Coming off a dominant 15-2 season and back-to-back NFC North titles, Detroit is getting national attention for what might be the scariest part of all: their core players are still incredibly young.
In a new episode of Check the Mic by The 33rd Team, analyst Sam Monson dropped his list of the NFL’s Top 25 Players Under 25. And guess what? The Lions didn’t just show up—they owned the list. They were the only team to land five players in the rankings. No other team even cracked four. And they were the only NFC North team represented at all.
Here’s who made it:
Penei Sewell (RT) – Ranked #2 overall, just behind Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton. Sewell is already one of the best tackles in the league and a cornerstone of Detroit’s offense.
Brian Branch (DB) – Comes in at #7, showing off his range and versatility in the Lions’ secondary.
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) – Ranked #14 after a breakout season as a dynamic offensive weapon.
Sam LaPorta (TE) – Right behind Gibbs at #15, proving tight ends can be game-changers too.
Kerby Joseph (S) – Closes out the list at #25, recognized for his ball-hawking skills and big-play potential.
Some fans might be wondering: Where are Aidan Hutchinson and Amon-Ra St. Brown? Simple—they aged out. St. Brown turned 25 last October, and Hutchinson hits that milestone in August. Otherwise, they’d be locks, especially Hutchinson, who was in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year before a season-ending injury.
Bottom line? The Lions are stacked with young, high-impact players who are only getting better. That’s not just good news for 2025—it’s a warning to the rest of the league for years to come.
Lions Future Is Now — 5 Players Named NFL’s Brightest Young Talents
