is a highly skilled technician who attacks the edges of blockers, while using his short-area burst to get home off twists and stunts.
Bosa signed a five-year, $170 million extension last year, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive player.
Runner-up: Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Raiders
Birthday: May 26, 1999
Key stat to know: Parsons led the league in both pass rush win rate (35.4%) and pressure rate (16.6%) last season.
Why he’s the best at his age: In just three pro seasons, Parsons already has 40.5 total sacks and 196 pressures, the latter of which ranks second in the NFL in that time frame, behind Maxx Crosby. He’s an elite mover in space, with the first-step quickness and explosive closing burst to create backfield chaos off the edge. Plus, in today’s multiple NFL fronts, Parsons can create interior matchups off both alignment and stunts to dent the pocket.
Just entering his prime playing years, Parsons has established himself as a game-wrecking talent with the traits to consistently produce high-level numbers. With two years to go under his rookie contract, he should soon reset the market for defensive players.
Runner-up: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Buccaneers
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Birthday: June 16, 1999
Key stat to know: Jefferson has averaged 98.3 receiving yards per game in his four-year career, the most of any receiver during that stretch.
Why he’s the best at his age: Jefferson topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2023 … despite missing seven games. He’s a do-it-all volume target with three-level ability and the big-play chops to flip the field. He has 104 receptions of at least 20 yards — more than 25% of his 392 career catches — which speaks to his highly creative route skills and the numbers he can produce after the catch.
Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension earlier this month, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Runner-up: Pat Surtain II, CB, Broncos
Birthday: Oct. 9, 2000
Key stat to know: Sewell had a pass block win rate of 92.5% during the 2023 season, which ranked sixth among all offensive tackles.
Why he’s the best at his age: Sewell, who is entering his fourth season, has quickly emerged as one of the league’s premier tackles. With elite movement ability and body control, he locks down edge rushers in pass protection, matching to both speed and power rushers, while displacing defenders as a run-blocker. After allowing 10 sacks as a rookie, he has surrendered a total of seven over the past two seasons, showing accelerated growth in his technique and playing style.
He has the traits of a blue-chip talent and was handed a four-year, $112 million contract in April.
Runner-up: Sauce Gardner, CB, Jets
Birthday: Oct. 3, 2001
Key stat to know: Stroud finished his rookie season with 4,108 passing yards, just behind Andrew Luck‘s 2012 season (4,374) as the most yards for a first-year passer ever. Stroud also led the league in passing yards per game (273.9).
Why he’s the best at his age: The No. 2 pick of the 2023 draft started from Week 1 and didn’t look back, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and putting up one of the best rookie QB seasons in NFL history. Stroud showed consistent poise and accuracy no matter the situation. He became the youngest signal-caller to ever win a playoff game after Houston’s 45-14 victory over Cleveland in January.
Runner-up: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Texans
Birthday: Aug. 11, 2002
Key stat to know: Harrison had 144 catches for 2,474 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns in his final 25 games at Ohio State.
Why he’s the best at his age: The No. 4 pick in April’s draft became the highest-drafted wide receiver in Ohio State history. He also was the second player in program history to win the Biletnikoff Award (Terry Glenn) as the best wide receiver in the nation. Harrison finished the draft cycle as the No. 1 overall prospect in my rankings, and he’ll become Kyler Murray‘s top target in 2024.
Runner-up: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
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Birthday: July 28, 2003
Key stat to know: Nabers, who was drafted No. 6 overall in April, was the top wideout in one of the most explosive offenses in college football last season, leading the country in receiving yards per game (120.7) and forced missed tackles (27) for LSU.
Why he’s the best at his age: An explosive and dynamic playmaker, Nabers established himself as an elite player last season. He broke out as a junior with 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming LSU’s all-time receptions leader (189). Nabers was my third-ranked prospect in the 2024 draft, and he should step into New York’s No. 1 receiver role.
Runner-up: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Birthday: Dec. 10, 2004
Key stat to know: Last season, Downs became the first Alabama freshman ever to lead the team in total tackles (107). He transferred to Ohio State in January in the wake of coach Nick Saban’s retirement.
Why he’s the best at his age: Downs, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, was named SEC Newcomer of the Year after an outstanding true freshman season. He played 855 defensive snaps, splitting time between safety, cornerback and linebacker. He was consistent against the run — he had 4.5 tackles for loss — and also snagged two interceptions and broke up three passes.
