Five youngest NFL players of all-time

The average draft age in the NFL is 22 years old. Compared to the NBA, most NFL players are only drafted after their senior year in college. The youngest NFL player ever list consists of players who broke the mold before the age of 22.

Youngest NFL player ever

It goes without saying that youth is important in professional sports. The younger a player, the more hunger and explosiveness he has in his tank. We just witnessed Lamar Jackson‘s greatness recently as he became the youngest player to win the NFL MVP at age 23.

However, there are still players younger than him to get drafted early in a grown man’s league. Here are the five youngest players in NFL history.

5. Juju Smith-Schuster

Age drafted: 20
Date of birth: November 22, 1996
Draft pick: Second round, 62nd overall
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers

Juju Smith-Schuster, a 6’1 215-lbs wide receiver, is already one of the faces of the Steelers at such a young age, all thanks to his speed, explosiveness, and of course, youth.

He was drafted 62nd overall by Pittsburgh in the 2017 NFL Draft out of USC.

So far, Smith-Schuster has recorded 3,855 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in just five seasons in the league. He has also been named a Pro Bowler. There’s more yet to come for the young receiver.

4. Elmer Angsman

Age drafted: 20
Date of birth: December 11, 1925
Draft pick: Third round, 16th overall
Drafted by: Chicago Cardinals

The Cardinals drafted Elmer Angsman, a 5’11 200-lbs, running back, out of Notre Dame in 1946 with the 16th overall pick. They hoped that his arrival would help their running game. And he did just that while bringing more to the table.

Elmer Angsman was the main reason the Cardinals won the title in 1947, the lone championship for the franchise. He rushed 10 times for 159 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Angsman’s 15.9 yards per carry remains an NFL postseason record.

3. Tremaine Edmunds

Age drafted: 19
Date of birth: May 2, 1998
Draft pick: First round/16th overall
Drafted by: Buffalo Bills

At such a young age, Tremaine Edmunds showed star potential out of Virginia Tech. This is why Buffalo took him with the 16th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Edmunds is already one of the focal points in Buffalo’s stout defense. At 6’5 250-lbs, he can shred through offenses and pressure the opposing quarterback. He is already a two-time Pro Bowler in just four seasons in the NFL.

So far, he has recorded 444 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four interceptions, and a whopping 27 pass deflections.

2. Danielle Hunter

Age drafted: 19
Date of birth: October 29, 1994
Draft pick: Third round, 88th overall
Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings

Danielle Hunter already has an impressive resume at 27 years old. This is mainly because he started in the NFL at only 19 years old. He was drafted 88th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Vikings.

Hunter is a 6’5, 263 lbs defensive end out of Louisiana State University. He was a starter for two years but he wasn’t particularly impressive in college.

He looked like a star when he entered the league, though. Hunter is already a two-time Pro Bowler and was nominated as a second-team All-Pro in 2018. So far, Hunter has recorded 314 tackles, 60.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles.

Read more: Oldest NFL players of all-time

1. Amobi Okoye

Age drafted: 19
Date of birth: June 10, 1987
Draft pick: First round, 10th overall
Drafted by: Houston Texans

Amobi Okoye is the youngest NFL player ever. He was only 19 years old when he was drafted 10th overall by the Texans in 2007.

Okoye was a 6’2, 292 lbs defensive tackle out of the University of Louisville. He was pretty much a star at Lousiville where he corralled eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, leading Louisville to a 12-1 record.

However, he struggled in his early seasons in the NFL. He only recorded 177 tackles and 16 sacks in his seven-year career. His career was also cut short due to a medical issue.