Lions dominate ranking of NFL's top 25 players under 25

The Lions don't just have one of the best young rosters in the NFL. They quite arguably have the best young roster in the NFL.

How's this for proof? The Lions landed five players on Pro Football Focus ' ranking of the NFL's top 25 players under the age of 25 entering this season. No other team had more than three players on the list.

All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell, who doesn't turn 24 until October, came in at No. 1 overall: " His 3,359 regular-season snaps over the past three seasons rank second among all players, and he is on his way to becoming the best offensive lineman in the league."

Detroit native and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was No. 2. The next Lion on the list was Metro Detroit native and Michigan product Aidan Hutchinson. The Pro Bowl defensive end, who turns 24 in August, was first among players at his position: " He brought his game to a whole new level in 2023. His 91.2 PFF pass-rushing grade trailed only an elite group of four players: Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt."

Amon-Ra St. Brown, the All-Pro wide receiver who turns 25 in October, came in at No. 11, trailing receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Garrett Wilson: " He was one of just three wide receivers to earn PFF overall grades above 90.0 in both 2022 and 2023, with Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson being the other two."

At No. 19 and No. 1 among tight ends was Sam LaPorta, who turned 23 in January and was a co-runner-up with Jahmyr Gibbs for Offensive Rookie of the Year: "He arguably outplayed all rookie tight ends over the past decade. His 981 regular-season snaps as a rookie led all tight ends over the past six seasons by a significant margin. In addition, his overall and receiving grades are second to only Kyle Pitts ’ rookie season over that span."

Gibbs came in at No. 21 and No. 2 among running backs behind Bijan Robinson: He "became an electric playmaker for the Lions in the second half of his rookie campaign. Following Week 7 — after his return from injury — he earned a 78.0 PFF overall grade, which ranked 11th among running backs, while his 82.0 rushing grade tied for seventh at the position ."

The Texans were second in PFF's ranking with three representatives: QB C.J. Stroud (No. 7), defensive end Will Anderson (No. 14) and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 23). The Jets, Ravens and Falcons each had two.