Downs will now be a crucial part of a loaded defense for the Buckeyes in 2024.
Runner-up: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Birthday: Nov. 29, 2005
Key stat to know: Smith, the No. 4 prospect in the 2024 recruiting rankings, caught 88 passes for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, leading Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Florida) to a third straight state title. He also ran a blazing 22.08-second 200-meter dash and won state in the 110-meter hurdles as a junior.
Why he’s the best player at his age: The five-star receiver enrolled early at Ohio State and wowed the Buckeyes’ staff this spring with his exceptional hands and route-running skills. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Smith has rare body control for a receiver of his size and consistently comes down with the jump ball, typically in eye-popping fashion.
What is uncommon for an 18-year is the polished, smooth route-running skills and the natural movements he showed setting up FBS-level defensive backs. Smith has big-play ball skills but also elite separation speed. He should make an early impact in 2024.
Age 17: Jahkeem Stewart, EDGE, St. Augustine (New Orleans)
Birthday: May 6, 2007
Key stat to know: The No. 1 recruit in the 2026 ESPN Junior 300, this disruptive hybrid defender checks in at 6-foot-6, 281 pounds and runs a 1.86 10-yard split and a 4.85 40-yard dash. He was unblockable as a sophomore last season, racking up 20 sacks and 85 total tackles.
Why he’s the best player at his age: Stewart can play both end and tackle, moving inside to create matchup problems for guards. He has great explosiveness off the snap and active hands to fight off blocks on the edge. He has rare pass-rush potential and the ability to chase down quarterbacks. Stewart, who is uncommitted, has offers from every blue-chip program in the country.
Age 16: Julian Lewis, QB, Carrollton HS (Carrollton, Ga.)
Birthday: Sept. 21, 2007
Key stat to know: Lewis, who goes by JuJu, threw for 7,212 yards with 96 touchdown passes over the past two seasons. The reigning Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year moved up a class from 2026 to 2025 because of his advanced skill level. Even with the move he retained his position as the No. 1 recruit in the ESPN 300.
Why he’s the best player at his age: We recently named Lewis the No. 1 player in the country regardless of graduating class. He’s advanced physically as a passer with great arm strength, anticipation and ball placement. As a varsity freshman starter, he threw for a state final-record 532 passing yards with five touchdowns. He’s committed to USC, and the Caleb Williams comparisons are warranted.
Age 15: Jayden Wade, QB, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Birthday: Oct. 13, 2008
Key stat to know: Wade was the top performer in the Under Armour 8th grade All-America game in January, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another score. Standing at 6-foot-3, he recorded a 4.49-second laser-timed 40-yard dash this camp season, which was faster than any other quarterback regardless of class.
Why he’s the best player at his age: As an eighth-grader, Wade rotated in for national power IMG Academy and participated in seven games last season, completing 70% of his passes. He has the early traits of being the top QB to go through our ESPN 300 rankings since its origin in 2006.
He’s a dynamic passer with a lightning-quick release and excellent arm strength. He can throw from the pocket or just as effectively on the move. He’s an excellent runner with elite speed and explosiveness. Wade has more than 10 FBS offers, including from Georgia and Michigan.
I don’t do this often but I trust my eyes and I trust my partner @TomLuginbill eyes ⬇️
8th grade Under Armour All-American QB Jayden Wade (@LightsOutWade7) of IMG will be one of the best QB’s we ever evaluated #UANext pic.twitter.com/my5Gl0cJtG
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) March 1, 2024
Age 14: Neimann Lawrence, QB, Ransom Everglades School (Miami)
Birthday: Jan. 5, 2010
Key stat to know: One of the top passers in South Florida last fall regardless of age, the 6-foot-1 Lawrence threw for more than 2,500 yards with 37 touchdown passes as a varsity starter … as an eighth-grader. He already holds a handful of FBS offers, including from Miami and UCF.
Why he’s the best player at his age: The 2028 recruit looks like a high school senior on tape. He’s blessed with a live arm and a quick, fluid throwing motion. The ball pops off his hand, and he can make all the difficult downfield throws despite his age. Lawrence is accurate and can tuck it and elude outside the pocket with his feet when needed. He’s a natural passer who makes it look easy.
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