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NFL 25 Under 25: Ranking the League's Best Young Players

Age is just a number—unless a professional athlete's career is being discussed. Younger is always better.

Youth is a valuable asset in the NFL, especially with the rookie wage scale in place. If a young man is producing at a high level during his initial contract, his organization will benefit from the below-market deal and can then invest in other areas of the roster before working on a second contract.

As a result, the NFL's middle class has been downsized, with organizations banking on their high-profile veterans while trying to add talented yet inexpensive pieces via the draft.