The top 25 NFL players under the age of 25

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Tght end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs gets tackled by outside linebacker Darius Leonard #53 of the Indianapolis Colts, after catching a pass during the second half of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 12: Tght end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs gets tackled by outside linebacker Darius Leonard #53 of the Indianapolis Colts, after catching a pass during the second half of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

16. LB Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

One thing that Indianapolis Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard has proven in his three years on the job is that he knows how to work his way up and down the early rounds of the NFL draft. Go back to 2018. Thanks to some wheeling and dealing, the Colts used a first-round selection on University of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson (more on him later) that year. Ballard would also wind up selecting four players in the second round, including Braden Smith (now the team’s starting right tackle) and defensive ends Kemoko Turay (Rutgers) and Tyquan Lewis (Ohio State).

The club’s first pick in that round was South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard, who proved to be quite the find for a team that would overcome a 1-5 start to finish 10-6 and reach the playoffs. Along with new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Colts finished 11th in the league in total yards allowed per game while only seven teams surrendered fewer yards per game on the ground. One year earlier, Indianapolis was 30th in the NFL in total defense and 26th vs. the run.

Talk about a stat line. Leonard led the Colts with an imposing 163 tackles and finished second on the club with seven sacks. Add in four forced fumbles, a pair of interceptions, eight passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. The 23-year-old performer added a combined 27 stops in the playoff split with the Texans and Chiefs. It will be fascinating to see what he does for an encore this fall.

Next: No. 15