Tag: PFF Top 25 under 25

Two Ravens make PFF ranking of top 25 players under 25 entering 2024

The Baltimore Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum make a PFF ranking of the top 25 players under 25 entering the 2024 NFL season

The Ravens have one of the NFL’s youngest rosters and plenty of elite talent under age 25.

PFF released their annual ranking of the top 25 players under 25 entering the 2024 NFL season, and two Baltimore players made the list.

5. S KYLE HAMILTON, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Hamilton had a true breakout second NFL season, as his 86.4 PFF overall grade ranked sixth among safeties. He established himself as one of the most versatile players in the league, logging 14 quarterback pressures to rank fourth among safeties.

Hamilton’s two-year 89.6 PFF overall grade ranks third among all safeties.

20. C TYLER LINDERBAUM, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Linderbaum was already good in his rookie season, but he showed some weaknesses in pass blocking. Now two seasons into his career, he is one of the best centers in the NFL. He was the only player at the position to earn pass-blocking and run-blocking grades both over 78.0 in 2023.

With Jason Kelce retiring, Linderbaum will move up the list of the NFL’s best centers. Hamilton is the top young safety in the NFL and will likely become the first $100 million player at the position next offseason.

Chargers’ Derwin James featured in PFF’s top 25 players under age 25

The Los Angeles Chargers have done a phenomenal job bringing in young talent throughout the years.

The Chargers have done an excellent job of bringing in superior talent through the draft, along with developing players into studs in a short period of time.

Pro Football Focus released its annual list of the top 25 NFL players under age 25, and Los Angeles was represented by safety Derwin James.

We only really have one season to go off with James as he missed most of 2019 with injury, but he did exactly what we expected him to do in that 2018 rookie season coming out of Florida State. Like Jamal Adams, James is a versatile defender who can produce high-quality play in all phases of the game, as evidenced by his 80.0-plus grades in run defense, coverage and as a blitzer as a rookie. He did much of the same upon his return to the field in 2019 (82.5 overall grade), and it’s hard to see him not playing at that same level next season.

To this day, many still find it hard to believe that James fell to Los Angeles’ laps in the middle of the first round of the 2018 draft after being touted as a top-5 prospect.

Listed as the top safety from that draft, James has lived up to his expectations and much more in just two seasons. The do-it-all defender has thrived as a safety, slot corner, linebacker, and even as a pass rusher off the edge.

James played in the Pro Bowl and was voted first-team All-Pro in 2018. And while he didn’t see the field much in 2019 due to a foot injury sustained prior to the season, his impact was felt upon returning to the starting lineup.

In 21 games played and started, James has posted 139 tackles (98 solo), 14 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.